Read “My Lost Mother’s Last Receipt” by Mara Wilson in Models for Writers, (pg.376) respond on class blog, and respond to one classmate’s post. Add no more than one response on each student’s post as your initial response, but you may add comments to reply to additional comments.
Use the following strategies to help as you respond to classmates.-Add on with differences or similarities
-Analyze rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, logos, rhetorical questions, figurative language, etc.,)
-Ask questions
-Make a connection (text to self, text to text, text to world)
Choose one or two of the following questions to respond to in approximately 200-250 words.
-Did Mara Wilson effectively utilize strategies to "show not tell"? Is her description effective?
-Do you think Wilson's strategy to end her essay is effective? Could she have accomplished the same effect through a different strategy?
-What is the purpose of sharing some of the 'small things' that Mara Wilson's sister asked about?
-Do you think Wilson's strategy to end her essay is effective? Could she have accomplished the same effect through a different strategy?
ReplyDeleteI think Wilson’s strategy to end her essay was effective because she tells her sister, Anna, that she could keep everything that belonged to their mother. It almost makes you, the reader, feel sympathetic for her, as if she was on the verge of tears as she was reminded of her deceased mother through looking at her old possessions. She most likely could have accomplished the same effect through a different strategy by being more descriptive, or using a third person omniscient where she could tell the reader what everyone was thinking, and whether they were genuinely depressed looking through the belongings of their mother. She also could have accomplished it by ending the story describing what her surroundings were, because just stating that her siblings and her were clearing out their garage doesn’t really give the reader a good idea what the mood was, nor does it set it.
I definitely agree on the fact that emotion was following in this last scene, however, I don't agree that the different methods you presented could work. If there was a third person omniscient, the reader would be told, not shown. I think it is better that Mara does not tell us directly so that when you realize what's happening, your sympathy is even greater.
DeleteThe story "My Lost Mother's Last Receipt" by Mara Wilson is a story about her mother who has passed away and her purse that they just recently found that was their mothers before she died. The receipt is for baby clothes for Wilson's younger sister.
ReplyDelete-Did Mara Wilson effectively utilize strategies to "show not tell"? Is her description effective?
I believe that Wilson did and did not effectively utilize strategies to show the reader and not tell the reader. Wilson did effectively show the reader what her mother was like when replying to her sister. It was effective because I got the picture of what her mother would do. She also did not effectively show the reader, because I didn't know what her mother looked like so I couldn't imagine her doing anything. She also was very descriptive but it did not help me imagine because she was not descriptive in making an image, she was more descriptive about what happened.
Daniel starts by describing what the essay is about. He says it is about a mother who just died, and her kids found out that her purse had a receipt for baby clothes in it. In addition, the story describes the characteristics of Wilson’s mom and the impact that she had on her kids. I agree with how he said that the description of the mother helped Anna picture how her mother would be. It would have been nice, as Daniel said, if the author gave a description of what the mother looked like. However, I can still imagine a caring mom helping her children. The author included lots of pathos to show how the mother was with her children. What tone do you think is achieved with the descriptive elements? Overall, Daniel did a great job of responding to the questions.
Delete-Shishira
What is the purpose of sharing some of the 'small things' that Mara Wilson's sister asked about?
ReplyDeleteIn the essay, “My Lost Mother’s Last Receipt”, Wilson describes some of the minor details of her mother’s life to her sister. Her sister did not get to spend many years with her mother because she passed away. Her sister had heard many of the big stories, but she wanted to know some ‘small things’. The purpose of sharing these small things was to let her sister know how her mother was on a regular basis. These things would also give her sister an idea of what she might have seen her mother do on a normal day.
Did Mara Wilson effectively utilize strategies to "show not tell"? Is her description effective?
