Russell Baker On Becoming A Writer Analysis
Summary of an Essay
In the essay On Becoming a Writer, Russell Baker reflects on his journey as a high school student to discovering his passion for writing. One of the most important points in Baker’s essay is his struggle to accept writing as a respectable career and anything more than a burdensome school assignment. It was not until Baker had an inspiring experience involving one of these written assignments that he truly understood his calling and accepted his passion for writing. When he states that writing “gave me a way of thinking about myself which satisfied my need to have an identity” (para. 1), Baker is relating his experience to the struggle of every other high school student.
In a seemingly ironic scenario of a writer writing an essay about his previous disdain for, then love of writing essays, Baker shares his previously antagonistic view of high school English classes and their required assignments. He describes his third-year English teacher, Mr. Fleagle, as “notorious among City students for dullness and inability to inspire” (para. 3). Baker injects a bit of a comical, but slightly annoyed tone when he describes Mr. Fleagle’s appearance and mannerisms, particularly the teacher’s constant use of the phrase “don’t you see” when trying to engage students (para. 6).
When Baker details on of the assignments from Mr. …show more content…
I relate to his high school experiences because I too despised required writing and reading. Once I began to read novels or stories that peaked my interest, I grew to love reading. Everyone can think of specific encounters they have had in the past that may have ignited their passion for a subject or changed their views on a certain topic. In reading this essay, I am reminded of situations I encountered in high school or throughout life where I let go of my self-consciousness and was able to experience true
In the essay On Becoming a Writer, Russell Baker reflects on his journey as a high school student to discovering his passion for writing. One of the most important points in Baker’s essay is his struggle to accept writing as a respectable career and anything more than a burdensome school assignment. It was not until Baker had an inspiring experience involving one of these written assignments that he truly understood his calling and accepted his passion for writing. When he states that writing “gave me a way of thinking about myself which satisfied my need to have an identity” (para. 1), Baker is relating his experience to the struggle of every other high school student.
In a seemingly ironic scenario of a writer writing an essay about his previous disdain for, then love of writing essays, Baker shares his previously antagonistic view of high school English classes and their required assignments. He describes his third-year English teacher, Mr. Fleagle, as “notorious among City students for dullness and inability to inspire” (para. 3). Baker injects a bit of a comical, but slightly annoyed tone when he describes Mr. Fleagle’s appearance and mannerisms, particularly the teacher’s constant use of the phrase “don’t you see” when trying to engage students (para. 6).
When Baker details on of the assignments from Mr. …show more content…
I relate to his high school experiences because I too despised required writing and reading. Once I began to read novels or stories that peaked my interest, I grew to love reading. Everyone can think of specific encounters they have had in the past that may have ignited their passion for a subject or changed their views on a certain topic. In reading this essay, I am reminded of situations I encountered in high school or throughout life where I let go of my self-consciousness and was able to experience true