When thinking about someones ideal intellectual home, a desk with enough space for a text book and composition notebook and a comfortable chair to sit in may come to mind. However, the ideal place to study or get the best academic work done can vary by person. Some people can do their best academic work while in a public area and not be affected by the public noise. Some can only get their best work done in an environment where everyone else is focused and getting work done like a library. My intellectual home resides at my dining room table around 2:00 PM. The table in the dining room is spacious providing space for my binder and laptop, the temperature in the room is not too hot or cold bust just right, and I like to get work done around 2:00 PM because this is when the house is most quiet due to my parents being at work and brother being in school. My motivation for doing my work is to be as smart as I can be which helps me become the best version of me. While my intellectual home centered around the dining room, the author Sherman Alexie of “Superman and Me” does his best reading anywhere he sees an area containing words and is motivated by not wanting to become some unintelligent Indian boy.
In order to explain this comparison, I will first examine both Sherman Alexie and my intellectual home and how they are different. Secondly, I will point out similarities between our motivation to do our best academic work. Then I will briefly go through my process of doing my best work and show how it can compare to Sherman Alexie’s own process. Lastly, I will describe what my “dream” intellectual home would look like and why I believe this will improve my academic abilities.
As mentioned before my intellectual home is at my dining room table. When thinking of home I think of the a place where I let my guard down which makes me comfortable. Which is why my best work can be at home. I choose the dining room table because it is cool, a lot of space for supplies on the table and a comfortable chair. Most importantly it is a quiet area. Since the noise level is an important factor when getting work done; time management is important. Around 2 o’ clock is when I like to study because my family is not in that area due to my parents leaving for work and my brother being in school. In “Superman and Me” by Sherman Alexie it states, ” I read books at recess, then during lunch, … I read books in the car” This shows that Sherman Alexie did not have to be in an certain area he just needed to be where a book was to get to his process of becoming a better reader.
Self improvement and striving to become the best person I can be is what I want to say I accomplished when my life is all said and done. I believe everyone should strive everyday to try to become the best version of themselves. I can not see another way to live. This idea that having this mindset will inevitably put me in positions and places I could only imagine being is what keeps me going. Sherman Alexie motivation for reading has some similarities to mine. In the text it states, “As Indian children, we were expected to fail in the non Indian world… I refuse to fail. I was smart.” This shows that Alexie was motivated to become the best version of himself because when you refuse to fail in a world where you are expected to fail.
My process to do my best academic work is quite simple. The essentials is being in a quiet area with a bottle of water within reach and my phone away to prevent distractions. Sometimes when I feel like I am in a “flow” academically; I play music or put on a basketball game for some entertainment without getting distraction. This allows my to study for longer periods of time and makes it more enjoyable. Sherman Alexie took a different approach in his process of reading. The article says, ” I pretend to read the words and say ‘Superman is breaking down the door.’ In this way, I learned to read” This shows that Alexies process of reading consisted of reading words aloud whereas I decide to remain quiet.
My dining room currently is the best place I can be when I have an important paper to write or studying to do. But in my head I can imagine a greater place. If it was up to me I would have a desk in my room complimented by a comfortable gaming chair. My desk would be spacious and placed by a windowsill with a plant sitting on it. A lamp would be on my desk to light up my area for late night cramming before a test. In my room would be walls plastered with motivational quotes, role models and a vision board. At times i feel like the environment that I am in suppresses my potential because I dont have enough space to do what I want to do.I feel like my “dream” intellectual home is where I can continue and get closer to my goal of the best version of myself.
To conclude my intellectual home and Sherman Alexie intellectual home are different but is where we get our best work done. Our processes are different when getting work done. l like a quiet area whereas Alexie’s likes to read aloud. Also, our individual motivation to strive for greatness differ but it helps us become the best versions of ourselves which is the end goal.
Dawson Lockhart
1–Is the title of the article, the source, and the full author’s name provided in the first or second sentence? Be specific if something is missing.
