Author Galen Strawson writes “I’m not a story” to depict the belief that every individual or living being that lives on this earth does not live a story. In fact, in the eyes of Strawson, they’re simply just experiences. However, Emily’s boyfriends father had to say otherwise. Ken MacArthur in at a young age of 18 was a U-Haul storage manager. Ken would further describe and depict the story of how he believed this bum was a low life nobody, however after some investigation and realization, this would be the story to change his life forever. The Bum described by Ken was actually a top model lawyer in Boston. The bum was rich, and as Ken claims, smarter than he ever could be. Upon this discovery curiosity lead to why he was a bum around the storage unit. After some time Ken came to realize his career became came to a strong downfall after accidentally suffocating his wife and killing her. The bum would eventually quit law and never see the courtroom as a protector of law again. This story had taught Ken to never judge again, this wasn’t his own experience, but his view on the perspective was so strong that it changed him and his personal values forever. In the eyes of Strawson, this may not be a story, however how can one explain a “story” as an experience when they never experienced it, but can relate emotionally to such a discovery?
This is off to a good start. Here are some suggestions as you continue to improve the paragraph:
1) Think about what main point that you want to make in the paragraph. Try to articulate this point in one sentence, and place that sentence at the top of the paragraph. This sentence is now your claim sentence (AKA topic sentence).
2) Try to find a quote that captures Strawson’s ideas about story and include this as Q1.
3) You want to formally introduce your peer’s interview.
4) Expand that connection. I’m not sure what you mean. How does this anecdote complicate the idea that a person’s entire life is NOT a story? Remember, this is where you will land on your greatest insights. Try to get to the bottom of your opinions. Use language to explore them.