David Sedaris’s
“The Learning
Curve”
Pages 486-493
Don’t forget
• When writing about an essay, make sure you include the title
in quotation marks.
• “The Learning Curve”
Checklist page 149
• Types of essays
• Would you classify the essay as narrative, expository, or
argumentative? Explain. Is the classification clear? If not, why?
• Narrative- it tells the story of his first semester of teaching at
the School of Art Institute of Chicago.
• Continue on next slide
Checklist page 149
• It is very clear that it is narrative. The reader can see each element of the plot.
• Exposition- a year after graduating, he was offered a job teaching because the previous
professor found a better paying job as a pizza delivery man. Teaching was something he
hadn’t prepared for and felt inadequate for the position.
• Rising Action• Passed out the name tags similar to his 4th grade teacher
• Had them write a brief essay on the theme of profound disappointment.
• Allowed smoking in class, which was against the rules, because famous authors always smoked, and
a student pointed out that there were famous authors that didn’t smoke. This pointed out is limited
knowledge about literature.
• Wants to be an authority in the classroom. Tries to look the part by tie, briefcase, and opening and
closing doors.
• Had students write an letter to their mother in prison. This was a creative assignment. Sadly, one
student had a father and uncle in prison, and the essay assignment was too real.
• Started discussions- Celebrity Corner, Feedbag Forum, and Pillow Talk. Pillow talk didn’t go so well.
He started having them watch daily soap operas. One student complained.
• Started having the students write “fiction” which was really stories about their lives.
• Climax- a returning student, someone returning to education late in their life, didn’t like his
comments on the ending of her paper. The student asked the teacher “’who in the hell are
you to tell me that my story has no ending?’” (492).
• Falling Action• Teacher was faced with his fears. What authority did he have in this classroom? His response was
“’I am the only one who is paid to be in this room’” (492).
• Teacher was asked then “how much [was] the school paying” him (492). He answered honestly
which wasn’t very much money.
• Resolution- the room laughed. The room came together as one.
Checklist page 149
• Language, Style, and Structure
• In general, is the essay formal or informal? How so?
• Informal
• Lighthearted
• Simple language, conversational
Checklist page 149
• Language, Style, and Structure
• How would you describe the writer’s voice? Do you find the
author believable? Why?
• in the beginning, he is doubtful and fearful. At the end of the
essay, Sedaris is confident. He is also honest & sincere about
his experience.
Checklist page 149
• Language, Style, and Structure
• Was the voice of the author effective in conveying the essay’s
meaning? Why?
• Yes. Since the author is so genuine, it makes the reader
believe him and sympathize with him.
Checklist page 149
• Language, Style, and Structure
• Is the language formal or informal? What does the nature of the
language tell you about the essay?
• The author must be informal in order to speak to the everyday
person. Also, since the story is about being a faker and
inexperienced, having a simply written essay is best to convey
Sedaris’s message.
Checklist page 149
• Language, Style, and Structure
• Are there many instances of imagery and figurative language
(simile, metaphor)? If so, how do they connect to or support the
essay?
• Simile- “like branding steers or embalming the dead, teaching
was a profession I had never seriously considered” (487). This
simile is used to show how little thought he had given to the
profession of teaching. He is also showing that teaching was
ranked at the bottom with branding steer and embalming the
dead.
• Note: Make sure you are not just identifying the figurative
language, but that you are discussing why the author used
each.
Checklist page 149
• Language, Style, and Structure
• Are there many instances of imagery and figurative language
(simile, metaphor)? If so, how do they connect to or support the
essay?
• Irony- “A terrible silence overtook the room, and seeing no
other option, I instructed my students to pull out their
notebooks and write a brief essay related to the theme of
profound disappointment.” This is ironic because he had such
high hopes for his own for this experience.
• Note: Make sure you are not just identifying the figurative
language, but that you are discussing why the author used
each.
Checklist page 149
• Theme
• What is the intention of the essay? Is it trying to inform us of
something? To prove or convince us of something? To share an
insight?
• The story is meant to speak to anyone who feels like faker or
inadequate. This is natural. Sedaris is trying to tell us that it is
okay.
Checklist page 149
• Theme
• What is the theme?
• We all find ourselves faking it (or feel like we are faking it) at
one point or another. This is okay. We do not become experts
immediately because we have no experience. We must all
start out somewhere and work our way to knowing what we
are doing. This is how life works.
Outline
• Intro
• Attention grabber
• Thesis
• Body Paragraph x3
• Topic Sentence
• Support
• Conclusion
• Restate thesis
• Readdress main points of body paragraphs
Topics for body paragraphs
General
• Type of essay
• Narrative
• Expository
• Argumentative
•
•
•
•
Formal or Informal
Voice & Tone
Irony
Word Choice &
Figurative Language
• Satire
• Theme
The Learning Curve
•
•
•
•
•
•
Type of essay- Narrative
Informal
Tone
Irony
Figurative Language
Theme
1) Analyze the essay
2) Pick 3 topics that you could
discuss in your essay. One
for each body paragraph