Practice Reflection and Rhetorical Analysis and Quotes – Bithiah

Part 3 Reflection

I agree with the information provided by the author. I would place more emphasis on Matt Cadwell’s comment, which states, “School kills curiosity. When do children get to ask questions about things that interest them? As soon as they are at primary school, they have to shut up and learn. It is not the fault of the teachers. They have so many targets to meet,” (pg. 2). This quote holds special meaning for me since I believe the phrase “School kills curiosity” is even more true when children first start primary school. Another part of the quote by Matt Cadwell I completely agree with is that the targets kids must meet rob them of curiosity. When children reach primary school, they become more conscious of the decisions they must make; they understand that they must work hard to obtain good grades to succeed in their classes. At this point, teachers have a wide range of subjects to cover, and as a result, they assign the children several targets they must meet to succeed in their classes. Some children opt not to ask questions because they want to pass their classes and complete all their tasks. This supports the text’s claim that high-performing students were found to be less curious because they perceived curiosity as a risk to their success. High-performing students take their education seriously, and because of the targets they must meet, they limit their queries to only those that will help them reach their goals.

Part 4: Rhetorical Analysis

The Guardian article, “’Schools Are Killing Curiosity’: Why We Need to Stop Telling Children to Shut up and Learn,” by Wendy Berliner, is a feature piece. The audience is the general reading public. The purpose of this article is to inform. The author’s writing style is factual. She employs research facts to back up her claim. This piece has a logical tone. Berliner successfully persuades readers by using the appeal of logos. Berliner is a credible source because she is the author of a book titled “How to Succeed at School. What Every Parent Should Know.” The guardian is a reliable source because they were rated the most trustworthy online UK newspaper brand – ranked as such by 73% of regular readers. The guardian’s values include encouraging a welcoming and open culture, standing up for what they think is right rather than what seems convenient, and aiming for perfection to serve their audience’s interests.

Part 5 Notable Quotables

“Promoting curiosity is a foundation for early learning that we should be emphasizing more when we look at academic achievement,” by Dr. Prachi Shah, a developmental and behavioral pediatrician at Mott, (pg. 1).

“School kills curiosity. When do children get to ask questions about things that interest them? As soon as they are at primary school, they have to shut up and learn. It is not the fault of teachers. They have so many targets to meet,” by Matt Caldwell, the headteacher of the nursery school, (pg. 2).

“We do need to find some time for questions during the day. There is not enough time in schools for creativity and following up on curiosity,” by Paul Howard-Jones, professor of neuroscience and education at Bristol University, (pg.2).