Orlean used many effective choices in her article. She chose to
talk about the background of taxidermy, inserting quotes of the taxidermists,
and in general talk about the competition and artwork of taxidermy. As a reader,
Orlean’s choices were useful because she supported her topic and purpose well.
When someone provides the history of a topic that no one really knows
about its valuable because as a reader, I know that my author is knowledgeable
about their topic. She provided the history of when taxidermy began, and what made it the way that it is now. Orlean also included how taxidermy may be like in the future, and how it is now for these taxidermists.
Since
Orlean experienced a competition of taxidermy, I think the use of dialogues were to make the readers feel as if they were there to hear the taxidermists talk. These specific quotes that Orleans caught overhearing made me understand that
these taxidermists are serious about sharing their artwork with the world. They
know that it may be disturbing to some people, but it is something unique they
share and do.
The
choice to talk about the competition of taxidermy is something that I think
Orlean used, so she has a topic to talk about. She tells how taxidermists would do at competitions, and what a taxidermists should posses to become a good one. Her purpose was to inform her audience that
taxidermy is a form of artwork people do. Taxidermists makes dead animal to
life again, by designing a replica of a specific animal.
This is great. You touch on three choices: historicizing taxidermy, including dialogue that establishes the ethos of the taxidermists, and the topic in general. How do you see these three working together? How do you see them working together in relation to her overall purpose?
ReplyDeleteAlso reflect on how these choices affected you as a reader. Did they change what you thought? Did they make you think a certain way? Was she persuasive? Was she convincing? Do you trust her? All of these questions will lead you a bit closer to developing your controlling purpose.