Success And Failure William Zinsser Analysis

Running head: TITLE 1TitleLogan SnyderCollege Composition 103 08Professor D. ScrivnerOctober 27, 2016Title Many people view success and failure as a black and white subject. However, in WilliamZinsser’s article he calls for the definitions of success and failure to take an individualistic approach, a definition that is different for all people, to replace the traditional, white picket fence definition of success. Because Zinsser seems to oscillate between conflicting definitions of success and failure, his vague argument causes confusion. Zinsser first defines failure as a beginning stage of success rather than the traditional “American dream” view of failure. Typically, a student who drops out of a class or a school is considered a failure and frowned

However, Zinsser argues that this failure is a vital aspect ofan individual’s success: “[T]he only way for boys and girls to find their proper road is often to take a hundred side trips, poking out in different directions, faltering, drawing back and starting

TITLEagain” (Citation needed). Through this idea he

This definition of failure also seems to imply that it is only considered acceptable when it results in success. Zinsser again brings light to the idea that failure is not the end, but the beginning stages of success: “Failure isn’t fatal. Countless people have had a bout with it and come out stronger as a result. Many have even come out famous” (Citation needed). In this passage Zinsser is implying that people should not act as if failing at one goal marks the end of their success. But instead, use that their failure to learn what they did wrong, make changes to fix it, and catapult them to their success. Zinsser’s examples of success and failure undermine the idea that alternative means of success and failure exist. While the examples he uses do all have failures in their lives, they are all examples of traditional success and most of them are not well known to the public: “[H]e has a