C.Non-Fiction Mids (2024)
- Musleh Saadi
- 5 days ago
- 16 min read
Assessment Rubric: All answers will be evaluated in line with the following rubric (all elements carry equal marks):
i) Correct grammar and spelling
ii) Organization of thoughts and ideas
iii) Accuracy of content
iv) Direct/indirect textual references
5- Coherence and Cohesion, Precisimism 6- Word Limit: 500 (Each Question’s answer)
Q: 1
What is dairy writing?
(a) What are the benefits of dairy writing?
Diary Writing
Diary writing is recording your thoughts, feelings, or experiences regularly in the manner of a diary, although on a daily or regular basis. Diary writing could serve as an excellent means for reflection as well as to document experiences and handle your emotions. Sometimes it functions with more artistic ends such as drawing, composing poems, or even creative lists to endow it as a personalized painting for your expression of yourself.
Benefits of Diary Writing
1. Emotional Expression and Stress Relief
Diary writing provides a personal and cathartic outlet for emotions and allows people to express feelings constructively.
Cathartic Outlet: Emotions pouring out on paper can provide relief from stress and contribute to better mental health as it offers a healthy way to release pent-up emotions.
Self-awareness: Discovering and exploring their thought processes deepens understanding about what emotionally makes them tick so they can handle challenges even better.
2. Personal Growth and Reflection
Maintaining a diary fosters self-improvement by reflecting on past experiences learned.
Progress tracking: Patterns of behavior and personal milestones through time will be revealed while reviewing old entries.
Wisdom from Experience: Reflecting on past experiences enhances understanding, offering valuable life lessons that contribute to wiser decision-making.
3. Improved Creativity and Writing Skills
A diary nurtures creativity and hone writing abilities by encouraging unfiltered self-expression.
Creative Freedom: Diaries allow individuals to experiment with ideas, storytelling, and artistic expression, boosting imaginative thinking.
Better Communication: Regular writing enhances vocabulary, refines narrative skills, and helps individuals articulate their thoughts more effectively.
4. Memory Preservation
Diaries are a permanent archive of life’s events, preserving memories and personal achievements.
Life Record: By documenting daily experiences, diaries become a valuable historical record of one’s journey.
Emotional Worth: Re-reading old entries evokes nostalgia and provides a fresh perspective on personal growth and the passage of time.
5. Stress-Free Problem Solving
Writing in a diary helps individuals approach problems with clarity and objectivity.
Clarity of Thought: Organizing thoughts on paper allows for rational evaluation of situations, encouraging innovative solutions.
6. Mental Health Benefits
Journaling is a therapeutic exercise that promotes mindfulness and emotional stability.
Therapeutic Effect: Writing can alleviate anxiety and depression by providing a safe space for emotional release, and fostering inner calm and resilience.
Goal Setting: Diaries help individuals set realistic goals and track their progress, cultivating discipline, focus, and motivation.
7. Financial Calculations
Diaries may be used to record practical daily expenditures or computations, leading to better management and awareness of one's finances.
Conclusion
Diary writing is much more than a log of daily activity—it is a multifaceted tool that enhances emotional well-being, personal growth, and creativity. It allows an individual to process emotions, preserve memories, and solve problems while fostering self-discipline and clarity of thought. By capturing life's milestones and inner reflections, diary writing remains a timeless practice that enriches one's inner world and provides a testament to personal growth.
Q.2. Diary of Anne Frank (Summary): Why did she start writing a diary?
Anne Frank's "The Diary of a Young Girl"
The Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank, is the profound, private, and poignant record of the life lived by one of the younger Jewish individuals during World War II. Composed when she spent two years secretly hiding with her family from the Nazi persecution in Amsterdam, it speaks of the innermost feelings and emotions she had experienced in her soul. An account both autobiographical and historical, reflecting the fortitude of humanity in impossible conditions.
Anne’s Initial Motivation
Anne received her diary, which she named "Kitty," as a gift for her 13th birthday on June 12, 1942. Initially, the diary was a space for her to express her thoughts and feelings candidly. As Anne described herself, she was a sociable and talkative girl but often felt misunderstood by those around her. Writing in her diary gave her a private outlet to record her inner world, free from judgment or misunderstanding.
In the initial entries, Anne focuses on her daily life—friendships, school, and family relationships. However, with the Nazi occupation escalating, her writings begin to take on the stark realities faced by Jews. She begins writing about the increasing curbs, including wearing the yellow Star of David and exclusion from public places, which indicates the increasing perception of danger her family was subjected to.
