Celebrating Nerdiness Analysis - Coursework Example

1. What is the purpose of this essay? Where does the the purpose of the essay? How is the defining “nerdiness”? Where does he explain his definition, and is this placement effective? Why or why not? The purpose of Rogers’s “Celebrating Nerdiness” is to define what being a nerd is and to celebrate its “wonderful” experience and effects (2). The author does not explicitly state the purpose of the essay. However, in the first paragraph, it is clear that he wants to explain what nerds are and what they are not.

He defines nerdiness by introducing common conceptions, where some are misconceptions. In the first paragraph, Rogers mentions some stereotyped definitions of nerdiness, such as being “friendless” and “book-smart sissies” (1). He opposes the definition of nerdiness as being suck-ups, however, because nerds, since they are nerds, violate social norms at the behest of authorities. Rogers also underlines that the rise of the Internet makes nerdiness cool to some extent, because their computer skills are handy in high-tech societies.

Roger starts expounding on the definition of nerdiness on the first paragraph, because he already names several common definitions of nerdiness. This placement is effective, because it establishes ethos. Rogers is saying that he knows what a nerd is, because he is a nerd himself. His experiences are sufficient to explain that society often get nerdiness wrong. In the first paragraph, he stresses that nerds are far from being suck-ups to authority figures, because their deficiency in social skills tend to “horrify” the latter (1).

The effect of this statement is it shows that nerds are not concerned of following authority, in fact, they are ultimate individualists, sometimes, too extremely so that their social skills and experiences suffer in the process. But like any other individual, these consequences are acceptable, because it indicates that nerds are social rebels, to some extent, and this makes them similar to other average-intelligence people.2. Using the list on pp. 250-251 in Wyrick, (attached) identify and provide examples of those strategies used by the author in order to clarify the definition.

For example, does he compare nerdiness to something else? Does he use familiar synonyms for nerdiness? Does he illustrate what nerdiness is not (negation)? Does he explain the etymology (history) of nerdiness? Does the definition change from the beginning to the end of the essay? Rogers uses the strategy of describing distinguishing characteristics of nerdiness. He explains that nerds have excellent memory skills. In the second paragraph, he illustrates his ability and enthusiasm in answering his teachers’ questions.

It means that he knows the answers in his head, which is typical of nerds. Another characteristic of being a nerd is not being socially sensitive. Rogers admits that he is unaware that he is making his classmates look bad by being such an eager and perfect student. By the time he learns about this, he experiences bullying and makes it a point to be quiet in class instead. One more trait of nerds is being eccentric. Rogers gives his son as an example. He writes backwards, so that he can show his teacher that he is writing notes, while at the same time, rebelling against this enforced practice.

Rogers also offers examples to define nerdiness. He has students, who are also nerds, and they attend Advanced Placement review sessions in his house. One of his nerd students is elated to find a “nerd family” (4). Another example is his son, who recites the whole periodic table to his teacher, when he only asks about naming some elements. The essay also relates nerdiness to famous nerds. While Rogers names these scientists, he also tells something about their different personalities. For instance, he says that “Newton is arrogant and Einstein absent-minded” (3).

These are nerds who made history. Rogers also explains the thinking processes of nerds. Many nerds can memorize class material easily and the same goes for his younger son. His middle-school social studies teacher demands that he takes down notes. His son does not want to, because it interferes with his thinking process. He also does not need notes, since he memorizes everything. To define nerdiness, Rogers uses negations too. He explains that nerds are not suck-ups and that they can also be cool, brave, and wonderful.

For instance, his older nerd son is not a “sissy,” because he accepted a dare to dip into near-freezing spring. Finally, in the last paragraph, he asserts that nerds do not “fit stereotypes” (10). Every nerd is an individual on his/her own.