Un-Instagramable Self Spacecat

Spacecat
Answer each question in depth and provide specific evidence from

the text or speaker whenever available. The more you write, the better!
Title of the text:
S
SPEAKER: Tara Westover is the one talking. She is the author of educated. She grew up in Idaho
Who is the speaker/writer? with an interesting family. Her father and brother were abusive. They lived life in a
What do we know about radically mormonism way, separated from normal life and society. She grew up
them? What can you tell or without public education and very limited homeschooling and went on to attend
what do you know about college. As an adult she had to teach herself many things that would be considered
the speaker that helps you “common sense”. Her reality, and the way she grew up isn’t like her instagrammable
understand the point of self at all.
view expressed?
P
PURPOSE: Tara Westover’s purpose was to make sure that people don’t lose themselves in the
What is the speaker/writer edited versions of their lives. Graduation speeches normally are there to congratulate
hoping to accomplish? the class on their hard work, and encourage them to achieve great successes. “But
What is the reason behind tonight, as you upload that photograph, take a moment to check in with your
this piece? What do they un-instagramable self—and thank them for getting you this far, and for taking
want the audience to do you the rest of the way.” This sentence I think is one of the most powerful in the
after having listened? speech. It shows that the separation of selves is inevitable, but they can
coexist positively. Tara just wants people to check in and acknowledge
themselves. Our un-instagrammable selves deserve respect and recognition
for how much they support us.
A
AUDIENCE:   This was the Northeastern Commencement Address to the graduating class of 2019.
Who is the speaker/writer “For you graduates, it’s a celebration of the last several years and all the work you put
trying to reach? How do we in”. People listening to this have spent years of hard work, money, and time dedicating
know? Do they indicate a their lives to subjects that they are passionate about. Most are about to leave their
specific audience? What schooling and continue into professions. So, this speech is kind of a final shove of
assumptions exist in the wisdom.
text about the intended
audience?
C
CONTEXT:   In 2019, instagram reported over 1 billion users. Other forms of social media such as
What is the time and place facebook, youtube, and snapchat have also reported major increases during the rise of
of this piece? What is technology throughout the years.
happening in the world as
it relates to the subject of
the speech or the
speaker/writer?
E
EXIGENCE: Tara’s spark for this speech was her own graduation pictures. “I was just
What was the spark or another happy graduate full of promise, embracing my happy parents. But this
catalyst that moved the was a fiction, and I knew it.” She discusses the imposing feelings presented in
speaker/writer to the photo that were so unlike her normal life. In reality she didn’t get along with
act/write? How did that her family, left her religion, and was moving the next day. She said that she felt
event impact the herself falling into better recognition of the person in the photo rather than her
speaker/writer? actual self. She understands the struggle it is for many to accept their true
personalities and hopes to prevent them from falling into the same trap she did.
C
CHOICES: Tara includes a list of the reasons why her photo was an inaccurate representation of
What are the rhetorical her life. This list sets distinct reasons of evidence and separates different thoughts that
choices that the contribute to the same claim. She has personal stories that build trust between her
speaker/writer makes in and the audience and establish relatability. She uses personal pronouns such as “we”
the speech? Think about to group her and the audience together. It’s as if they are one entity going through the
overall structure, devices, same problems. It's much more intimate. The repetition of “you will...you will...you
diction, syntax, etc. will not”.
A
APPEALS: Tara is the author of a New York Times best selling book. She graduated from BYU and
Which of the three Cambridge University. She also has two PhDs. All of this establishes her academic
rhetorical appeals (ethos, credibility and presents herself as a well established and successful author capable of
logos, pathos) are present giving an amazing speech.
in the text? Where? Why? She uses her own graduation stories mingled with hints of her family life to, I don’t
necessarily think intentionally, gain sympathy and possibly empathy from audience
members.
Some of my fav lines: “My family was a tangle of love and radicalism and what I now
suspect was mental illness. The love was real, but so were the other things, and I didn’t
yet know how I was going to navigate them.”
“We forget that it is our flawed human self, and not our avatar, who creates things and
reconsiders and forgives and shows mercy.”
“over identifying with your idealized self is a deeply alienating experience. It is a form
of self-rejection.”
There wasn’t really any logos in this piece. She didn’t back her claims up with specific
evidence.
T
TONE: She uses a very sentimental tone throughout the majority of the piece. I think that
What is the coming back to a college graduation was nostalgic for her and that’s evident through
speaker/author's attitude the reflection of her own. She tenderly discusses the effects social media have on our
toward the subject? Is the personal view of life. I think the evidence for this comes from her personal stories. You
tone the same throughout can tell that she has a deep understanding of what she is claiming. “But the moments
the whole piece? Where of love and tenderness and belonging will touch you more deeply than anything you
does it shift? What will find in the virtual world.” Here is where the tone switches to be more
evidence is there to encouraging toward the subject. She begins inciting action and future consequences
demonstrate the tone?   of being more in touch with reality.
Now, write a gorgeous first paragraph with a clear thesis

In the 21st century, technology and virtual realities have begun to shape the way of life. Tara
Westover discusses the arising difficulty to separate digital and tangible personas. By incorporating
personal circumstances, personal pronouns, and futuristic repetition she effectively urges the
graduating 2019 class of Northeastern to recognize the importance of our unedited characters.

Un-Instagramable Self Spacecat

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Un-Instagramable Self Spacecat

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Un-Instagramable Self Spacecat

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

What is Tara Westover's purpose in giving this speech?

Who is Tara Westover's intended audience?

Spacecat

Answer each question in depth and provide specific evidence from

Title of the text:

Now, write a gorgeous first paragraph with a clear thesis

You might also like