Close reading verse the Controlling Idea

Close reading and finding the controlling idea may seem like two opposite views, but in reality they are more close to the same thing than many people may realize. Close reading promotes focusing on the details to come to the correct understanding of what the author it's trying to convey. The philosophy of the controlling idea encourages finding the broad overall point of the essay and dismissing the details. However, if you think about it, both close reading and the controlling idea are strategies to find the same thing, the author's purpose in writing the piece. In my opinion, neither extreme is right. In order to find the complete meaning of the essay, both the techniques should be employed. By finding the controlling idea, you get a general idea of the main purpose of the story and then in a second reading by using a close read, you will fill in the gaps and come to a deeper understanding of the essay. This fits my writing style very accurately because it involves using different strategies to find the single true point of the author. I would be interested in exploring the controversy of Equality in our governmental system. I would like to learn different people's views and form my own opinion based upon the facts.

Inventory of Concerns

A central trait of my personality is a love of the truth. What I believe is very important to me because it defines my entire life. Like everyone else, what I believe makes up my worldview, the context in which I understand everything else. Because of this love of truth I have a desire for knowledge. I pursue questions without answers. I like to think, to observe, to learn. At the same time, I also have a love for people. Making others happy and improving their lives brings me joy. I do not have a single slogan or phrase, but I can find humor in anything and a question in everything. As an effect my writing becomes mostly facts or logical arguments, rather than opinions, feelings, and thoughts.

As a writer, my tastes are very specific. I find much pleasure and accomplishment in writing a paper that conveys a point around a well constructed, logical argument. Because of this, I mostly enjoy writing persuasive essays. In contrast, I dislike writing about feelings, emotions, or any abstract idea that cannot be backed completely by facts and proof. If I could do any type of writing in the future it would either be technical, scientific writing or some type of journalism. My high school English teacher pushed me to be a better writer, which developed my writing skills and prepared me for English 101. In English 101 we wrote mostly essays about novels or short stories that we had been studying. We did one research paper in the context of a novel at the end of the year. Writing this paper was very interesting for me because it gave me an opportunity to make an argument on whether or not the writing of Mark Twain should be considered racist today. Research is an excellent form of learning because it not only improves one’s own knowledge but it also informs others by way of writing.