UNIT 3 OUTCOME 3 Alternative Viewpoints Response Sample Structured Paragraphs

1. UNIT 3 OUTCOME 3Alternative Viewpoints ResponseSample Structured Paragraphs No sympathy for a boyhood jackal The Age May 15, 1995 Helen Elliot

2. Introduction • Helen Elliot in her review, No sympathy for a boyhood jackal, (Saturday Age, 15 May 1995)contends that Tobias Wolff’s memoir, This Boy’s Life,is a worthwhile/realistic/relevant.....portrayal of a boy growing up in 1950’s America, who had a difficult life but... (author/title/contention) In commenting on the ideas of morality and the possibility of transformation, Elliot maintains that utilising the style of a memoir was an important aspect in revealing his development. (key ideas in review)

3. PARAGRAP 1 – you could comment on Elliot’s view of ‘Jack’s’ character. Do you agree or disagree? Evidence? • Ellliotoffers a positive appraisal of ‘Jack’ in This Boy’s Life, writing of his desire to be compared to the ‘handsome, daring ruffian’ of Jack London. She proposes admiration for Wolff’s boyhood character in her comment that he wanted to be ‘...outside the boundaries of ordinary people.’(Evidence from the review) While this is true to some degree, ‘Jack’ was at times a character who was difficult to admire... (Offer your opinion with evidence from text)

4. PARAGRAPH 2,3,4 – What did she see as the key concerns raised by Wolff? What were her views/values regarding these concerns? Do you agree/disagree? • Elliot portrays a negative perception of 1950s America, (key concern) depicting it as .......... As a reader we can assume that she views The American Dream as...... (how she interprets Wolff’s perception of concern) • Her comment that ‘the place where things will be ok is always just over the hill...You are never quite there’, conveys the idea that there was no hope for the lower classes of 1950’s America, who were trying to improve their lives. However, on the other hand one could argue (what do you think about this concern?) that Jack and Rosemary constantly sabotaged any chance of improving their lives, evident when...............

5. Reviewer’s views on the key concerns raised cont... • Elliot believes that Wolff is ‘deliberately creating a moral universe’, and questions why. She is almost excusing his ‘fabricated’ retelling of these morally questionable events by saying he is making a comment about ‘reality, needs, desires’. (Analysing reviewer’s interpretation) In contrast though, one can argue that this is not a sufficient reason for his immoral behaviour...... (disagreeing with the reviewer – evidence as to why you think this) • Elliot’s views of Wolff’s moral values are questionable. Elliot endorses Wolff’s character by proposing that the reader looks at his antics in awe, that there’s a ‘wildness in Jack; he isn’t confined by moral frontiers...’. Many would disagree with this. .... • This is linked to her ideas on Wolff’s transformation. She excuses his poor behaviour in claiming that ‘He isn’t bad’. He’s assuming a pose...’. This is debatable...... (what is your opinion?)

6. PARAGRAPH 5 – Writing style/form/techniques • Elliot initially critiques Wolff’s utilisation of the form of memoir, commenting that that the ‘truth’ is questionable. It is possible to agree with this as we can see ...... • However, she continues by reflecting that this style encourages depth of writing, ‘subtle, chilling incisions into past incidents that reveal much more than the unrefined surface facts giving Wolff’s writing a quality that is uncommon’. It is true that a great deal is revealed beneath the surface of his writing, such as... (evidence of this) • However, we must question if his adult reflection of his childhood experiences is reliable. Elliot comments that Wolff’s ‘anger...when he was forced to live with Dwight, is never far from the surface...’, but in reality he seemed overly accepting of living with Dwight out of devotion to his mother. In this case the desire of pleasing his mother prevailed over his anger, something that lacked acknowledgement in his writing. (opinion of why you disagree with the effectiveness of a memoir)

7. CONCLUSION – how does the reviewer want the reader to view the text? Negatives of review? • Helen Elliot encourages the her reader to evaluate ‘Jack’ Wolff in a positive way. She excuses his behaviour by ................ (how she wants the reader to react to the text) Elliot wants her audience to gain a sense of hope in the possibility of personal change, against all odds.... In order to overcome the questions raised regarding the authenticity of his memories she................. Elliot works hard defy the moral value codes of her audience, but to what cost? It is important that the moral conduct be addressed so that the reader does not lose respect for the reviewer..... (your opinion of the review – positives/negatives)

8. Key questions to ask yourself about the review Link the answers to these questions into your paragraphs • What values is the reviewer appealing to in the reader? Eg. morality, honesty etc • Are they using these values to make you feel sympathetic for the character/situations OR to make the reader feel disappointed? • Do they use logical arguments? Eg. memoir can’t be trusted as it is not fact OR memoir is not designed to be factual, but reflective. • Do they support ideas with textual evidence? What key areas does the reviewer deem as significant? Do you agree? Would you include others?

9. Overview - Key Areas • Characterisation – what is their view of ‘Toby’, ‘Jack’, ‘Tobias’ • What main concerns is the reviewer addressing? How do they ‘read’ these concerns? What is their viewpoint on Wolff’s ideas of identity, deception, family, American dream, • Style – form of memoir, features of writing – narrative point of view, imagery, structure

10. Vocab...... Critiques reflects Validates condemns Queries challenges Questions In contrast Argues Similarly Endorses Alternatively Condones Affirms

11. Contrasts/Comparisons... • Elliot conveys the idea that ............... however it is possible to view this in another light......... • Elliot endorses the view that..... • In contrast, one could argue that.... • Whilst Elliot maintains that...one can dispute this .... • This viewpoint can be further developed by... • Elliot’s sound opinion that ..... • The positive portrayal can be agreed with due to...