Analyzing Gerald Graff's Essay 'Hidden Intellectualism'
Branley Rodriguez
Professor Gonzalez
English 111
Critical Analysis Who ever said being street smart but not book smart was a bad thing? In his short essay “Hidden Intellectualism” written in 2003 Gerald Graff talks about what people call book smart (Intellectualism) can hide into what one calls “Street Smart”(Hidden Intellectualism). Graff argues about how teachers are going the wrong way on how they should do their job, stating that they can use this to their advantage by using topics that such individuals are interested in whether it’s clothing, sports or even video games to educate them. The essay was illuminating and persuasive at convincing it’s readers because of the ethos, well written counterclaim and purpose. If topics such …show more content…
He states “Until I entered college, I hated books and cared only for sports, the only reading I cared to do or could do was sports magazines.” (Graff 264) Graff goes back to his adolescent life where he explains that he was trying to be book smart along with trying to impress the hoods from his neighborhood. He sometimes used correct grammar but other times he had to show the hoods he was “tough”. However since he was really into magazines and books that had to do with sports, Graff developed basic intellectual skills such as making an argument, supporting his arguments with evidence, proposing a counterclaim and also summarizing what other people have said. What Graff did by showing you his personal experience was that you don’t need to be intellectually gifted to do simple academic things such as make an argument if you’re talking about something you love whether it be technology, sports, or fashion. Also another point to which I found to be a significant is how Graff points out that sports “satisfy the thirst for community”(268) unlike such topics like shakespeare that isolated you from other people. Sports are not only limited to your family and people you’re close, anyone can join the conversation on a global scale a pitch in their thoughts and
Professor Gonzalez
English 111
Critical Analysis Who ever said being street smart but not book smart was a bad thing? In his short essay “Hidden Intellectualism” written in 2003 Gerald Graff talks about what people call book smart (Intellectualism) can hide into what one calls “Street Smart”(Hidden Intellectualism). Graff argues about how teachers are going the wrong way on how they should do their job, stating that they can use this to their advantage by using topics that such individuals are interested in whether it’s clothing, sports or even video games to educate them. The essay was illuminating and persuasive at convincing it’s readers because of the ethos, well written counterclaim and purpose. If topics such …show more content…
He states “Until I entered college, I hated books and cared only for sports, the only reading I cared to do or could do was sports magazines.” (Graff 264) Graff goes back to his adolescent life where he explains that he was trying to be book smart along with trying to impress the hoods from his neighborhood. He sometimes used correct grammar but other times he had to show the hoods he was “tough”. However since he was really into magazines and books that had to do with sports, Graff developed basic intellectual skills such as making an argument, supporting his arguments with evidence, proposing a counterclaim and also summarizing what other people have said. What Graff did by showing you his personal experience was that you don’t need to be intellectually gifted to do simple academic things such as make an argument if you’re talking about something you love whether it be technology, sports, or fashion. Also another point to which I found to be a significant is how Graff points out that sports “satisfy the thirst for community”(268) unlike such topics like shakespeare that isolated you from other people. Sports are not only limited to your family and people you’re close, anyone can join the conversation on a global scale a pitch in their thoughts and