Going into Hiding
In July 1942, the Frank family hid in a secret annex behind Otto Frank's office. There, they were joined by the Van Pels family and Fritz Pfeffer. They lived in very cramped and stressful conditions, constantly fearing discovery. For Anne, her diary became a lifeline to help her cope with the tension, isolation, and monotony of life in hiding.
Anne wrote about how she did not have enough privacy, food was often in short supply, and she had constant arguments with her annex's inhabitants. Through writing, she also talked about her personal development and inner turmoil. She told her parents off, felt the stirrings of love for Peter Van Pels, and hoped for a brighter future. Writing brought her a sense of normalcy and control over a world that was spinning out of control.
A New Purpose for the Diary
In March 1944, Anne listened to a radio speech by the Dutch government in exile, which encouraged listeners to document their experiences during the war so that future generations would learn from them. This inspires Anne to revise her diary into a coherent account written for publication. She rearranged the entries, filled out details, and rewrote parts of it to try and convey the Jewish experience at the hands of the Nazis and the human spirit of resistance.
Anne's diary therefore began to serve a double function: it remained her private resource for emotions, but she aimed at making it a contribution towards the historical memory. The entire shift marked a tremendous growth and maturity in her, along with heightened consciousness of the general nature of her experiences.
Conclusion
Anne Frank began her diary as a private means of self-expression but ultimately created a document of historical and emotional significance. In her candid and eloquent writings, Anne chronicles not only her struggles but also her hope and resilience during one of history's darkest periods. Today, “The Diary of a Young Girl” serves as a timeless testament to the horrors of war and the strength of the human spirit.
3. Stereotyping, otherization, and suppuration of Anne Frank?
Through ‘The Diary of a Young Girl’, Anne Frank is one of the most prominent voices of the Holocaust. Her diary is a report of her experiences as a Jewish teenager hiding from Nazi persecution, and thus it gives insight into how the Nazi regime dehumanized Jewish people during World War II through mechanisms of stereotyping, otherization, and suppression.
Stereotyping
Stereotyping is oversimplified harmful generalizations about a particular group. It is used in most cases to justify the discrimination. The Nazi regime was perpetuating anti-Semitic stereotypes that portrayed Jews as greedy, deceitful, and destructive, fueling societal hatred. Anne Frank's diary illustrates the effect of these stereotypes on daily life. She recounts being segregated from society through measures such as wearing yellow stars, being banned from public spaces, and attending Jewish-only schools (Frank, 1942). These actions publicly marked Jews as inferior and reinforced their dehumanization. Anne’s personal reflections reveal how such stereotyping stripped individuals of their identities, reducing them to labels and making them targets for persecution. ---
Otherization
Otherization is the process of alienating a group by treating them as fundamentally different or alien.
Anne Frank’s diary captures the deep sense of isolation and alienation experienced by Jewish families like hers. Trapped in the secret annex, forced into hiding away from the rest of society, and separated from ordinary experiences and lives, with the constant fear of discovery, the Franks suffered. Anne reflects on how the Jews were portrayed as enemies of the state. That's a propaganda-driven "us versus them" narrative used to justify mistreatment. The diary vividly captures the psychological toll of such othering, as she mourns the loss of freedom and belonging. #
Suppression
Suppression is the silencing and repression of a particular group's rights, movements, and voices.
Anne's diary poignantly reflects the oppressive conditions under the Nazi regime.
She describes the numerous restrictions placed on Jews, including the prohibition of using public transport and visiting public places: "We couldn't do this and we couldn't do that" (Frank, 1942). This repression had resulted in having to live in secret, with Anne and her family being confined in a tiny, dark annex without sufficient sunlight, fresh air, or contact with the world outside. In the end, this physical restriction became an analogy of emotional suffocation brought about by the policies of the Nazis. The premature death of Anne in a concentration camp symbolizes the stunted voices of six million victims.
Themes and Message
Anne Frank's diary is more than a historical document; it is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of dehumanization.
Her experiences reflect how stereotyping, otherization, and suppression fueled the Holocaust, revealing the devastating consequences of prejudice.
Anne's reflections challenge readers to confront stereotypes, embrace diversity, and ensure that the horrors of the past are never repeated.
Her story lives on, as a reminder to people about compassion, equality, and the ongoing struggle against oppression.
4. Sensory Imagery
Sensory Imagery: A Plunge into the Realm of Power of the Senses explores the literary device of sensory imagery with its capability to evoke readers' sense organs- sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell—and thereby create in-depth storytelling. This review critically assesses the article through the suggested rubric.
