NAME: Hayley Manges

CLASS PERIOD: 4
ORIGINAL COLUMN REFLECTION

1. How many words (total) is your column?

I have, unashamedly, surpassed the word limit. Though there was a limit to how many words I
was supposed to use, I could not have eloquently summarized what I needed to say and
have still gotten my point across, so I'm sorry.
2. What is the topic of your column?
My column is on the subject of sexism in schools, specifically my high school, to try to attempt
to give both students and teachers insight into how close to home the problem is to them.
Some may be oblivious to it, as I indicate in my column.
3. In third person, (that means you are not the author but a reader) delineate the thesis of the
of column by typing a precise first sentence of the precis (review the format carefully.)
In order to discuss the importance of eliminating sexism in schools, Hayley Manges, author
of "Sexism Through the Eyes of a Student," uses a plentiful array of pathos along with
insightful anecdotes to teach her readers about the importance of feminism.
4. Who is your audience, and what in your column gives credence to your answer?
My audience is primarily the students and staff of Riverside Poly High School, as my article is
based on the insight of Polys students and faculty, as well as Polys history. My feedback
on all of it is from the perspective of a student who sees and hears it all happen, and a
student from Riverside Poly would most relate.

5. What research did you do prior to and during the creation of your column?
In terms of research for my project, my inspiration came from observations I have made my
entire life on inequality in my schools, so I knew what I was diving into with my topic.
Because it is a social observation, the research I needed was clarification from others on
what their experiences with it were, so I used real life examples as my research. In addition,
I researched
6.

Number and list AT LEAST five (5) rhetorical strategies you mimicked from your columnist:
1. Puns 2. Idioms 3. Anecdotes 4. Simile 5. Analogy

7. Number and list at least three (3) additional strategies you utilized in your column:
1. Allusions 2. Telegraphic Sentence 3. Asyndeton

8. In a thorough paragraph, reflect on this entire columnist project process. What did
you learn? What were your challenges? What were your accomplishments? Did
any of your prior opinions change, etc., etc.
My columnist project has been a rather awakening experience--one of going "against the grain."
It seems that only a few months ago, when I would read news stories, I was too lazy, or rather
too gullible, to disagree with what I was hearing. Now, I realize that nearly every column I read,
even every news segment I see on television, is subject to bias. After being able to push myself to
identify it in Froma Harrop's, my columnist's writing, I now see it in news sources presenting
information to the public that is supposedly is factual. Supposedly. Disgusting. Though it was
challenging to face Harrop's pleads over time to believe her, and read her cookie-cutter, alwayssounding-annoyed syntax, I learned from her how not to write as an author, and how I should
always be deeply passionate in what I write about to avoid becoming a tired author of syndicated
columns that contradict one another. Thus, when I wrote about a topic I am passionate about, I
had a more convincing, driving argument that I was able to carry out and support with evidence,
completely different from Harrop's columns. From here on out, I promise to myself to seek out
the truth, and be wary of adopting opinions from the first source I hear about something. Thank
you, Froma Harrop!