Caballero 1

Claricsa Caballero
Julia Intawiwat
ENG 111-139
29 SEP 17
QUESTIONS FOR STUDY AND DISCUSSION #4
Ch. 8: Becoming A Writer by Russell Baker (204)
1. Baker organizes his writing by using transitional expressions, repetition of words and
ideas, and pronoun references in paragraphs one and two. Baker does this by using the word prim
in some form or fashion throughout his writing. An example of where he uses repetition often is
in paragraph two, He had a primly pointed jaw, a primly straight nose, and a prim manner of
speaking (BAKER) He uses transitional expressions and repetition in paragraph one by
saying until then... or until. An example of where Baker uses pronoun references in paragraph
one when he says, went at them like heavy labor, turning out leaden, lackluster paragraphs
that were agonies for teachers to read and for me to write. (BAKER)
2. The transitions Baker uses within his writing helps everything flow from paragraph four
to thirteen because he uses transitional expressions. Transitional expressions help the flow of
things because it establishes a connection from the author to the reader. Transitional expressions
help the reader flow with what the author is saying while he/she is moving from one idea to the
next.
3. Baker describes his English teacher, Mr. Fleagle as boring and dull with the inability to
inspire (Baker 205). He repeats the word prim throughout his second paragraph using imagery
for the reader to depict what he looks like. He also repeats the word prim because it gets a point
across, the point he is trying to get across is to describe how perfect and proper everything is
about Mr. Fleagle. The vivid description of Mr. Fleagle is important to the whole writing piece
because it shows how much he impacted Baker and how much of a role he plays in the
inspiration of Baker becoming a writer.
4. In Bakers, informal essay he talks about a time he remembers eating spaghetti. He writes
about this subject because he recalls this vivid memory of eating spaghetti with his family when
he was younger spaghetti used to be an exotic treat in those days which is why it played back a
series of memorable images. Baker doesnt want to turn in his essay because they are memories
he wanted to hold onto and recapture the feeling that was provoked in the moment of recalling
that event, he also didnt want to turn in the essay because they were his private reminiscences
(Baker 206).
5. The door Mr. Fleagle opens for Baker is the door of opportunity. Mr. Fleagle shows
Baker about the hidden talent he as which is writing he showed him to pursue his talent and turn
it into a job. Baker is reluctant to pursuing this opportunity because he thought it wasnt honest
work, he also thought that it would be tough to get a job as a writer considering hed be fresh
out of high school (Baker 207).
 Caballero 2

WRITING PROMPT:

READ _____CH 8________ by ___SEP 22__ (page #) of Models for Writers

Answer the Questions for Study and Discussion on a WORD document.