Summary of Main Points
Sight: The article identifies the dominant sense in sensory imagery as being sight, which it says sets tone and provokes emotion. The sunlight filtering through leaves is a great example of how visual details create engagement.
Sound: The article claims that sound is a means to provoke emotions and memories. "The soft rustle of leaves whispered secrets to the wind" creates a very serene ambiance and enhances the atmosphere of the scene.
Taste and Smell: Combination of both taste and smell is related with nostalgia and familiarity. Describing the "freshly baked bread aroma" engages sensory memory and comfort at the same time, making this sensory aspect relevant to storytelling.
Touch: Touch imagery involves carrying texture as well as heat. When there is an example that contrasts "cool, smooth river stones" with "warm, sun-kissed skin," these senses provide a rich layer of feel to scenes to make them more real.
Literary Significance: As a means of deeper reader interaction, sensory imagery can become a tool for the kind of rich, memorable fiction that really touches readers's hearts.
Conclusion
The answer try to demonstrates the transformative power of sensory imagery, illustrating how it enhances the depth and richness of storytelling. By engaging multiple senses, authors can create immersive narratives that resonate with readers on a personal level. This literary technique is a vital tool in crafting compelling and memorable experiences.
As used, sensory imagery is not merely a descriptive technique but it is a tool for establishing emotional and intellectual associations, turning words into a sensory journey.
Q 5. Creative Paragraph of a dairy in which you use six types of sensory imageries?
The meadow was alive with the symphony of sensations. It had simplicity and beauty, connected to the heart of nature. The sun's rays gently danced upon dew-kissed grass and made everything they touched gilded. The meadow sparkled like a sea of tiny jewels as the rays from the sun Such visual imagery with vivid words filled my mind with wonder and placed me at the peace of the meadow.
Walking barefoot, the cool, damp earth beneath my feet offered a refreshing contrast to the sun's warmth caressing my face. This tactile sensation created a harmonious balance between the earth and sky, making each step feel like an embrace from nature. Surrounding me was a chorus of sounds—the sweet chirping of birds perched atop tall trees, the rustling of leaves whispering secrets to the breeze, and the steady hum of bees moving from flower to flower. This sound imagery painted a picture of life thriving in harmony, a melody that filled the air and quieted the mind
The air was filled with a mix of fragrances: the heady perfume of wildflowers mixed with the earthy scent of moist soil, refreshing and invigorating. I knelt down and picked a daisy, its soft, silky petals brushing against my fingertips, adding a delicate texture to the sensory palette. Nearby, a cluster of lavender swayed lazily in the wind, releasing a calming aroma with each gentle caress of the breeze.
Reaching in my grandmother's prepared basket for that warm baked bread smell, I tore off a piece and welcomed its crunch. Then down goes the first bite into some soft dough with a warmth spreading inside - all after pouring honey all over it in thin, sticky streams whose gold sweetness flows like that same sunlight put into nectar form. From this I enjoyed a flavor of eating by exalting the simple thing in life-a celebration.
I lay back against a strong tree trunk, the rough bark digging into my skin, gazing up at a sky painted in endless blue, sometimes broken by the drift of cotton-like clouds. A dragonfly hovered nearby, its iridescent wings shimmering with flashes of emerald and sapphire, adding another layer to the meadow's visual splendor.
The meadow, in its colorful and harmonious life, awakened all my senses. Every sound, scent, sight, taste, and touch grounded me in the present while inviting my imagination to wander freely. Life here felt timeless, reminding me that joy is often found in the smallest, most fleeting moments of connection with the natural world.
6. Fear of Public opinion? (Bertrand Russel)
(a) General causes of unhappiness
(b) three character issues unhappiness (Bertrand Russel)
In his essay ‘Fear of Public Opinion’, Bertrand Russell explores the negative influence of public opinion on individual happiness. He identifies fear of public opinion as one of the major causes of unhappiness, caused by social pressures, conformity, and the suppression of individuality. General causes of unhappiness and characteristics that contribute to it are also discussed in Russell's analysis. His findings can help individuals overcome these issues and live a more authentic and fulfilling life.
a) General Causes of Unhappiness
1. Fear and Insecurity
Russell identifies fear, particularly fear of social condemnation, as a root cause of misery. He argues that people often suppress their desires and avoid risks to escape criticism, resulting in an unfulfilled life. This fear constrains individuals, robbing them of opportunities for personal growth and genuine happiness.
2. Materialism and Misplaced Values
Russell criticizes modern obsession over material success and status: they are a poor replacement for real satisfaction. Authentic happiness, in his words, comes only from positive relationships, intellectual enterprises, and self-expression. Materialistic achievements are shallow and poor substitutes for these human values.
