Said's States Essay Example
Colton Stiefel
Donna Turner
English 110
Final Draft
Unconventional Palestinian Vision “I like the way a wise man build a story in an unconventional way.” This quote by Jim McKay is very striking, and if one was to be curious, continue reading. The way which an essay is structured makes a huge deal. In order to keep a reader invested and concentrated on the main point then the structure, or form, must be clear and organized. However, when writing the essay “States”, Edward Said takes a very unconventional approach to writing as he describes his life experiences after being exiled from his country as a Palestinian. His style of writing does not follow a specific pattern, nor does it follow anything that is conventional in a normal essay. Said uses this unique style of writing in hopes to show the characteristics of the life as a Palestinian. However, this style of writing is extremely difficult to follow. The essay jumps from place to place, which makes it hard for the reader to keep track of what is being talked about. Said believes that his use of unconventional writing is necessary in order to establish the “hybrid” style of Palestinian culture. Styles discussed will include things like the use of photos, lack of transitions, multiple genres, lack of and introduction and conclusion, and most importantly, no logical organization. Through the use of unconventional writing characteristics, Said takes the reader on a complicated journey to establish Palestinian “hybrid” way of life. In “States,” Said includes multiple genres. The typical, conventional way of writing includes a focus on one genre. Said tends to switch back and forth between history and autobiography. When more than one genre is expressed, the reader may become confused by too much jumping around. For example, on page 548, Said is in the genre of history. He explains facts about the war of 1967 saying, “The 1967 war was followed shortly after by the Arab oil boom. For the first time, Palestinian
Donna Turner
English 110
Final Draft
Unconventional Palestinian Vision “I like the way a wise man build a story in an unconventional way.” This quote by Jim McKay is very striking, and if one was to be curious, continue reading. The way which an essay is structured makes a huge deal. In order to keep a reader invested and concentrated on the main point then the structure, or form, must be clear and organized. However, when writing the essay “States”, Edward Said takes a very unconventional approach to writing as he describes his life experiences after being exiled from his country as a Palestinian. His style of writing does not follow a specific pattern, nor does it follow anything that is conventional in a normal essay. Said uses this unique style of writing in hopes to show the characteristics of the life as a Palestinian. However, this style of writing is extremely difficult to follow. The essay jumps from place to place, which makes it hard for the reader to keep track of what is being talked about. Said believes that his use of unconventional writing is necessary in order to establish the “hybrid” style of Palestinian culture. Styles discussed will include things like the use of photos, lack of transitions, multiple genres, lack of and introduction and conclusion, and most importantly, no logical organization. Through the use of unconventional writing characteristics, Said takes the reader on a complicated journey to establish Palestinian “hybrid” way of life. In “States,” Said includes multiple genres. The typical, conventional way of writing includes a focus on one genre. Said tends to switch back and forth between history and autobiography. When more than one genre is expressed, the reader may become confused by too much jumping around. For example, on page 548, Said is in the genre of history. He explains facts about the war of 1967 saying, “The 1967 war was followed shortly after by the Arab oil boom. For the first time, Palestinian