Approach

Q: if a tree falls in the forest and there is no one around to hear it does it make a
sound?
A: I didn’t. The idea behind this question is an important concept in philosophy.
The words objective and subjective are derived from the object and subject. An
object is something which is metaphysical, real, and existing independent of our
perception of it. A subject is something which observes, usually a person or
observer of some kind.
Something is objective if it is independent of our opinions on it. It exists without
observation. A property is objective if particular objects can have that property
regardless of any subject’s opinion about that object. If you believe that sounds
are objective, then you think that a tree falling in the woods makes a sound even
if no one hears it.
If something is subjective, that means that it depends on a subject for its
existence or properties. It means that it is our perception of the particular object
which gives it particular properties. If you thought that something making a sound
was subjective, (the idea of making a sound was only something that we as
subjects invented and created and only could be in some way to find or exist if
there was a subject to observe it), then you would claim that if no one heard the
tree falling in the woods, it would not make a sound.
Some people might claim then that it is subjective making a sound and therefore
if a tree falls in the woods and no one hears it, it doesn’t make sound.
While I may have one subjective experience and you may have another (perhaps
different emotions when faced with a particular situation), objective facts cannot
be different depending on who perceives them. The objectives facts in facts about
the object the subjective facts are facts about our experience or subject
experience of that object. If something is objective, then it cannot depend on who
is perceiving it for its truth.
Generally speaking, it comes down to the difference between fact (objective) and
opinion (subjective). Objective information has the ability to be counted or
described. Subjective information on the other hand can consist of statements of
judgment, assumption, belief, suspicion, or rumor.
Objective information does not vary, whereas subjective information can vary
greatly from person to person or day to day. Subjectivity can actually be wrong, or
far from the truth, whereas objectivity means being as close to the truth as
possible. Often objectivity is used in a decision making process, whereas
subjectivity should be considered, but less strongly so.
Uses In The Real World:
A prime example of where to find subjective and objective styles right next to
each other is in the newspaper. Reporters most generally hold themselves and
their writing to a high level of objectivity. They present the facts and do not offer
their own opinions when it comes to their presentation. However, the editorial
section of a newspaper is where one can find subjectivity. These articles can
present the facts, in some cases the same as the objective ones, but will also
include the writer’s viewpoint and opinion.
Encyclopedias and other guides, manuals, and textbooks are more often than not
homes for objective writing. They include hard facts without offering an opinion
on the material. Think about it – have you ever read an encyclopedia entry about
a bug that finished by saying “and they are very disgusting to look at?” You have
not. This is because such a statement is not an objective fact; it is instead a
subjective viewpoint and therefore has no place in the writing.
Objective And Subjective Use In Language:
When it comes to writing about subjective or objective information, you need to
familiarize yourself with the kind of language used to communicate it. Often times
these phrases can be used as clues to understand what you are reading and
whether it is subjective or objective.
Objective language includes phrases such as: “I saw,” or “I counted,” or “I
observed.” Detailing what a person “did” is another clue that writing is objective
rather than subjective. If something has actually happened and the writer or
speaker is simply relaying that information, they are making simple statements of
fact. In subjective writing, words are often added to these phrases to make them
more than just fact – and in doing so, they become inferences. By starting a
sentence with “she did not want to,” you suppose the feelings of the person. The
same goes for “she thought,” “he feels,” or “they were trying to.”
Each one of those statements presents an opinion on the action as opposed to
just stating the action itself. That turns it into a subjective observation because it
is your opinion as to the deeper meaning of why something happened or was
done. (If a person has relayed how they felt, remember that relaying this
information as a statement they made will make it clear they are the source of
that information and will help it to be more objective.)
Objective refers to objects and events in the world that anyone can, in principle,
observe. Subjective refers to feelings and experiences that depend on the
individual's own particular viewpoint and traits
Activity:
1. Jonathan did not fight with Kyle because he is a good boy.
2. Michelle slowly approached Leah’s group of children, and softly spoke to
Leah, “May I play?”
3. I hate spaghetti.
4. Terri was in the block corner, building a tower. He has excellent eye-hand
coordination.
5. Marcie walked into the room this morning as if she were mad at the world.
6. Mark’s friend Rob was playing in the play grocery store taking empty food
boxes off the shelves, so Mark watches him for a minute and begins to take
the boxes off the shelves and places them in a toy shopping cart.
7. Patty was mad at Lucia.
8. Jane lost her temper when she saw the big mess.
9. Jane walked into the art room. There was paint dripping down the side of
the cupboard and splattered across the walls. She wailed, “Okay, I have had
about enough!”