3. Suppression of Individuality
It crushes creativity and genuineness. Russell argues that individuals who cannot be their real selves are destined for misery because they seek others' expectations rather than being authentic to themselves. The repression of individuality forms the very core of happiness.
b) Three Character Issues Leading to Unhappiness
1. Timidity
Russell describes timidity as the fear of deviating from conventional rules and public opinion. A timid person avoids risks and challenges, fearing failure and criticism. This avoidance limits their potential for growth and fulfillment, leaving them in mediocrity.
2. Self-Centeredness
Overperception of self leads to misery, according to Russell, by creating unrealistic expectations. People who are self-centered have a tendency to overthink their interactions and, often, mistake neutral situations for critical or judgmental. This makes them withdraw into themselves, losing touch with the world and other meaningful people in it.
3. Pride
Vanity, or dependence on external validation, is another character flaw Russell critiques. Individuals driven by vanity rely on others’ approval to feel worthy, making them vulnerable to criticism and rejection. Russell argues that true happiness comes from self-confidence and intrinsic self-worth, not fleeting external opinions.
Overcoming the Fear of Public Opinion
Russell advocates for a life founded on individualism, intrinsic values, and a broader perspective. He suggests that one needs to overcome the fear of judgment by focusing on true interests and relationships. Ditching the fear of public opinion allows people to live authentically free from societal expectations. According to Russell, happiness is realized through self-expression, self-confidence, and rejection of superficial values.
Conclusion
In 'Fear of Public Opinion', Bertrand Russell depicts how social pressures and personal character defects lead to unhappiness. His criticism of fear, materialism, and conformity, along with his observations about timidity, self-centeredness, and vanity, remind one to live authentically. The philosophy of Russell reminds one to be individualistic, to seek meaningful relationships, and to live free from the shackles of social judgment, which leads to a more fulfilling life.
7. Types of Documentaries
Documentaries represent very powerful mediums of storytelling in ways that present real-life incidents, issues, and individuals through artistic and interesting approaches. Mainly, documentaries aim at informing, educating, or motivating an audience. This is managed in different documentary types mainly differentiated by style, approach, and intent. Each documentary type takes its approach to establishing a connection with the intended audience while ensuring factual relevance.
1. Expository Documentaries: Expository documentaries are the most traditional type, focusing on factuality and straightforward presentation.
Features: These films usually use voice-over narration, famously known as the "voice of God," to guide the audience. They rely heavily on archival footage, photographs, and interviews to substantiate their content. -
Purpose: Their primary aim is to educate or inform, providing evidence and facts in an organized manner.
Examples: Ken Burns' The Civil War’ and BBC's Planet Earth illustrate this type, offering authoritative, well-researched narratives.
2. Observational
Observational documentaries, also known as cinéma vérité, immerse the audience in real-life situations, capturing unscripted moments as they happen.
Features: These films avoid voice-over narration or scripted setups, opting instead for raw, candid footage often recorded over months.
Purpose: They seek to deliver reality in its raw and unfiltered form, providing the audience with a "fly-on-the-wall" view which allows the viewers to develop their own opinions.
Examples: Albert and David Maysles' ‘Grey Gardens’ and Steve James's *Hoop Dreams are examples of this genre of filmmaking that provide raw, uncensored lives about their subjects.
3. Participatory
Participatory documentaries consist of the active involvement of the filmmaker in the subject matter.
Characteristics: The filmmaker typically appears in the film and becomes an integral part of the movie through their inclusion with the subject. The intent of such films revolves around the filmmaker-subject dynamic and offers a rather subjective perspective.
Examples: Morgan Spurlock's ‘Super Size Me’ and Michael Moore's ‘Bowling for Columbine’ best represent this interactive feature.
4. Reflexive
Reflexive documentaries deal with the filming process itself, breaking into the fourth wall to reveal just how a documentary is constructed. This type of feature often raises questions about documentaries as a genre and whether documentaries can be considered real, thus opening up the creator's own choices and possible biases. The purpose would be to discuss truth and representation to help people think critically on the topic of documentaries in general.
Examples: The classic examples are Dziga Vertov's ‘Man with a Movie Camera’ and Orson Welle's' F for Fake’.
5. Poetic: Poetic documentaries focus on aesthetic and emotional appeal rather than factual narration.
Characteristics: They employ abstract images, sounds, and visual metaphors to create moods and induce thought, often abandoning a linear storyline.
