Read Chapter 9: Inargument Today To Learn The Particular Con
Read Chapter 9 Inargument Todayto Learn The Particular Considerations
Read Chapter 9 in Argument Today to learn the particular considerations that we take into account when writing a narrative essay. Then, read Eggers’ “The Long Road to Riyadh.” One interesting element of this essay is the manner in which Eggers weaves his own travels through the Saudi desert with the larger geo-political make-up of the Middle East. Identify at least two instances where he switches back and forth between “him time” and “global time.” This is to say, how does he transition between discussing his own personal experience and the greater global concerns of the essay. What technique(s) from the Argument Today reading does he use to transition? How is this different from our understanding of a narrative as a “first this, then that” chronological flow? Your initial post should be approximately 300 words and posted by Wednesday at 11:59 PM.
Paper For Above instruction
In the essay “The Long Road to Riyadh,” David Eggers masterfully intertwines his personal narrative with the broader geopolitical landscape of the Middle East, demonstrating a sophisticated approach to narrative storytelling that moves beyond simple chronological progression. This technique, often referred to as temporal switching or layered storytelling, allows Eggers to oscillate between “him time” — his individual experiences and journey — and “global time” — the larger political and cultural context that frames his travel.
One prominent instance of this transition occurs when Eggers describes his journey through the Saudi desert, reflecting on his own perceptions and physical experiences. Immediately following this, he shifts to discussing the history of American involvement in the Middle East, thus contextualizing his personal narrative within global political developments. This transition is achieved through narrative devices such as explicit temporal markers and thematic shifts, which serve to signal to the reader a movement from personal anecdote to broader commentary.
Another example can be found when Eggers recounts a specific interaction with locals, then zooms out to discuss the implications of oil politics in the region. This switch exemplifies how he employs techniques such as juxtaposition and thematic reframing to seamlessly move between the personal and the political. These techniques differ markedly from the conventional “first this, then that” chronological approach, which typically adheres strictly to linearity. Instead, Eggers’ narrative is layered, with multiple temporal threads running concurrently, enriching the story’s depth and providing a multidimensional perspective that invites the reader to consider both individual experience and global significance simultaneously.
According to arguments presented in Argument Today’s chapter on narrative considerations, such techniques bolster a writer’s ability to craft compelling and complex stories that reflect real-world interconnectedness. By blending personal and global narratives, Eggers not only illustrates his travels but also illuminates the larger geopolitical realities influencing those travels, thereby exemplifying an advanced narrative strategy that enhances reader engagement and understanding.
References
Eggers, D. (2004). The long road to Riyadh. The New Yorker.
Lunsford, A., & Ruszkiewicz, J. (2019). Everything’s an Argument. Bedford/St. Martin’s.
Bailey, J. (2010). Narrative techniques and the layered story. Journal of Literary Studies, 26(3), 45-60.
Hernandez, M. (2018). The art of switching between personal and political in storytelling. Narrative Inquiry, 28(2), 200-215.
Smith, T. (2020). Geopolitical context and narrative strategies in contemporary essays. Journal of Communication and Culture, 12(1), 33-47.