Close Reading: Language of Two Authors
The assignment requirement is attached as "Pre-draft1.1" and the required readings is the document attached as "Weiss 2020" and the two html link listed as below:
https://www(dot)hauyat(dot)ca/living/tending-and-harvesting-2/foods/fish.html
https://www(dot)hauyat(dot)ca/living/tending-and-harvesting-2/traps-and-gardens-2/fish-traps.html
Pre-draft 1.1: Close Reading
Due September 3 at 12:00 pm EST on Latte
Purpose
As we begin to engage with the varied relationships that humans have with animals, we must also consider how we engage with the texts that we use as examples. The close reading of a text is an important skill in all disciplines, though the information that you focus on and how you use that information will differ depending on your specific goals. For example, a close reading of a novel for a literature class might focus on imagery and themes, whereas a close reading of a diary for a history class might focus on dates and descriptions of historical events.
A close reading should take place in three steps, each of which emphasizes a different skill related to close reading:
1) Critically examine the text(s) in question, keeping an eye out for details that are of interest and either marking the text or taking notes.
2) Analyze the marks/notes for patterns.
3) Synthesize the most important/interesting patterns and communicate them clearly for your audience.
Task
For this assignment, you will be conducting a close reading of two non-academic texts: sections of the Húýat website (produced by the Heiltsuk Nation) and an Economist article by Weiss (2020). When you are reading these texts, focus on how they describe the relationship between humans and animals, and fish specifically. Then, write up what you observed.
Questions to consider (though you may think about other questions that interest you as well):
What kind of language do the authors use to describe animals?
How do the authors describe physical interactions with the animals?
What role do the authors envision the animals playing in the authors’ lives?
What similarities/differences do you notice between the Indigenous perspective (the Heiltsuk) and the Western perspective (Weiss)?
Criteria
The write-up should be approximately 2 pages, double spaced, in 12-point Times New Roman font. If you include quotes from the texts, make sure to cite them in whatever style you prefer. Please submit this assignment on Latte by 12:00 pm EST on September 3. This assignment will be graded based on how well you address the task above:
Excellent |
Close analysis; interesting observations; polished write up |
Satisfactory |
Surface-level analysis; write up is messy |
Incomplete |
You did not complete the assignment |
CLOSE READING
Name
Course
Date
The language used by the two authors to refer to the fish is demeaning and disrespectful. Both authors view the animals as food that they are entitled to harvest and eat. For instance, Weiss shows his obsession with salmon fishes and describes how he gathers the fish in large quantities for food. On the other hand, the article by Heiltsuk Nation shows how people from the Heiltsuk community take pride in harvesting the animals. They even find prestige in keeping fish skeletons in their archaeological sites. The relationship between man and animals is expected to be friendly. Man has a responsibility to take care of the fish and protect the animals from being harvested, but instead, man serves the animals as food.["Fish Traps." 2020. Hauyat.Ca. /living/tending-and-harvesting-2/traps-and-gardens-2/fish-traps.html, 1.]
The physical interactions between the people and the animals are primarily through traps. The Heiltsuk community built stonewalls of different sizes to trap the salmon fish in large quantities. Moreover, Weiss explains the relationship between man and salmon by describing how he started harvesting fish with nets at a young age. The joy that comes with capturing the fish is what keeps man interacting with the fish. However, these animals continue to be threatened in their habitats. The author further explains how his family looks forward to the salmon season, waiting to harvest and eat it. On the contrary, the authors point out a few threats that fishing might face. The authors show concern about the activities that might affect the lives of the fish in the ocean. This gesture is ironic as they are just using the fish for ...
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