Preface

Unbound contains a variety of writing styles including travel essays, rhetorical analyses and an ethnography, to name a few. Within each essay there is the common theme of operating outside of ones culture. In each essay one can see how they have expanded their ideas beyond the text into some kind of social, emotional, or cultural content. We intend for this guide to be used by studio teachers, in a hurry to locate just the right piece. A brief summary as well as writing strategies and themes are listed below.

The Essays:

"The Systematic Teaching of Grammar: A Critique" by Cathbin Ayoob
Summary: This essay takes a look at the common, precise manner in which grammar is taught in schools. Ayoob discusses why and how grammar is used as well as how it should be taught. With a nice collection of outside sources, this essay develops an enriching explanation for why so many of us seem to "hate" grammar.
Strategies: Persuasion, Logic, example, use of source material, analysis
Themes: Rhetoric, teaching, education

"Bitter Stereotypes" by A. Haupt
Summary: Haupt unveils the prevailing harsh western stereotypes of Chinese society in this essay. Using an outside source as the basis of her argument, she presents a picture of the difficult life and prejudices that Chinese women, in particular, face.
Strategies: Rhetorical analysis, persuasion, cause and effect, argument
Themes: Media, multiculturalism, women, gender

"Remember the Maine" by Omar R. Rodriguez
Summary: This essay presents the story behind the Spanish-American war. The explosion of the USS Maine kindled this war. However, Rodriguez shows how this may not have been the fault of a Spanish mine. In this essay he clearly presents the four perspectives of this event, in his search for the truth. He also reflects on his own writing and learning process.
Strategies: Use of outside sources, source analysis, rhetorical analysis, persuasion, logic, self-asessment
Themes: History, mystery, war, culture, media

"The SU Trumpet Section: An Ethnography" by Jessica Lux
Summary: This is an ethnographic description of the life and times of the trumpet section in the SU marching band. Combining humor with the raw secrets of this trumpet section makes for an enjoyable essay.
Strategies: Ethnography, interview, analysis, example
Themes: Music, gender, community

"A Spanish Opera" by Juan Fontanive
Summary: This essay pieces together the history of the writer's name, Juan. He touches on the important issues behind, not just the name, but his life, family, and friends as well.
Strategies: Narration, memoir, analogy
Themes: Identity, culture, childhood

"The Climbing of White Walls" by Blaine North
Summary: Using a personal experience, North creates an essay that brings to life more than country life and home cooking. This essay depicts the hardships that this family had to endure in the importance of an education.
Strategies: narration, example, analysis
Themes: literacy autobiography, culture, education, childhood

"There is Only Hope" by Katie Ciccarello
Summary: Ciccarello uses an assignment for a photography lesson in London to begin her writing project. In the midst of the crowded London streets, she finds a refugee family working hard to make it from day to day. Here she learns, on a personal level, how difficult it is to make it in the world when it seems that there is no one there to help.
Strategies: Interview, observation, analysis, narration, emotion
Themes: Culture, family, travel

"Three Reviews" by Lia D'Amico
Summary: In these three reviews, D'Amico takes a look at some of the strange and interesting things that go on in everyday life. While spending the semester in London, she experiences and describes the little things that are often overlooked by a native.
Strategies: Description, humor, observation
Themes: Travel

"Two Travel Stories" by John Mooney
Summary: Mooney combines his experiences abroad with his easy writing style in these two stories of his travels. They both use humor and a descriptive language that allows us to take part in his heartwarming adventures.
Strategies: Narration, humor, description
Themes: Culture, travel