Page 354 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing

Thinking About the Essay

1. A personal definition is often quite different from a traditional

definition. In what ways does Pogrebin’s definition of

superstition vary from a more traditional definition?

2. When writers describe a process, they use sequential or
chronological order. As Pogrebin describes how she acquired

her superstitions, she uses chronological order. Look at the

essay and identify three stages of Pogrebin’s life that were

touched by superstition.

3. Classification of ideas deals with types or kinds. In the essay,
Pogrebin outlines various types of behavior that allowed the

Evil Eye to operate. What types of behavior does she mention?

What do they have in common?

Examining a Poem

The poem that follows is by American poet Emily Dickinson, who

wrote in the nineteenth century. Her poetry was not published until

after her death, when her family unearthed 1,800 handwritten poems.
She remains one of the most beloved American poets.

Dickinson’s predominant techniques in this poem are definition and

process. She defines hope and describes how and where it works.

Hope Is the Thing with Feathers