Learning Outcome 2

For my chosen significant writing project, I decided to input my first formal paper of this semester, my essay on metaphors. I chose this essay because along with it showcasing my best efforts at revision, I also feel that it is my best example of integrating evidence and analysis. For example, in my first body paragraph, I introduce the author of the quote I am about to use by saying “In this talk, Geary highlights how important metaphors are to our thoughts.” By introducing the author, I am setting up context for the quote I am going to use as support. I follow that sentence with the quote itself, “Metaphorical thinking is essential to how we understand ourselves and others, how we communicate, learn, discover, and invent.” I follow that with my analysis, “To Geary, metaphors are important as they are a crucial part to understanding others in a way merely describing cannot. I can’t help but agree. Without them, we could never describe to a certain extent how we are feeling about a situation emotionally. Sure, if your chest hurts you can tell your doctor the pain is extremely bad, or you could tell them that the pain is like your chest is on fire and there’s millions of fire ants, holding poison ivy, running around and poking you with tiny needles. Albeit rather dramatic, it would get the point across much clearer.” This analysis not only connects the quote I used to my thesis and overall argument, but also expands the conversation and opens it up to further contemplation. I have used the same basis for all of the other quotes I used in this essay and in all of the essays that followed this semester.