Purpose: The aim is to evoke feelings or explore abstract ideas, leaving interpretation open to the audience.
Examples: Godfrey Reggio’s ‘Koyaanisqatsi’ and Ron Fricke’s ‘Baraka’ exemplify this style with their mesmerizing visuals and soundscapes.
6. Performative
Performative documentaries explore subjective experiences and emotional truths, often blending the personal with the political.
Characteristics: These films focus on the filmmaker or subject's point of view and use re-enactments, dramatization, or creative visuals to focus on emotional involvement.
Objective: They aim to connect emotionally with the audience, targeting the lived experience rather than fact.
Examples: Such films include Joshua Oppenheimer's ‘The Act of Killing’, which makes the audience witness very emotive or controversial topics.
Conclusion
Documentary types offer filmmakers a varied palette of tools to address different topics in creative and accurate terms. Whether it is expository films with straightforward narrations or poetic documentaries to create artistry, every one of these styles helps a story unfold while educating and motivating audiences. Balancing reality with creativity, these documentaries beckon the audience to delve into depth in understanding the subject under consideration, thereby widening vistas on the world and its dimensions.
8. Samsara (Documentary review)
Samsara (2011)
Samsara: A Visual Journey of the Human Condition
“Samsara” (2011) by Ron Fricke is an awe-inspiring and reflective documentary, that talks about life, death, spirituality, and the human condition. This film does not have a traditional narration or interviews, but rather it uses pictures and music to convey a sense of its journey of the cycle of life. "Samsara" is a term derived from Sanskrit, which means birth, death, and rebirth, all of which the film explores in its visual narrative around the world.
Summary and Narrative
Samsara is not a story in the conventional sense. Rather, it is a thematic journey across different landscapes and cultures, contrasting nature and industrialization, serenity and chaos, life and death. The film was shot over five years in 25 countries, presenting images ranging from sacred temples in India to the industrialized cities of China, from pristine natural landscapes to war-torn regions.
The lack of dialogue or voiceover adds to the film's meditative quality. Coupled with a haunting soundtrack composed by Lisa Gerrard and Michael Stearns, the visuals are speaking directly to the audience. This approach makes it easy for viewers to interpret the messages of the film based on their experiences, thus making it more universal and emotionally impactful.
The greatest strength of the film lies in its extraordinary cinematography. Ron Fricke uses high-definition 70mm cameras to capture meticulously composed images of humanity, nature, and industrial landscapes. The juxtaposition of serene vistas with crowded cities, factories, and military parades underlines the dichotomies in human existence. For example, images of Buddhist monks in prayer are starkly contrasted with those of busy urban life, which underlines the tension between spirituality and modernity.
The use of slow motion and time-lapse photography adds surreal and reflective dimensions, which allow the viewer to absorb the passage of time and the deeper implications of each scene. Fricke is unmatched in his ability to elicit emotional responses from visual storytelling, inviting the contemplation of how humans and nature coexist.
At its core, Samsara explores the cyclical nature of existence--birth and death, creation and destruction, growth and decay. The film depicts the impacts of industrialization and war on humanity and the environment while celebrating traditional cultures and human resilience. The documentary depicts rituals and spirituality in an effort to illustrate how different cultures seek meaning in life and death.
For instance, the peaceful ceremonies of the Buddhist temples and the dramatic portrayal of human sacrifice in South America are a stark contrast to the fast-paced imagery of the overcrowded cities. These images highlight the common need for bonding and understanding in a divided world. The paradox of human existence—peace and chaos, beauty and destruction—runs throughout the movie as it brings home the continuity of life's cycles that never fade.
Criticism
Although aesthetically brilliant, Samsara has been criticized for failing to make a direct statement. Themes are abstract or even too much for viewers who only understand through imagery as there is no narration in the film; it may make the insights piecemeal and demanding on the viewer's part for deeper interpretation of meaning.
At the same time, although it has touched upon the environmental and societal aftermaths of industrialization, there are no solutions or action recommendations on such a film. That way, ending without a resolution would raise dissatisfaction in some people's perception, as it never indicated explicitly how human beings are supposed to resolve the conflict between the modern and nature.
Conclusion
Samsara is a deep reflection into humankind, cycles of life, and forces influencing our reality. The documentary, in a way surpassing ordinary narration, really makes for reflection through beautiful cinematography, evocative imagery, and a haunting soundtrack. Though its lack of narration can be confusing to many, it somehow makes this movie present something universal regarding life. Indeed, Fricke's masterpiece reminds one to live in harmony with nature, people, and cycles of life.
Amazing 👏
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