Mara Wilson was effectively able to explain to the readers about what her mother was like. However, she doesn’t usually use the show not tell concept. For example, to describe her mother Wilson said, “She was talented and theatrical, and yet she never had a career. Instead she had five children. None of us could imagine anyone smarter or stronger than her.” In this quote Wilson is simply telling what her mother was like and not giving examples so that we can understand what she is like. However, some of the characteristics that Wilson described of her mother showed that she cared deeply of her kids. To sum, sometimes Wilson showed but other times she told.
- Shishira
Shishira begins with a brief summary of the essay which is very effective and moves on to answer two questions. One about Mara's sister and one about her description. Shishira answers both in depth and well.
DeleteShe then brings up a point that I didn't think about, how Wilson does indeed sometimes tell instead of show, even though I think that it actually works. I had been seeing mostly showing, but Shishira's examples proved to me that Wilson "showed but other times she told." which I think is a good way of stating it.
Overall, Shishira's response was good and effective, her examples helping her valid points. She helped me think differently about the piece, which I think shows good signs.
-Did Mara Wilson effectively utilize strategies to "show not tell"? Is her description effective?
ReplyDeleteMy Lost Mother's Last Receipt is an essay by child actress and author of scripts. This essay is about Wilson and her siblings finding their late mother's purse with her last receipt in it.
I think that Mara Wilson effectively uses show not tell to describe her mother. We get from her descriptions that she was great to spend time with and that her children loved her dearly, like how Mara says, "I'm grateful I had that (time spent with her mother), though I regret every day of time I took away from my siblings." Wilson also describes her mother's work ethic indirectly by stating "yet she never had a career. Instead she had five children. None of us could imagine anyone smarter or stronger than her." which also shows how much her children looked up to her.
Mara Wilson definitely was effective with her descriptions and I thought that it was a lot more powerful and impactful due to the fact that Wilson didn't simply list her mother's traits, instead she hinted towards them.
Claire starts her response by giving a brief summary about what the essay about. Then, she answers the question if Wilson successfully uses strategies to "show not tell". I partially agree with what Claire is saying about how the author effectively describes the love between the mom and children. It was good when Claire mentioned that Wilson and her siblings looked up to their mother. But personally, I feel like Wilson could have added more detail within her narrative to show what is happening rather than tell. It would further enhance her story. Overall, I liked how Claire responded to this question and the evidence she used was strong.
DeleteIn her response to Mara Wilson's "My Lost Mother's Last Recipe," Claire Chang analyzes how the author used the maxim "show, don't tell" in her story. In my response to the same aspects of the essay, I concurred. Claire's wise use of quotations carries ethos, because it is verifiably from the author, and logos because it is direct evidence. Claire is correct when she says that "it was a lot more powerful and impactful due to the fact that Wilson didn't simply list her mother's traits, instead she hinted towards them."
Delete-Did Mara Wilson effectively utilize strategies to "show not tell"? Is her description effective?
ReplyDeleteIn “My Lost Mother’s Last Receipt”, the author, Mara Wilson could have added more detailed descriptions to allow the readers to picture the narrative more easily. The story is about the author and her sister finding their late mother’s old possessions. They recall some good memories with her. Throughout the whole essay, there are times where the author could’ve added a lot more detail to enhance her point. For instance, the author writes, “On film sets, she never let me out of her sight. I was there to do a job and she was there to make sure i did it safely and took it seriously.”(377) Although these sentences do cover a good point about how much her mother cared for her, Wilson could have elaborated more on what her mother did on set to keep her on task and “show” what happened.
-What is the purpose of sharing some of the 'small things' that Mara Wilson's sister asked about?
Wilson’s purpose of sharing the ‘small things’ that her sister, Anna knows about her mother was to show that she didn’t have a lot of time to spend with each other. Wilson’s sister was only 3 when their mom passed away. At such a young age, Anna probably couldn’t learn deep things about her mother, only the basic ones. Mara Wilson conveys a sense of remembrance for what her sister recalls of her late mother. Based on what she said, the readers could tell that Anna didn’t remember much about her mom. So when she sees all of their mother’s old things, Anna is taking a good look at how her mother really was.
