Interest Initiates Learning Essay

In Gerald Graffs turn up, Hidden Intellectualism, one is exposed to the authors view of different message of intellectualism. Graff gives the reader an uncommon perception of what it means to be an intellectual. He expresses his views by stating that a person can be an intellectual in fields that have nonhing to do with academia, a lot(prenominal) as street smarts or particular interests. He also states that if you take these particular interests in the classroom, students deemed as unintellectual would be more likely to clutch pedal the taught heartys. These students could then perform to their true potential. To begin with, Graff uses many forms of logic to yield the reader into his point of view. By employing logos into his writing he states discursive arguments of how many students are street smart or interested in other things. Graff guides the reader into the realization that if a student is interested in a subject, it is only logical that when the subject is incorpo rated into the learning material then the student will comprehend the concept more easily. Graff states that they would be more prone to take on intellectual identities if we encourage them to do so at first on subjects that interest them rather then ones that interest us (Graff 199).Next, Graff uses his personal experiences to help the reader connect with his ideas done pathos. He tells us how, as a young man, he did not consider himself an intellectual and was not interested in scholarly matters. I offer my own adolescent experience as a showcase in point. Until I entered college, I hated books and cared only for sports. (Graff 199) He subsequent reflects his newfound thoughts on intellectualism as he states, I have belatedly come to think, however, that my preference for sports over schoolwork was not anti-intellectualism so much as intellectualism by other means. (Graff 200) He then allows the reader to sympathise and relate by informing us that he grew up torn, then, amid the need to prove that he was smart and the fear of a beating if he prove it too well. (Graff 200)Last but not least, by using ethos, Graff establishes his credibility. He writes extremely well and refers to other well known authors in his essay such as George Orwell, Students do need to read models of intellectually challenge writingand Orwell is a great oneif they are to become intellectuals themselves. (Graff 199) He also speaks of the 1950s, a time period when opinions on intellectualism varied and reinforces his recital by supplying a real life example when Marilyn Monroe marry playwright Arthur Miller after divorcing baseball star Joe DiMaggio.It was the symbolic ecstasy of geek over jock and suggested the way the wind was blowing. (Graff 201) Overall I personally agree with Graff. As a student myself I scent that learning would be much easier if it was associated with things that I found to be elicit and enjoyable. I feel at times that the education system is very(pr enominal) set in its ways. Times and people are changing, and so should the methods of pedagogics and involving students in the classroom. Many people with great potential might be limited by their lack of interest and may never be able to display to the world what they are capable of without Graffs vision.