On Keeping A Notebook

In Joan Didion essay "On Keeping a Notebook," Joan Didion discusses the need of having a notebook to record one's thoughts, ideas, and experiences. According to Didion, a notebook can be used to understand the world around us as well as a tool for personal growth and development. She employs a variety of rhetorical methods to convey her views and convince the reader of the value of keeping a notebook.

One of the primary key concepts of rhetorical strategies Didion used is Repetition. Throughout the essay, she repeats the phrase "we are not talking here about the kind of notebook that is patently for public consumption" multiple times, underlining the private and personal nature of the notebook she is describing. Didion emphasizes the intimacy

For example she wrote about the significance of documenting daily life details, she says "it all comes back...the taste of the jelly doughnuts we ate on Ravenna Road in Berkeley the day we left for the first time," causing nostalgia and desire. Similarly, while discussing the importance of the notebook in developing personal identity, she adds, "we are on intimate terms with the people we've been and the person we'll be, and it is precisely this journey that makes up our life." This emotional appeal allows the reader to relate on a deeper level with the value of keeping a

She uses phrases such as "you know" and "I mean" to create a sense of relationship and connection with the reader. This tone means that keeping a notebook is something that everyone can do, regardless of writing ability or experience. Didion makes a solid case for the importance of personal writing by presenting the act of keeping a notebook as accessible and attainable.

Allusion is another rhetorical strategy used by Didion. Throughout the essay, Didion makes references to a variety of symbolic people and works, including Virginia Woolf, Truman Capote, and Emily Post. By mentioning these well-known figures, Didion states that keeping a notebook is a time-honored ritual, culture or traditions that many writers throughout history have embraced.

Didion also makes use of contrast or comparison. For example, she contrasts the act of keeping a notebook with the act of writing for public consumption, saying that the former is more personal and true. She also contrasts her own personal experiences with bigger issues in society, such as the rise of television and the loss of letter-writing. Didion shows the unique and essential role that the notebook can play in our lives by applying these