I agree with Sydney when she states that Wilson's could have been a little more descriptive, and that the purpose of sharing small things is because Anna probably couldn't learn deep things about her mother, only the basic or minor details.
DeleteI agree with what Sydney said about more details Wilson could have added more about what it meant to be lucid or not. I also think that Sydney was correct in saying that Anna probably did not have a lot of time with her biological mother and that is what Anna's reaction shows. Sydney's response is detailed and eloquently written.
Delete(I didn't mean to publish the last one yet)Elise cont.
DeleteI think that because Sydney added a quote from the text, it makes her response seem more knowledgeable than if she had not included it. I noticed that Sydney inferred that Anna did not get much time with her biological mother.
I agree with Sydney mara Wilson could have added more detail about her mother while describing her to her sister . im sure she would like to know more about her mom like what she acted like or what she was like as a overall person being that her sister did not get to spend as much time with her mother unlike mira. although she did share some good memories it just should have been more specifc
DeleteRyan Clark
ReplyDeleteMrs. Maxbauer
Non-Fiction Writing Workshop
7 August 2018
Did Mara Wilson effectively utilize strategies to “show not tell”? Is her description effective?
“Show, don’t tell” is one of the supreme commandments of creative writing. Mara Wilson’s “My Lost Mother’s Last Receipt” demonstrates the power of employing this maxim in writing. Wilson’s essay concerns the death of the author’s mother. Twenty years after her burial, Wilson and her siblings found a purse their mother owned while they cleaned her garage. Wilson informs the reader about her mother’s personality and character through memories and items that “show, [and] don’t tell.” The author explains that her mother’s “favorite movie was Sullivan’s Travels. [While] She hated Love Story,” (377) which demonstrates that her mother preferred comedy over romance, which may itself communicate something subtle about her personality. Moreover, Wilson’s mother was “the only Burbank Unified School District board member who could use two expletives in one sentence,” (377) which shows that her mother was tough and intimidating. However, as Wilson shows, her mother was deeply caring because “On film sets, she never let me out of her sight” (377). The author also shows how strongly her mother affected her children when she writes that “She never zipped or buttoned her purses shut,” my brother said. I smiled. I never deem to do that, either” (378). Wilson’s essay communicates the distinct mixture of love and pain children feel for their deceased parents not through bold, matter-of-fact declarations, but through subtle observations that carry more weight than explicit information ever could. Bad authors write about pain; good authors write about all the pain within the world. It is the melancholy of a loved one’s old things that epitomizes the sense of humanity Wilson wisely exploits. As Ernest Hemingway wrote in Death in the Afternoon, “If a writer of prose knows enough of what he is writing about he may omit things that he knows and the reader, if the writer is writing truly enough, will have a feeling of those things as strongly as though the writer had stated them” (192).
Do you think Wilson's strategy to end her essay is effective? Could she have accomplished the same effect through a different strategy?
ReplyDeleteMara's strategy, in the end, was to tell about how she allowed her sister to keep her mother's purse. Despite the fact that she had many precious memories with her mother, she still acted as if it was fine with Anna to take it. Perhaps this is just a way of her giving up and moving forward. She uses this narrative as the last goodbye to her mother. Maybe that's what she intended us to think and maybe not, but I feel as if this could be a partial reason as to why she concluded so. This slight pain you get in your chest when you read this almost makes you want to stop Anna from walking away. The fact that she thinks about her photos before giving them away is definitely a superb example of pathos.
I am not so certain about the possibility of there being another way to express this feeling. Perhaps there could've been a way to rephrase this section, but I'm not so sure any other idea would work. She's giving away her memories, something nothing other than this scene could not have replicated the sympathy we feel for her at that moment.
I agree with Eric that giving away her mother's purse away along with the memories is kind of a way to move forward and say goodbye to her mother. I also agree that giving purse away was a very special way to move on and it would be hard to find another idea to fill in instead of giving the purse away.
DeleteWhat is the purpose of sharing some of the 'small things' that Mara Wilson's sister asked about?
