Group Member Names:

Kasper Lee

Flipper Lee
Mary Pipher: Writing to Change the World
Introduction & Chapter 1

Part 1: SUMMARY
Mary Pipher explains that life is not easy regardless of the era and problems.
Nowadays, the surface of an issue or person is more important than deep
thinking which is a fundamental part of growth. Sometimes language can be
used as a weapon according to the way people deliver their words. Pipher
shows the multitude of benefits of good writing. Indeed, there many kinds of
stories which can give people different feelings, thoughts, and knowledge. In
Chapter 1 of Writing to Change the World, Mary Pipher had an early
childhood experience that changed her point of view: reading the diary of
Anne Frank. Reading the diary, she first realized the darkness existing in the
world. In the diary, Anne Frank believes the world is full of beauty and
kindness even though she faced dangerous situations every day. This
influenced Piphers point of view profoundly and produced the idea of writing
to change the world. The message she wants to expound upon is that
everything that is created by society can and will change the world in some
way or another.

Part 2: OUTLINE

Outline of Introduction:

I. Life is not easy, human have many problem.

1.

Problems which are a long time ago.

2.

Todays problem.

II.

a.

People only know the surface.

b.

Deep thinking is less important these days.

Language can be used as a weapon.

1.

It is used to objectify, depersonalize, dehumanize, to create an

other.

III.

Relationship with other.

1.

I-it.
a.

Deal with living creature in one-dimensional ways.

b.

Exists merely to serve own purpose.

1.

I-thou.
a.

Show respect.

b.

Enter into a relationship.

IV.

Writing for change

1.

I.

Good writing
a.

Inspire openheartedness, thinking, talking, and action.

b.

Enlarges reader knowledge.

c.

Connects people.

d.

Writers are cultural brokers.

Outline of Chapter 1:
Realization from The Diary of Anne Frank

1.

Cruelty in the world.

2.

Keep the faith.

II.

Art/Artful/Propaganda
1.

Art can affect the world the same as great literature.

2.

Writers manage to convey a message.

3.
4.
III.

Writer wants reader to change their thoughts and encourage

them to ask questions to experience an invitation to struggle.
Writers would be surprised about what they wrote.
Importance of authenticity and transparency in writing.

1.

Lead readers to think.

IV.

Different things affect the world.

1.

Academics can be revolutions.

2.

Journalists can change the zeitgeist as well.

3.

Films often change the world.

4.

Song can be a powerful tool for connecting people to one

another.
V.
Writer always writes their bad memoirs to convey a
message.

1.
VI.

Inspire others to care.

Changing is our relationship to the written word.

1.

Gaining knowledge can cause change.

2.

Emotional changes can be caused by reading.

VII.
1.

Writing is a power.
Writer can control certain things to happen.

2.
Part 3: Key Terminology with definitions
Adrenal System-A system in the body that is used to regulate the body's
stress.
Age of Information-the idea of access to and the control of information on the
internet.
Asylum seekers-A refugee.
Cultural Broker-People that can be traced to earliest culture; a person who
attempts to bridge cultures together.
The Law of 26- an action will form twenty-six results.
The passionate accurate story-difficult to muster much optimism.

Part 4: Discussion Questions

What makes good writing?

How can people connect to others?
How can writing affect the world?
Language is weaponized when it is used to objectify, depersonalize,
dehumanize, to create anorder. How can language be utilized as a weapon?

Part 5: Analysis
Mary Pipher believes good writing can affect a readers thinking in many
ways. According to Mary Pipher, good writing includes feelings, thoughts, and
knowledge. In order to write well, writers should include authenticity and
transparency to lead readers to think more deeply. During the thinking
process, a readers point of view will change. The goal is to tell the writer that
writing is effective if the reader is affected positively. Nowadays readers, on
the other hand, mostly focus on the surface, not the underlying meaning or
substance. This would not create any improvement and could change a
readers point of view. As a result, If a writer can not lead a reader to think, it
would not be considered good writing.

Part 6: External Sources

Rae, Gary. "Language Is a Weapon Used to Make 'others' of People in

Poverty." 4 Feb. 2013. Web. 27 May 2015.
http://www.jrf.org.uk/blog/2013/02/language-people-poverty
This website is about how language negatively to attack people.
Handley, Ann. "9 Qualities of Good Writing." 18 Nov. 2013. Web. 28 May
2015.
http://www.annhandley.com/2013/11/18/9-qualities-of-good-writing/
This website is discusses what good writing should include.