Individual and Group Study Guide Assignment

Book: Writing to Change the World by Mary Pipher

Reading: CH.4 Growing Our Souls

Class: Sum14_ENGL001A_5352_Summer 2014

Instructor: Prof. Dr. Kirsten Ogden, MFA

Group Member Names:
Candy Lee
Teresa Canul
Sergio Guevara
Olivia Nielsen
Nicholas Guarna


SUMMARY:

In Chapter 4: Growing Our Souls, Pipher presents the idea that we all have the
capability to change the circumstances we think are morally wrong. Our central
motivation for change evolved from specific events in childhood. That is where our
passion comes from. Pipher also comes to the realization, when she had accidentally
killed a snake, that [our] actions [have] consequences, even life-and-death
consequences. Our actions can be used for good as well as evil so it is wise to think of
the outcome and how we would change a certain situation before we act on it. Most
people are afraid of change and like to get involved with people who stand for a
situation to be changed because they are unsure of the consequences. They tend to
root for the outlaw, so long as they are not involved with the consequences of the
actions. In our culture today people who are considered normal accept the way the
world is because they are taught problems cant be fixed; they are powerless to change
things. People who fight for social or political injustices are considered insane or
radicals.
Throughout history only the strong willed people try to make their communities
better. Rebels act for what is right because they know what they stand for and spent a
lifetime learning what that means. Rebels cant be saints because they need to get to
that point of change quickly. They use their talents to help others reach a change that
benefits society. Pipher states, Growing our souls could be defined as the steady
accretion of empathy, clarity, and passion for the good. As we figure out who we are,
we realize we have the capability to change the world for the better. As we write our
own stories and tell the history that made us who we are today, our capacity to make
connections to others has grown. The journey of our lives moves towards a love and
appreciation for all living creatures.
(Nicholas Guarna)



OUTLINE:
In the Chapter:

America is deeply ambivalent about its change agents. Many tend to them after
they die.
To most Americans, radical has negative connotation. Even reformer evokes
their cultural uncertainty about systemic change.
Americans tend to be like rebels and outlaws, just so long as change agents
dont really challenge the status quo.
Jesus exemplifies peoples confused attitudes about radicals. If he still lives
today, he would be regarded as a subversive and a kook.
Today our culture's dysfunctional message is that healthy people accept the
world as it is.
In Piphers opinion, true rebels are not anguished, angry individuals mired since
adolescence in their own complaints and needs for individuation.
True rebels act from a swell-developed moral center. It means they know who
they are and what they stand for.
Buddhist Thich Nhat Hanh wrote that the ocean of suffering is immense, but that
if we turn around we can see the land. True rebels have had at least a glimpse of
land, and they want to lead others to it.
Most change agents are not saints. What change agents have in common is the
need to use their own gifts to help others.
Pipher felt guilty for killing a garter snake. She learned that actions have
consequences, even life-and-death consequences.
Pipher couldnt understand how people could dislike a group they had never
even encountered.
(Yuk Man (Candy) Lee)


Key Terminology with definitions:

1.) Social Activism: Although this term is not odd or unknown, it plays a key role in the
chapter. Pipher explains of many instances where she participated in social activism.
She claims she started her activism with animals. She could not tolerate the
neighborhood children hurting or torturing animals. She went on to participate in various
marches for various causes.

2.) Trite: Defined as: not interesting or effective because of being used too often: not
fresh or original. Pipher explains that when she wrote her first poem and turned it into
the teacher she got it back with a C as a grade and the word trite on it.

3.) Bemoaning: Defined as: to say that you are unhappy about (something) : to
complain about (something). Pipher emphasized that in the early 90s her therapy
practice was swamped with young women who were losing control of their eating habits,
that they were bemoaning fat thighs and double chins


4.) Accretion: Defined as: something that has grown or accumulated slowly : a product
or result of gradual growth. Pipher tells that, growing our soul could be defines as the
steady accretion of empathy, clarity, and passion for the good.


5.) Ambivalent: Defined as: simultaneous and contradictory attitudes or feelings (as
attraction and repulsion) toward an object, person, or action. Pipher states, America is
deeply ambivalent about its change agents. She goes on to say, Simply put, we tend
to like them after they die. What she meant is that America tends to appreciate those
who go against the norm only after they have passed away.

6.) Change Agents: Defined as: a person from inside or outside the organization who
helps an organization transform itself by focusing on such matters as organizational
effectiveness, improvement, and development.

7.) Radicals: Defined as: a person who advocates thorough or complete political or
social reform; a member of a political party or part of a party pursuing such aims. Pipher
expresses that to most Americans the term radical is a negative word. Sometimes that
is the case, but more often than not radicals are trying to bring attention to what many
Americans (and all of humanity) turn a blind eye to.
(Olivia Nielsen)


Discussion Questions

1.) Pipher states, ...we often find that our core interests evolve from specific events in
childhood. In what ways can these events help us grow as writers?

