Reading Response Two

In Holmquist's research essay about drugs, I find his honesty very refreshing. While he incorporates sources into his paper while mixing in his own experiences I feel this is what gives the essay the sense of a discovery paper rather than just a regular old essay. The overall controlling idea of this essay is that even though he really likes doing drugs and they are not even that unsafe while taken in appropriate doses, that he will never do drugs again because of the effects he has seen drugs have on his friends. I thought it was interesting that he made this connection, and that the controlling thesis did not really come out until the end. Throughout the essay you had a sense of his attitude on drugs, but the first time he actually comes out and says "I admit it. I like my drugs. That's why I don't do them any more. I like them too much." [Holmquist B29] what he feels is in the very end which is pretty much explaining why he won't do them which is presented in a very honest, upfront way. I feel Holmquist shows a good way of providing research while balancing it out with his honest opinion as well. For example, "They are also extremely easy to get. In a recent survey, 51 percent of twelfth graders could easily et MDMA (Ecstasy use up sharply, 2001) And I know LSD and GHB are a lot easier to get." [Holmquist B25] This shows the author relaying information from credible sources while still making it more realistic to the reader by sharing his own opinions and thoughts. Overall, I thought the author did a really good job explaining the different uses of drugs while still not going over the edge and making the essay into some goofy story about why people do the drugs that they do.
Contrasting to the second discovery paper, Garrett-Brown explains why tanning is bad for you. Both essays take a topic that is frequently used to many people which have both positive and negative aspects. For example, a lot of people do drugs. A lot of people really do not think that certain drugs will have a long-term effect on you and sometimes solely do them as a source of recreation. This could be the same for tanning. Getting ready for a spring break trip or even just trying to make the most out of winter, tanning is a relaxing thing that a lot of people do throughout the year. Each cost money, each have relaxing benefits...but in the long run do people really understand the consequences of each? Skin cancer for the tanners, and possible brain deterioration for the drug users? The way Garrett-Brown explains the effects of tanning is pretty similar to Holmquist's essay. She shows genuine interest in the art of tanning, and even a certain fascination for it. However, she focuses a lot on the negative aspects like many people who are worried about their futures would be. However, not only does she focus on the negative aspects but she also focuses on what she calls the "Middle Ground". "[. . .] I'm not expert, so I sought proof of my hunch that the sun is really our friend and found it. Of course, I'm not condoning the 1976 'Savage Tan' or complete ignorance of the dangers of a depleted ozone and proof that severe sunburns lead to cancers, but I think there must be some middle ground." [Garrett-Brown 460] I think Garrett-Brown has a harder time explaining her controlling thesis and stating evidence to support her throughout her "discovery" paper. This might be because this essay is much shorter than Holmquists, but it also might be because her sources seem to be leaning a little more on the "why you should tan" side. I feel like if she had more of what she called "middle ground" sources throughout her essay, her controlling thesis might be made more clearly and everything might be more evident. For example, she makes it sound like tanning is bad by using the source that states "The Rural South These Days Has More Tanning Salons Than John Deeres" then by saying "A nice tan once meant you spent your days on the beach playing volleyball and swimming, hiking in the mountains or riding a horse, riding a horse, riding a bike around town or jogging in the afternoons; it was usually accompanied by fit and trim bodies and healthy smiles." To me, these two sources kind of cancel eachother out and make her look unsure.
These essays and Ballangers opinions on how to write an essay give me great insight on what I should do while looking up topics for my essay number two. A good thought by Ballanger, "Research is something writers naturally do whenever they have questions they can't answer on their own." [Ballanger 430]. I believe this is a good quote I should go by while deciding on what I should research and write on. I think I should pick a topic I know somewhat about, but also a topic I can find credible sources to research about. I can use these two essays we read about this week as prime examples by finding something I have passion on writing about, yet about something that I would like to back up with specific facts and quotes.