1
Eng 183 Class Final- “Book Defense”
We’ve learned to respond to texts, analyze them, and even take sides in a debate.
Now, we’re going to use all of our acquired wisdom in a massive Book Defense for a beloved, imaginative
book.
One last fight that I’m pulling you into!
Tangent: For serious-minded people, please skip to page 2
Imagine there’s a debate between two hypothetical people; one of them is a bearded college English instructor
with a book-buying addiction and depression, and the other one is wrong.
The question they’re arguing is, “Is a story only good if it’s about something real?”
The instructor argues, “A story is great when an author makes something real.”
Abracadabra-“I will create as I speak.”
For example, one of the most moving stories I’ve read is about a Sumerian King named Gilgamesh. The story
affected me, the experience of reading it changed the chemical makeup of my soul.
And, where are the Sumerian Kings now? Have you ever met one, is there one breathing, somewhere on the
earth right now? In fact, the idea I have of the Sumerians is a fiction. It’s not real. It is only a vague
approximation of the real Sumerians, and most likely wrong in some key ways, but it nonetheless affects me, I
am changed by it, and I am a new person because of it.
I form emotional connections to fictitious characters all the time. They were real enough to change the neuronic
pathways of my brain, more than most “real” people whom I will never meet ever will.
But somehow, learning compassion and heartbreak from fiction makes real changes to who I am.
Eng 183 Class Final- “Book Defense”
We’ve learned to respond to texts, analyze them, and even take sides in a debate.
Now, we’re going to use all of our acquired wisdom in a massive Book Defense for a beloved, imaginative
book.
One last fight that I’m pulling you into!
Tangent: For serious-minded people, please skip to page 2
Imagine there’s a debate between two hypothetical people; one of them is a bearded college English instructor
with a book-buying addiction and depression, and the other one is wrong.
The question they’re arguing is, “Is a story only good if it’s about something real?”
The instructor argues, “A story is great when an author makes something real.”
Abracadabra-“I will create as I speak.”
For example, one of the most moving stories I’ve read is about a Sumerian King named Gilgamesh. The story
affected me, the experience of reading it changed the chemical makeup of my soul.
And, where are the Sumerian Kings now? Have you ever met one, is there one breathing, somewhere on the
earth right now? In fact, the idea I have of the Sumerians is a fiction. It’s not real. It is only a vague
approximation of the real Sumerians, and most likely wrong in some key ways, but it nonetheless affects me, I
am changed by it, and I am a new person because of it.
I form emotional connections to fictitious characters all the time. They were real enough to change the neuronic
pathways of my brain, more than most “real” people whom I will never meet ever will.
But somehow, learning compassion and heartbreak from fiction makes real changes to who I am.
2
Finally, the Final!
J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Brian Jaques created fictional worlds for children and the physically aged,
worlds that were unapologetically new worlds, that existed without being metaphorical comparisons or
allegorical life lessons.
Tolkien expressed as much in a preface to one of many editions of The Lord of the Rings:
“I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done so since I grew old and wary enough to detect
its presence. I much prefer history – true or feigned– with its varied applicability to the thought and experience of readers.
I think that many confuse applicability with allegory, but the one resides in the freedom of the reader, and the other in the
purposed domination of the author.”
In the preface to one edition of Watership Down, Richard Admas had to spell this out for readers:
“It was meant to be just a story, and it remains that. A story, a jolly good story I must admit, but it remains a story.”
“Can fiction be enjoyed for what it is in itself, or must it support some aspect of the real world to have value?”
You, my friends, must take a side. I want you to take an imaginative book you love, and then defend it, using
the Rubric below.
I know for many of us, the most honest answer would be, “Well, I like when a story has a moral over here, and I
like this other book for itself,” but pretend you have to choose one side!
You can absolutely disagree with my position. Those who’ve done so on past assignments can tell you, when
it’s done well, nothing but reward. Fantasy, folk tale, detective story, ghost story, “Choose your own
adventure”, macabre, light-hearted, joyful and wholesome; just make sure it is a book you love, and the writing
will follow.