Point-of-View (POV)
Definition
Point of view is what the character or narrator telling the story can see his/her
perspective. The author chooses “who” is to tell the story by determining the
point of view. Point of view is a reflection of the opinion an individual from real
life or fiction has.
Narrator: the person who tells the story. There are different types of narrators,
such as internal and external. Each narrator will have his/her own perspective or
POV as the story is told.
Viewpoint: the perspective at which something is seen. If three people see an
accident, each person will have his/her own version of what happened depending
on where the person was at the time it happened.
Examples of point of view belong to one of these three major kinds:
First person point of view, the character is telling the story. It involves the use of
either of the two pronouns “I” or “we.” Other indicators include the main
character saying "mine, my, or us" when speaking about his experiences or
thoughts. This point of view is commonly used for narratives and autobiographies.
It can be singular or plural. The singular form uses “I” or “me” and plural form
uses the word “we.” Both are used to give the writer’s personal perspective.
 “I felt like I was getting drowned with shame and disgrace.”
 I always look forward to my summer vacation at the beach. I like to collect
seashells and swim in the ocean.
 We love walking the dogs in the woods. We all think it is so much fun.
Second person point of view, the writer has the narrator speaking to the reader.
The words you, your, and yours are used. Some common uses for second person
point of view are directions, business writing, technical writing, song lyrics,
speeches, and advertising.
 Sometimes you cannot clearly discern between anger and frustration.
 In just a few simple steps you can make a big change in your life!
 When getting rid of a drain clog, first turn off the water.
Third person point of view has an external narrator telling the story. It uses the
pronouns like he, she, it, they or a name.
 Stewart is a principled man. He acts by the book and never lets you deceive
him easily.
 She was the one who knew all the answers on the test. She had the highest
grade in the entire class.
 What they told her was not the truth.
The narrator is describing what’s seen, but as a spectator. If the narrator is a
character in the story, then we are reading what he/she observes as the story
unfolds. This narrator has 3 possible perspectives.
Limited – the narrator sees only what’s in front of him/her. The reader only know
what is happening to one specific character.
Omniscient – the narrator sees all, much as an all knowing god of some kind. The
reader knows what all the characters are doing in the story. This is common with
an external character, who is standing above, watching the action below.
Limited Omniscient – the narrator can only see into one character’s mind. He/she
might see other events happening, but only knows the reasons of one character’s
actions in the story.
Function of point of view
Point of view is an integral tool of description in the author’s hands to portray
personal emotions or characters’ feelings about an experience or situation.
Writers use a point of view to express effectively what they want to convey to
their readers.

Activity: Pronoun perspective

Form a group of three, 1st person, 2nd person and 3rd person. Select one student to
perform an everyday activity, such as making a sandwich. The student will narrate
each step using first person pronouns as he completes it. For example, “I am
placing two slices of bread on a plate.”
Write the student’s sentence in the 1st person column. Then, choose other
students to restate the same sentence in 2nd and 3rd person, writing their
sentences in the appropriate column.
2nd person: “You are placing two slices of bread on a plate.”
3rd person: “He is placing two slices of bread on a plate.”
Repeat the process for all steps of making a sandwich.
Structure
Remember:
Chrono = Time
Logic = Order
Stories are told chronologically or in order of time.
Example: This morning was crazy. My alarm clock was set for PM instead of AM,
so I woke up really late. I just threw on some clothes and ran out the door. I rode
my bike as fast as I could and thought that I was going to be late for sure, but
when I got there everyone was outside and there were fire trucks all lined up in
front of school. I guess somebody pulled the fire alarm before class started. It
worked out though, because nobody really noticed or minded that I was tardy.
What is Flashback?
Flashback is a device that moves an audience from the present moment in a
chronological narrative to a scene in the past. Often, flashbacks are abrupt
interjections that further explain a story or character with background
information and memories.
Examples of Flashback:
Flashback can occur as a sudden thought sequence, a hazy dream, or a vivid
memory. It can be announced or unannounced in the line of narrative.
Example 1
For example of flashback, consider the following short story interrupted by
flashback:
A man is about to give a speech to a large audience on biology. Suddenly, he
remembers playing with frogs and toads in his backyard as a curious child. He
smiles at the memory, and then begins to speak to the audience about a new,
groundbreaking finding about frogs.
In this example, the flashback happens when the man remembers his childhood.
The flashback serves to reveal that the man had an early passion for animals and
has now, as an adult, made a fantastic discovery in that area of science.
