Sarah Kells: Outside Reading Reflective Essay #2

**EDITED**

http://www.mcsweeneys.net/2010/11/5schang.html
Nov 14
"Circumstances Under Which I Would Enjoy Whale Watching" by Sloan Schang

This essay almost has a whimsical feel to it, with four completely seperated sections about when and where the author would enjoy watching whales.  There is no purpose for this essay and there is not really a reason for it to be read, but it still leaves the reader feeling satisfied, perhaps because it reminds the reader of a child in a moment of pure joy.
Schang chose to write this essay in first person, which allows the reader to put themselves in the authors shoes and imagine what it would be like to be in Antartica, or to be a child watching a show in an aquarium.  The descriptions and details used also bring the feelings to life, such as in the fourth section where Schang describes Brett as a "sandy blonde man" with a "pouch of fish at his side."
Another intriguing style choice used in this essay is the change in the author from an old man in the first section to a young child in the last.  Although the different sections are detached and completely seperated, it is still intriguing to see the difference in tone between all four of them, changing gradually from the formal and mature diction of the first to the less advanced and slightly repetative word choice of the final section.  In the first paragraph, the author describes himself as "seasoned," and alludes to David and Goliath.  The mature diction used is shown when Schang writes " my shock-white beard has been growing for a full ten months and is now at the ideal length to command the respect and loyalty of my dedicated six-person crew."  The fourth paragraph uses the word "Shamu" over and over again, and the punctuation includes question marks and exclamation marks, which often make a paper seem much more child-like.  Also, when Schang writes "DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN TOUCH REAL LIVING STING RAYS AS MUCH AS YOU WANT HERE?" in all capitals, it emphasizes the child's point of view.  The second and third paragraphs are very similar, as they both seem to be written by men in their early twenties, and the paragraphs are very focused upon the idea of women and fame.
Although the style changes, all four of the paragraphs are very written.  Even so, this paper would not work for an AP essay because it is written in first person and there is no specific tone throughout.  It also is written much too casually for an AP essay, as if this were a note written from one friend to another, rather than an actual essay to be read by somebody searching for an opinion on a matter.