Comments on: “America Needs Its Nerds”

By: “America Needs Its Nerds” Style Analysis Essay | Short Topics

“America Needs Its Nerds” Style Analysis Essay | Short Topics — Sun, 24 May 2009 18:42:16 +0000

[...] minute timed essay- Students had to analyze an article by Leonid Fridman concerning the use of the word “nerd” to describe the intellectually [...]

By: Tanya

Tanya — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:54:54 +0000

I agree with Fridman on the point that everyone, not just nerds, need to stand-up for themselves. Anyone who isn’t willing to stand-up to the school bully is just asking to be pushed around and it will only get worse as they grow older in life.

By: Tanya

Tanya — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:45:34 +0000

When I hear “geek” or “nerd,” I do not think of someone who is extremely smart….my first thought goes to someone who is obsessed with sci-fi. Therefore, I disagree with Fridman about “geek” and “nerd” ONLY being the “derogatory terms” for the “bright” students.

By: Tanya

Tanya — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:41:24 +0000

Could the idea of “derogatory terms” for the “intellectually curious and academically” differ in different regions? Perhaps in some places, street-smarts are more important than book-smarts.

By: Nathan

Nathan — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 03:33:25 +0000

I agree. Any good parent would push their kid to be the best they can be in everything they do. My parents do at least.

By: Nathan

Nathan — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 03:30:09 +0000

He appeals to our emotions by using the word “pursuit” in the phrase “pursuit of knowledge.” He compares this to a famous line in the Declaration of Independence, the “Pursuit of Happiness.” This makes his words seem more monumental and powerful by stealing a line from the most famous document in US history.

By: Nathan

Nathan — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 03:18:27 +0000

He juxtaposes the phrases “anti-intellectualism” with “lauded” and also the phrases “the U.S.” and “East Asia.” When he sets it up like that it adds to his case of how bad the U.S is.

By: Nathan

Nathan — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 03:11:43 +0000

I agree about the vividness of his diction. Do you think that he possibly could mean that bullies could be the ones pushing nerds to their “graves?” Or just until they die of other causes?

By: Nathan

Nathan — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 02:56:39 +0000

This could be totally stereotypical of me but the authors name sounds an awful like a nerdy type of name. Leonid?? Maybe he was tormented by bullies and is totally biased in his argument.

By: Nathan

Nathan — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 02:49:42 +0000

I think that if nerds would “stop being ashamed of who they are” then they wouldn’t be nerds. If they all did this then the US would be de-popularized of its nerds; the opposite of what this author wants to happen. Un-Nerd like of him to use this in his arguement.