Thoughts

Kelly Hess

Module 3 Essay Brainstorm

Thoughts:

The first thing I realize while reading this is the short, abrupt sentence throughout the beginning. These statements give the quick pace to the piece as if the narrator is in a rush or shows little interest in her date. It is like she already knows what is going to happen, she has done this before, and nothing is different therefore she is expecting it. “Order wine. Order apps. Try to engage him in conversation. Lean across the table in order to hear over the sound system blaring an Adele song about love, love in the dark.” (McCurdy). The reader, with an enthusiastic tone, can justify her casual mood.

“Swipe left. Swipe right” (McCurdy). This phrase is repeated a couple of times as it creates a break between the narrators’ thoughts. It continues to show her relaxed, uninterested persona as she continues to use the dating app even after going on her dates, which she didn’t like. She wanted to continue to have these experiences, maybe hoping for a change. 

The purpose of her writing is to educate her readers. She does not want others to follow her footsteps, yet she repeats it herself as if she enjoys it. Her statements become hypocritical and counterintuitive.  

“Find yourself unable to listen to his all-about-me speech, the required get-to-know-you section of every first internet date. Weight at birth, post college year at Teach for America, current job as systems analyst for blah blah corporation blah blah blah, current obsessions—unicycles and organic brew pubs” (McCurdy). -Structure: use of commas and sash (Question and Answer).

Central Claim:

Victoria McCurdy’s short story, This is How You Fail to Ghost Him, consists of a detached, vague tone. With an effective structure, word choice and figurative language the reader can conceive the engaging atmosphere. 

 Questions:

*Instead of figurative language change to imagery, or change entirely? 

*With my last essay, I struggled with developing my central claim, without that it made the rest of my essay very confusing. Therefore, I’m going to go to the writing center to improve on this but let me know what you would like to see or any pointers.