ReplyDeleteIn "My Lost Mother's Last Receipt", Mara Wilson includes small descriptions about her mother who passed away. At the beginning of the essay, her younger sister, Anna asks about things she did not know about her mother while they were sitting by her grave. Mara tells her that "She had a low speaking voice, but could sing soprano. She was so good at calligraphy she hand-lettered her own wedding invitations..." The purpose of sharing the "small things" about her mother was to help preserve Anna's memory of her because she was adopted by her stepmother, knowing little about her actual birth mother. Facts like when and where her mother was born does not hold much sentimental value, personality, and is supposedly more difficult for her sister and the reader to connect with, compared to the unique facts Mara gave her sister.
Do you think Wilson's strategy to end her essay is effective? Could she have accomplished the same effect through a different strategy?
Wilson ended her essay using pathos, and conveys to the reader that Anna did not experience the same things Mara had with their biological mother. On page 378, when they revealed the baby clothes inside the purse, "We turned to look at Anna. She sat still, looking straight ahead." It shows the reader that Anna feels less included and wants to connect to her mother like her sibling did, so she kept the contents inside the bag because Mara and her brother had plenty of pictures of their mother already.
In Margaret’s repsonse, she discusses the use of more personal details in Mara Wilson’s writing. She believes that the purpose of including these “small things” is to “preserve Anna’s memory of her” and to create more sentimental value. I definitely agree with this analysis, because I too believe that the main purpose of these details was to add more emotional value to the story and help Anna understand more about her mother. However, I also believe that these details were meant to describe her broader personality traits without specifically stating them. This “show not tell” approach was very effective in her story, causing the reader to understand more about Mara’s mother on a very personal level.
DeleteMargaret's response to Wilson's use of small descriptions takes on a view that I didn't really think about when I responded. While I had thought that Wilson used the details to illustrate Anna and her mother's relationship, Margaret suggests that the details are there to encourage Anna's knowledge of her mother. Now that I consider it, I think that we were both right. Wilson's addition of these details defines and encourages Anna and her mother's relationship.
DeleteClaire Liu
Sorry, Sophia's response wasn't there when I was writing.
DeleteWhat is the purpose of sharing some of the 'small things' that Mara Wilson's sister asked about?
ReplyDelete"My Lost Mother's Last Receipt" by Mara Wilson zooms in on Wilson and her siblings when they clean their garage and find their late mother's purse. Mara uses small details about her mother to show their bond and closeness, emphasising the use of "show not tell". It shows the amount of time Wilson and her mother were able to spend together. When Wilson's sister Anna asks questions about these details, it reveals that Anna did not have the close bond with their mother that Wilson had. These details also help characterise Wilson's mother and flesh her out as a person. By bringing Wilson's mother to life, the small anecdotes that Wilson inserts in her essay feel more cohesive and valuable. Anna's questioning of her mother's little habits and quirks adds a new element to Wilson's essay by showing relationships and adding details to their lives.
Claire Liu
In Claire's response, she talks about how the "small things" were included to show the bond she had with her mother, really showing the use of show not tell. She also included that the small anecdotes in her narrative make it feel more valuable. I completely agree with Claire, that the "small things" really show what type of relationship Mara had with her mother. It wasn't straight forward, but it left the readers with a question in mind, like, "why is this object relevant to Mara?" It later opens up to what Claire had said, that Anna didn't have a close relationship with her mother.
Delete-What is the purpose of sharing some of the 'small things' that Mara Wilson's sister asked about?
ReplyDeleteWilson included some things that her sister Anna remembered about her biological mother. She included 'small things' such as,"As a child, she once told me,'You made a face just like mama just now.' " I believe that the purpose of including such details was to show just how little time Anna and her biological mother spent together, and just how valuable it was for her to find her mother's possessions.
-Did Mara Wilson effectively utilize strategies to "show not tell"? Is her description effective?