Finally, the Final!
J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Brian Jaques created fictional worlds for children and the physically aged,
worlds that were unapologetically new worlds, that existed without being metaphorical comparisons or
allegorical life lessons.
Tolkien expressed as much in a preface to one of many editions of The Lord of the Rings:
“I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done so since I grew old and wary enough to detect
its presence. I much prefer history – true or feigned– with its varied applicability to the thought and experience of readers.
I think that many confuse applicability with allegory, but the one resides in the freedom of the reader, and the other in the
purposed domination of the author.”
In the preface to one edition of Watership Down, Richard Admas had to spell this out for readers:
“It was meant to be just a story, and it remains that. A story, a jolly good story I must admit, but it remains a story.”
“Can fiction be enjoyed for what it is in itself, or must it support some aspect of the real world to have value?”
You, my friends, must take a side. I want you to take an imaginative book you love, and then defend it, using
the Rubric below.
I know for many of us, the most honest answer would be, “Well, I like when a story has a moral over here, and I
like this other book for itself,” but pretend you have to choose one side!
You can absolutely disagree with my position. Those who’ve done so on past assignments can tell you, when
it’s done well, nothing but reward. Fantasy, folk tale, detective story, ghost story, “Choose your own
adventure”, macabre, light-hearted, joyful and wholesome; just make sure it is a book you love, and the writing
will follow.
3
What if we could bridge the gap between the formative, creative literature of childhood, to keep a hope for such
transformative work as adults? What if there was literature just as free, and formative, that gave us the language
to not only process our lives today but break open the world to radically change it into a better one?
Final Rubric
Requirements: Points
-Successfully argued your position with:
Claim
Evidence
and Examples
10 pts
-4-pg minimum, four full pages 10 pts
-formatting
1” margins, 12-pt font, Times New Roman, double-
spaced, with numbered pages, and no spaces between
paragraphs
5 pts
-Essay Requirements
Thesis
(At Least) three Supporting points
Counterargument
Rebuttal
and Conclusion
all highlighted
10 pts
-At least 8 in-text citations,
listed in Work Cited at the end of the Essay,
On its own page, in MLA format:
Alphabetized by last name or corporate author
with hanging indent
10 pts
-Spelling and Grammar 5 pts
What if we could bridge the gap between the formative, creative literature of childhood, to keep a hope for such
transformative work as adults? What if there was literature just as free, and formative, that gave us the language
to not only process our lives today but break open the world to radically change it into a better one?
Final Rubric
Requirements: Points
-Successfully argued your position with:
Claim
Evidence
and Examples
10 pts
-4-pg minimum, four full pages 10 pts
-formatting
1” margins, 12-pt font, Times New Roman, double-
spaced, with numbered pages, and no spaces between
paragraphs
5 pts
-Essay Requirements
Thesis
(At Least) three Supporting points
Counterargument
Rebuttal
and Conclusion
all highlighted
10 pts
-At least 8 in-text citations,
listed in Work Cited at the end of the Essay,
On its own page, in MLA format:
Alphabetized by last name or corporate author
with hanging indent
10 pts
-Spelling and Grammar 5 pts
I want to make the point that books help people cope with reality by creating a buffer of fiction between the pain characters experience and our own real life dilemmas. I have a Colleen hoover story of my recent life and reading books like strange sally diamond has helped me escape the pain of my situation. Not everything must serve a purpose further than enjoyment. I also want to make a point that as a male teacher or males in general may feel the statement a little stronger than women because we have paved the way with enjoying awful romance novels for entertainment for years.
Attached is one of my recent sloppy essays and some word vomit on thoughts. I am currently putting a new protection order against my ex and my brain is fried. I can’t tie my thoughts together for this.
I love Strange Sally Diamond though and it is a recent read. The Forgotten Garden had the same effect on me and Clan of the Cave Bear.