THE LOSS OF THE CREATURE

1. Argument

The author wants me to believe that having a prepackaged notion about something can cause someone to have a symbolic complex in his mind that prevents him from seeing the true essence behind it. This claim is implied rather than stated. He answers a question of value as to what may be the best way for one to approach a subject (Percy 460).

• Support

The author wants me to believe the claim for reasons best explained through examples. First, he says that someone who gets to learn about the Grand Canyon from the media and wants to visit it goes for purposes of comparison rather than discovery. He does not go with the intention of discovering things for himself. Instead, he opts to go with the foreknowledge and use it as a point of correlation. He argues that in most cases, he fails to see the facts and beauty of the place but instead what the most shouting differences are available. Second, the author says that it would be harder for a literature student to understand a piece of literature by Shakespeare than it would be for a man in Huxley’s Brave New World. This is because the literature student would most likely be reading the works for the sake of his exams while the man would be reading with deep interest and for sheer pressure. He would hold the works close to his heart as the works of a great but unknown author (Percy 461).

• Warrant

The author’s claim is warranted by the fact that, indeed, students do better and understand better, those things for which they are not tested. While reading is close to the hearts of some, they still feel better studying on those things for which they are not tested. Furthermore, a man is better able to perform in that thing to which he holds close to his heart. Great people are those people who have means to pursue those things for which they are endeared to (Percy 463).

• Backing

The author backs up his warrants using simple real life experiences. He, for example, says that the idea of carrying a camera is rather distractive. It helps only to get information which can be attained from elsewhere without really visiting the park. As a matter of fact, in most cases the pictures are not even referred to later. Sometimes the pictures do not even get printed once the journey is over.

• Rebuttal

The statements are not always true. It is indeed true that some literature would be understand the sonnets of literature than someone who has no foundation or need to study literature. The prior knowledge of a place may also be used to better understand what is at the Grand Canyon. Having some information may help the person better prepare for the visit to the grand Canyon and even make his stay more comfortable. About the usage of a camera, it can help to take photos of places so that you make some analysis later (Percy 471).

• Use of qualifiers and probable terms

The argument does not use qualifiers. He instead also stays away from probable terms. He just simply implies the argument using simple words.

• Is he convincing?

Through the use of examples, the author’s argument is very convincing.

Works Cited

Percy, Walker. “The Loss of The Creature.” The Message in the Bottle. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1975. 457-474. Print.