Example 2
Here is another example of flashback as a memory:
A woman is about to get married. As she puts on her veil, she remembers her
fiancé three years before, swearing he would make her his wife someday. A tear
comes to her eye and she prepares to walk down the aisle.
Here, the flashback is the memory of the woman’s fiancé three years before. The
memory serves to show that her fiancé was sure of their relationship early on,
and that his prediction has come true. The memory brings a tear of happiness to
her eye.
Examples of Flashback in Literature:
Flashbacks provide poems and prose with a more interesting landscape than a
purely chronological narrative. They explain personalities and actions of
characters and explore the significance of memories recalled in the present
moment.
Example 2
For a second example of flashback, read the beginning of Howard Norman’s novel
The Bird Artist:
My name is Fabian Vas. I live in Witless Bay, Newfoundland. You would not have
heard of me. Obscurity is not necessarily failure, though; I am a bird artist, and
have more or less made a living at it. Yet I murdered the lighthouse keeper, Botho
August, and that is an equal part of how I think of myself.
I discovered my gift for drawing and painting birds early on.
Norman begins the narrative in the present and introduces the reader to Fabian, a
character who is a bird artist but also a murderer. Such a shocking introduction
then smoothly launches us into the past, where the story of the artist as a young
boy begins. Beginning in the present with an admission of murder and then
launching into a peaceful past creates suspense, as the reader wants to know why
or how Fabian has become a murderer. It also serves to give Fabian a backstory.
Examples of Flashback in Pop Culture:
Flashback is an important aspect of many movies, television shows, and songs.
Flashback serves to provide a backstory for characters, explaining how they have
come to be how they are now. They also serve to complicate plots by interrupting
the linear narrative.
Example 1
In Disney’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the Grinch’s adopted parents explain
how the Grinch came to hate Christmas in a flashback to his childhood. This scene
in itself employs flashback when the Grinch remembers his teacher advising
children to dress well and bullies making fun of him. This flashback explains the
Grinch’s hatred for Christmas but also makes him a sympathetic character as he
has been bullied and outcast for being different.
Related Terms: Flashback vs. Flashforward
Flash-forward, also known as prolepsis, is the rhetorical device in which a
chronological narrative is interrupted and launched forward in time. Flash-
forward is the opposite of flashback, as it shows events in the future or imagined
future rather than in the past. Both devices, though, serve to tell more about a
story and to interrupt the linear narrative.
Here is an example of flash-forward versus flashback:
Story: Blake meets Sarah at a bookstore.
Story with Flash-forward: Blake meets Sarah at a bookstore. What he does not
know is that one day she will become his girlfriend.
Story with Flashback: Blake meets Sarah at a bookstore. Upon seeing her, he is
launched into a childhood memory of a similar girl, a childhood crush, with
brunette hair and blue eyes.
The flash-forward provides us with the knowledge that Blake and Sarah will
eventually begin a relationship together. The flashback, on the other hand, shows
us why Blake was first attracted to her—she reminds him of a childhood crush.
Parallel structure
Parallelism is a speaking or writing technique in which you communicate more
powerfully by balancing different parts of your sentence. When we create a
sentence that has parallel structure, it means that when we have a list of items in
our sentence, all of the forms of speech should be the same.
Example: you have verbs, verbs, verbs; nouns and nouns; adjectives and
adjectives; adverbs, adverbs, and adverbs.
But in real life when people speak and write, they don’t always do that. Some of
the benefits that you will get when you start creating sentences with parallel
structure are that your sentences will have more weight, more balanced, more
rhythm to them, more style, more clarity, more clear, and be able to emphasize
things more. And as a result, your speaking and writing will be much more
dramatic and much more powerful. In academic writing, if you don’t follow these
parallel structure rules, it’s actually considered a mistake in writing, a very weak
writing, bad writing, or poor writing.
Example:
We enjoy reading and writing.
I like to watch movies and to travel abroad.
The reasons for my view are political, cultural and social.
The police acted quickly and carefully.
We enjoy comedies, dramas, and documentaries.
Activity: Find the faulty parallelism, the mistakes in parallel structure in these
sentences.
1. The light bulbs are in the cabinet, on the table or the kitchen sink.
2. She wants to speak to the manager, return the cellphone and to get a
refund.
3. To fly will be better than driving.
4. She wanted love, happiness, and to be secure.
5. The job demands professional qualifications, the ability to manage others
and experience working around the globe.
6. Let’s start by checking your essay and look for any faulty parallelism.