elbow

Getting ready to read

1.      How do you construct an identity using your Facebook profile? What do your different choices of what to include within your profile say about your identity online versus your identity at home?

On your Facebook profile your identity is constructed through the picture you choose to use, the colour scheme you have and the personal details you decided to show others. If you choose to express your feelings on your profile people can construct an image of you without even seeing. If you decided to write something negative about someone else then you may be seen as someone who cyber bullies, whereas if you use to show pictures of your friends and family you are a warm-hearted person who just wants to connect with friends online. People usually appear very different online to what they are actually like in person. This may be because what they write on Facebook  is taken the wrong way or because the person thinks they can say what they like and not be confronted about it.

2.       When you typically write academic papers, professors will often outlaw the use of "I" within your writing. How would your writing be different if you were able to use the first-person within this assignment?

If the word “I” is allowed to be used, the writer is able to express their own ideas and views on the specific topic, whereas if they are not their views are not seen in the piece of writing. If the word “I” is used this can also make the piece of writing more detail and more adventurous because it allows the writer to think about their feelings more and not just a generalised assumption.

Questions for Discussion and Journaling

1.       How do you define voice? Have you encountered different definitions of voice in the past and how do they compare to Elbow's definition of voice?

I would define voice as a personal thing to each individual. Everyone has a different voice because everyone has their own views and thoughts. Peoples voices may change depending on where they are, for example if they are in a classroom their voice may change due to peer pressure or being shy, whereas if they are talking to someone one on one then they may be able to express their voice more.

Applying and Exploring Ideas

1.       Elbow identifies two kinds of voices linked to any writer: sincerity and resonance. Can you write single sentence definitions, using your own words, for sincerity and resonance? And if you struggle with this exercise, what does this say about trying to use them in your own writing?

Sincerity only works if it is believable. Sincerity is the ready showing their true take on something and it may be used to show in letters of apology or proposal. People may see writer’s sincerity as wrong or dangerous due to not everyone having the same opinion.

Resonance may be parts of writing which add extra presence, for example these may be changes in tone. Resonance may be used by the writer unconsciously and it shows off the writers views but Elbow does not believe it shows off their full outtake on something because they are writing in an unconscious manner.