I do not feel as though Wilson used the method of showing instead of telling as much as she could have. She should have added more detail about the lucidity of her mother and what that meant. She could have added more detail when she was talking about things like how her mother kept her safe. Wilson could have also elaborated on how her mother kept her focused. Wilson might have considered telling more characteristics of her mother so we could get to know her and really care about her.
In Elise's response to "My Lost Mother's Last Receipt" by Mara Wilson she summarizes the main points used in her response. In her first response, she states that the purpose of sharing the small details about her mother to her younger sister was to help improve the relationship with her deceased mother. She responds with clear and concise answers. I agree in her second response the author could be more descriptive when she stated that her mother prioritized the children, and in the differences in the lucidity.
Delete-What is the purpose of sharing some of the 'small things' that Mara Wilson's sister asked about?
ReplyDeleteI believe that Mara Wilson decided to share some of the “small things” to help the reader connect more with the mother described in the story. Mara could have simply discussed on a broad overview that her mother was intelligent or strong, but by including personal details, she has created a more defined character. This personal detail inclusion is also a method of subtly talking about her broader traits and interest without directly stating them, which makes reading the piece more interesting. For examples, Mara Wilson states that “She had a low speaking voice, but she could sing soprano.” This detail implies that Mara’s mother enjoys singing without directly stating that, which may have been a bit too bland for the typical reader.
-Do you think Wilson's strategy to end her essay is effective? Could she have accomplished the same effect through a different strategy?
I believe that Wilson ended her essay strongly; first by finding closure about who her mother was, and second, by utilizing pathos to help the reader connect more with the story. She states that “her last act... showed us who she was: a woman devoted to her children to the very end.” This helps the reader understand the most important aspects of who Mara’s mother was. Additionally, she includes some dialogue between her and Anna that ends up with her gifting the purse and it’s contents to Anna. Because she had discussed so much about Anna not knowing her own mother that well, it helped wrap up the story in a bittersweet manner.
Did Mara Wilson effectively utilize strategies to "show not tell"? Is her description effective?
ReplyDeleteMara Wilson didn't necessarily use too many strategies to show and not tell in her piece. Especially in something like a narrative, you want to show the readers what the setting was truly like. Wilson didn't really give the readers the portrayal that they wanted, but rather tried to explain the relationship between her and her siblings with her mother. I feel like she could've hooked the reader more if she used things like metaphors, similes, better word choice, better phrasing, etc.
-connor
DeleteI agree, and this can be seen through numerous parts in the text. The biggest one was when she could have "showed" the reader her mother's devotion towards her children. She could have perfectly used the evidence later in the story instead of trying to tell the reader. Overall, the piece was pretty good, as it appealed well with pathos, but her "show not tell" aspect was lacking. Would you agree?
Delete-Jonah Bahr
-What is the purpose of sharing some of the 'small things' that Mara Wilson's sister asked about?
ReplyDeleteIn Mara Wilson's "My Lost Mother's Last Receipt," she reminisces about her mother. Like all stories, authors tend to provide details behind a story or plot, to fill in the reader. This is most seen when Mara Wilson speaks to her sister on the memories and details of her mom. Not only does this help further the plot with Wilson feeding information to her sister, but gives insight about the type of person and characteristics of her mother. This is seen when Wilson tries to paint a mental picture of her mom in the text, for example, "She had been a beloved daughter, wife and mother — 'devoted to children,' the marker read" and “Her favorite movie was ‘Sullivan’s Travels.’ She hated ‘Love Story.’ She had a low speaking voice, but could sing soprano. She was so good at calligraphy she hand-lettered her own wedding invitations. She would help me write notes to the Tooth Fairy and set out grapes and raisins for her. She ate tomatoes like they were apples.” Although Wilson paints a well put mental picture, she fails in where it counts, showing not telling. Most descriptions she lists have the ability to be shown subtly in actions or quotes, but instead she uses the bland tactic of saying the characteristic outright. An example of this can be her mother being devoted to children. Wilson could have perfectly used the evidence later in the story to express that characteristic, but fails in doing so.
-Jonah Bahr