- In Hengel’s method, you make your observations of your text while developing a claim or argument. In this class, we did exhaustive documentation before taking time to reflect on our text and develop a claim. How could this help with creating a claim or argument? How could it make doing so harder? 5 sentences.
Hengel’s method could help with creating a claim or an argument through his use of organizational skills that will benefit an analysis. He starts with a macro question which is then answered by micro questions. This roughly means you start with a controlling idea (argument/point) and you answer this idea through an analysis. I think it would benefit me by giving me a three step guide to follow. However, I also think this may present a challenge. I often find it hard to come up with a thesis. Usually I write my essay and construct a thesis at the end, which contradicts what Hengel does.
- How would Abdurraqib answer Hengel’s questions about his subjects (Carly Rae Jepsen and Future)? “What do you see? What do you make of it? Why does it matter?” Cite evidence from the text. 4-5 sentences each.
Abdurraqib answered Hengel’s questions about his subject, Carly Rae Jepson, by making a claim and then supporting the claim. According to the text, it states “… EMOTION has been critically adored, despite disappointing sales totals. None of its songs have lit the Billboard charts on fire.” (page 25). This excerpt from the analysis makes the argument that there are disappointing sales totals. He then explains this by stating that it hasn’t hit the Billboard charts, which would mean it didn’t become popular enough to be heard by many listeners. Also, in the beginning of the analysis, Abdurraqib goes into detail about the race and age of people at the concert. This is a part of Step 2 of Hnegel’s steps to write an analysis.
Abdurraqib used Hnegel’s approach similar to how he did with Carly Rae Jepson. In the analysis Future, the writer makes a claim that heartbreak is real and deep. He then describes, using “micro questions” why heartbreak is real and deep. The text states, “… real and deep heartbreak after a romantic relationship falls apart… seeing them happy after they’ve left, seeing them beginning to love someone else, seeing them build a life that perhaps hoped to build with them…” (page 273). This shows the claim about heartbreak and then reasons why heartbreak affects someone. This includes seeing them with someone else and then loving them.
Ellie, I wonder if Hengel’s method might be useful as you write a conclusion for your essay: identifying your own macro-question and the micro-questions that helped you on the way. It may be that just restating these will give you a strong conclusion, a sense of “this is where this essay has been.”