Answer: As a child certain events shape us into who we are today whether or not we
are aware of it at the time. We discover what we are passionate about today from our
childhood experiences. We have the opportunity to look back and reflect on what has
happened to us. It could be a road trip, relationships, or a tragedy. Whatever it may be
we have a reason why we care about that event and it shows in our writing. The writing
becomes more interesting when we explore our own life and we find ways to connect to
the reader by taking them on that journey with us.
(Nicholas Guarna)

2.) Pipher explains that, Growing our souls could be defined as the steady accretion of
empathy, clarity, and passion for the good. It is an increase in our sense of who we call
us, as well as an expansion in our capacity to draw distinctions and make
connections. How does having empathy, clarity and passion help us improve as a
writer and draw in your audience?

Answer: When you write it is important to use material and to write in a style in which
you can draw attention and keep a hold of your readers. When you write with empathy,
clarity, and passion your readers can relate and find the material interesting and exciting
to read. It leaves them wanting to read more. It is important to use all these points in
your writing so that you have something relatable to deliver to your readers.
(Olivia Nielsen)

3.) In this chapter, Pipher suggests that writers need to write their own stories. It is to tell
us what in their history that makes them the person they are today. The deeper they
explore their own life, the more ways they will discover to connect themselves to the
great and universal human stores. Present your own thought and analyze her phrase.

Answer: In my perspective, it is crucial to able to write our own story, especially in our
own authentic voice. This permits us to get to know about our aspiration in our life.
This process that Pipher refers as growing our souls could be defined as the steady
accretion of empathy, clarity, and passion for the good. It is an increase in our sense of
who we cal us, as well as an expansion in our capacity to draw distinction and make
connections. That makes us individual, not nondifferentiable. Our lives are journeys
toward a certain kind of wisdom, which is a love and appreciation for all living creatures.
Any type of observation and analysis will serve as teacher to us. As Zulus sum up the
need for human connection this way: A person is a person through other persons. We
grow wise in the context of our culture. ANd we can define our culture as the sum total
of our interactions with people and animals and the nature. Skilled writers are able to
somehow make that interaction into conversation, even making it more inclusive and
richer than originally. But, first criteria is that we must know who we are--meaning of our
existence.
(Yuk Man (Candy) Lee)

4.) In chapter 8 Pipher states that Writing requires so much energy and focus that I
cant imagine writing about subjects that have no personal meaning and in Chapter 4
she talks about passion and interests. How does this help you in your writing?

Answer: Its easier to write about something that you are interested in something you
have a passion for. If it doesnt interest you then your writing might be dull or you wont
have much to say. Also it shows you what type of writer you are. In Piphers case her
passion/interest made her into the social activism writer she is now.
(Teresa Canul)

Analysis:
In this chapter Pipher really goes in depth with how she became who she is now.
She is fascinated with the notion of how we come to care for what we do. By this she
means, why does a banker write articles on the dangers of legalizing gambling or why
does an accountant take up gardening. Our core interests derive from childhood events
in her opinion. She explains to the reader that she can view how her social activism
began, and it began with animals.
Pipher makes it clear that she was okay with the slaughtering of animals that
served a true purpose, but the unjust and wrong killing of animals is something that she
would not tolerate. In my opinion, this says a lot about Pipher, morally. Its really no
wonder why she took up the field that she is in.
Throughout the chapter Pipher vividly explains an event that allowed her to
realize who she was at a young age. By the time she accidentally killed a snake Pipher
came to realize that every action of hers, whether committed with true innocence or
malice, it had a consequence. The possibility of life and death came with it. She no
longer considered animals as hers. This I believe Pipher carried with her the rest of
her life, applying it to every aspect of it.
(Sergio Guevara)

External Sources:

Duarte, Silvia. Fighting with Writing, Political Activism and Social Work. Samsponia
Way. SampsoniaWay.org. 12 Aug 2010. Web 24 July 2014.
In this article Silvia talks about Khet Mar from Maletto, she has been persecuted
by the Burmese government. I chose this article because it fits perfectly with Piphers
Writing to Change the World and chapter 4. Khet fights with her writing, her political
activism, and her social work just like Pipher she writes about justice. She had to leave
her hometown after being arrested and became a writer. Khet talks about social
injustice, she gives an example in which children didnt go to school instead they picked
chilies. Also she mentions that when she was growing up she grew up under
dictatorship. For some time she had to stop writing because she had a lot of social work
to do.
(Teresa Canul)