Reference no: EM133245980

1. Nicholas Carr and Jaon Didion are both authors of literary nonfiction writers. Nicholas Carr's essay, "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" uses several literary nonfiction forms as so, Jaon Didion's essay, "On Keeping a Notebook". In Nicholas Carr's essay he uses a slice of history, opinion, personal experience, and figurative language to support his theory. He gives scientific example like in his essay he uses Joseph Weizenbaum book, "Computer Power and Human Reason: From Judgement to calculation, the conception of the world that emerged from the widespread use of timekeeping instruments "remains an impoverished version of the older one, for it rests on a rejection of those direct experiences that formed the basis for, and indeed constituted, the old reality." In deciding when to eat, to work, to sleep, to rise, we stopped listening to our senses and started obeying the clock." The genre for his essay which make him meet the criteria is investigative journalism. Now Joan Didion on the other hand has a whole different style then Nicholas Carr. In her essay she writes about her life but in an aspect of a fairy tale, which make he remember events in her life like an autobiography with a twist to it. She writes about the moments as if she had multiple way to play out that scenario. Everything in Joan Didion essay, "On Keeping the Notebook," truth into it. She uses tools of fiction like, character development, scene setting, etc. So, for me she meets the criteria of being a literary nonfiction writer.

2. In both essays " is Google Making Us Stupid" and in "On Keeping a Notebook" I found various forms of nonfiction literary forms used. Two of the forms that most call my attention is personal experience and personal reflection. In Carr essay he uses his personal experience and even included historical information to support his essay. His main purpose was to inform in my opinion, and he definitely did. He not only shared his feelings and experiences, but shared experiences from his friends and what they are going through. Didion on the other hand, shared personal experience but shared personal reflection as well. In her reading her notebook she was able to self- analyze the previous her, to the current her. She was able to inform readers as well but offer a much greater point of view because it wasn't just the way she wrote that was changed. It was her as a person. And that is why the essay personally hit home for me because I am one that is not very social, but I will write in a personal diary I have. I not only write what I feel I need to vent, but also daily affirmations and goals I wish to one day accomplish. Didion was able to reach the readers on a more personal level, then Carr who's goal was more to inform and then even at the end of the essay scare a little if I may add.