Anahi Frausto Eng presentation

1. WRITING TO CHANGE THE WORLD
By Mary Pipher

2. MARY PIPHER
Born: October 21, 1947
Occupation: Clinical
Psychologist
She received a Bachelor of Arts
degree in anthropology from
the University of California,
Berkley in 1969 and a PhD in
clinical psychology from
the University of Nebraska-
Lincoln in 1977.

3. CHAPTER 2 SUMMARY
• In this chapter, Pipher talks about how every individual has their own
experiences and belief systems. She persuades readers to dig deep into
their own lives because it’ll help them grow stronger at writing like it
helped her. She shares her story of growing up with a family of various
backgrounds. She learned to understand that every person has their own
flaws. Pipher became passionate about writing and saw how her life
affected it.

4. NEW VOCABULARY
• Equanimity: (n) mental calmness,
composure, and evenness of temper,
especially in a difficult situation.
• Ample: (adj) large and
accommodating.
• Admonish: (v) warn or reprimand
someone firmly.
• Paradox: (n) a seemingly absurd or
self-contradictory statement or
proposition that when investigated or
explained may prove to be well
founded or true.
• Neurosis: (n) a relatively mild mental
illness that is not caused by organic
disease, involving symptoms of stress
(depression, anxiety, obsessive
behavior, hypochondria) but not a
radical loss of touch with reality.

5. WHY DID PIPHER WANT REFUGEES TO WRITE
“I AM FROM” TYPE OF POEMS AS THEY WERE
EXPERIENCING LIVING IN A NEW COUNTRY
AND ENVIRONMENT?
She believes that writing these kind of poems is a way to
experiment with identity issues. They help you look back in
life and help you explore your deep past.

6. WHY DOES PIPHER FIND SELF-
AWARENESS SIGNIFICANT WHEN IT
COMES TO WRITING?
She believes writers should be accepting toward all
experiences. Uncertain thinking can cause a writer’s work
to become awkward. But when writers know who they
fully are, they can offer sincere writing.

7. WHY DID PIPHER BEGIN TO SHARE
HER EARLY LIFE STORY?
She states that her “childhood colors all her writing, so
your past will color yours” (35). If someone recalls every
aspects of their lives, thoughts, beliefs, and fears, they
might be inspired to write an autobiography about
themselves as well.

8. IN CHAPTER 2 PIPHER GROWS CONFUSED
ABOUT THE DECISIONS MADE BY MOST OF
HER FAMILY, WHAT DOES SHE REALIZE? AND
WHY IS SHE HAPPY ABOUT HER FINDINGS?
Pipher feels lucky about having been born into a family with
divergent ways of thoughts and expressions. She learns to
understand that there are no absolute truths since everyone lives by
their own morals. She’s also happy that although some of her
relatives were misguided and foolish they were no truly mean-
spirited people

9. WHY DID PIPHER ENJOY HEARING
CONVERSATIONS AND STORIES ABOUT
THE PEOPLE AROUND HER?
She noticed that it helped her become a great story teller.
She could easily invent stories to entertain those around
her. And it was all due to hearing other’s points of views.

10. WHAT DID PIPHER REALIZE FROM
READING?
She saw hoe things were done differently in other places.
She saw that life consists of choices and that people can
either behave well or poorly regardless of the
circumstance.

11. “OUR SENSIBILITIES, OUR
MORAL OUTLOOK, AND OUR
POINT OF VIEW ARE WHAT WE
WRITERS HAVE TO OFFER THE
READER”
• This quote is implying that our
perspective has a huge role in our
writing. Our genuine outlook has the
potential to make our writing strong. Not
only can it touch readers but also give
them a new perspective.
(35)

12. “UNDERSTAND THAT THERE
ARE NO ABSOLUTE TRUTHS,
ONLY THE TRUTHS OF MANY
WELL-MEANING BUT
HUMANLY FLAWED PEOPLE”
• Pipher is conveying that every individual
has their own morals and ways of living.
That being said, everyone’s opinions
won’t be equal. There will be no such
thing as the exact same complete truth
to everyone because people will pursue
their own beliefs. Which could be
positive to them but negative towards
others. In the case of her family, some
where wrong or foolish but they had no
bad intentions but only flaws that made
them human.
(38)

13. “OUR STORIES CAN SHED
LIGHT ON OUR MORAL
ASSIGNMENT”
• Pipher persuades you to consider writing
your own story because it can make an
impact on readers. Although she
illustrates that you have to know yourself
in order to write, she also believes that
writing can teach you more about
yourself. Even for beginners; digging
deep into your past, organizing your
story, and asking yourself questions can
spark ideas for your writing. Your stories
can be more significant than how you
think they may be.