Yes, a clear thesis is provided and Sherman Alexie is mentioned.
2–Does the student define the author’s Intellectual Home and their own?
Yes, the student defines his intellectual home as his dining room table at home.
3–Does the student explore a brief personal educational experience?
No, there is no educational experience mentioned.
4–Are the thesis and method clear? Yes, beautiful thesis.
5–Copy and paste your two favorite sentences from the students essay. Then explain why you like them. Sample explanation: not only is this an example of the college sentence, this sentence highlights an important turning point that you experienced in high school in a very clear way–I get it completely.
“While my intellectual home centered around the dining room, the author Sherman Alexie of “Superman and Me” does his best reading anywhere he sees an area containing words and is motivated by not wanting to become some unintelligent Indian boy.”-I like this sentence because its the thesis and a good one.
6–Copy and paste two sentences that are confusing. Then explain what is confusing about them. Sample explanation: you may have mixed up the terms Intellectual Home and Personal Anecdote, please check to make sure you have the right term for a brief account of your best exam experience ever.
There are no confusing sentences in this essay, everything is clear and it was well put together.
7–Make two concrete suggestions. Sample suggestion: expand the description of your room because that is where all your studying takes place–what is on the desk that makes you calm? Sample suggestion: instead of using the verb “like” three time in the first paragraph, consider different varying the idea by using “love” as in “I love my old computer…” Sample suggestion: when you revise your essay, change the lower case “i” to “I”–Prof. Scanlan will definitely say something about that. Sample suggestion: I suggest revising the thesis into the “While X, I think Y” format instead of writing two short sentences.
This is a good essay and the thesis is clear but there is much repetition of your intellectual home and little compare and contrast of Sherman Alexie’s, I suggest talking more about that creating more balance and while all other elements are present in the essay, I think putting your personal experience will make your essay even more beautiful.
1–Is the title of the article, the source, and the full author’s name provided in the first or second sentence? Be specific if something is missing.
Yes, a clear thesis is provided and Sherman Alexie is mentioned.
2–Does the student define the author’s Intellectual Home and their own?
Yes, the student defines his intellectual home as his dining room table at home.
3–Does the student explore a brief personal educational experience?
No, there is no educational experience mentioned.
4–Are the thesis and method clear? Yes, beautiful thesis.
5–Copy and paste your two favorite sentences from the students essay. Then explain why you like them. Sample explanation: not only is this an example of the college sentence, this sentence highlights an important turning point that you experienced in high school in a very clear way–I get it completely.
“While my intellectual home centered around the dining room, the author Sherman Alexie of “Superman and Me” does his best reading anywhere he sees an area containing words and is motivated by not wanting to become some unintelligent Indian boy.”-I like this sentence because its the thesis and a good one.
6–Copy and paste two sentences that are confusing. Then explain what is confusing about them. Sample explanation: you may have mixed up the terms Intellectual Home and Personal Anecdote, please check to make sure you have the right term for a brief account of your best exam experience ever.
There are no confusing sentences in this essay, everything is clear and it was well put together.
7–Make two concrete suggestions. Sample suggestion: expand the description of your room because that is where all your studying takes place–what is on the desk that makes you calm? Sample suggestion: instead of using the verb “like” three time in the first paragraph, consider different varying the idea by using “love” as in “I love my old computer…” Sample suggestion: when you revise your essay, change the lower case “i” to “I”–Prof. Scanlan will definitely say something about that. Sample suggestion: I suggest revising the thesis into the “While X, I think Y” format instead of writing two short sentences.
This is a good essay and the thesis is clear but there is much repetition of your intellectual home and little compare and contrast of Sherman Alexie’s, I suggest talking more about that creating more balance and while all other elements are present in the essay, I think putting your personal experience will make your essay even more beautiful.
Dawson,
This is a great first draft. Solid set up and solid writing throughout.
Selena: good peer review. Helpful suggestions.
-Prof. Scanlan