Prewriting Experience for Not Without My Daughter
Students usually generate
much enthusiasm about the ideas presented in the 1990 released film Not
Without My Daughter, especially so after September 11, 2001.
I use the film ideas as practice for the skills developed in argumentative
essay writing. Some prewriting skills include but are not limited
to the following:
Not Without My Daughter
Student Model, Sample OneAll she knew was she was going on a family vacation. Before she knew it she and her daughter were torn from their country and introduced to a completely different culture by her husband, Moody, of all people. All this was done without any forewarning. She was forced to become as a common servant, and was beaten several times. In the movie, "Not Without My Daughter," Betty is in the right and deserves our sincerest sympathy.
Nevertheless , some people would assume that Moody deserves some sympathy. Indeed, he does, but Betty deserves far more. He did what he thought was best for his family, but Betty should have had her part in it, too. He knew she wouldn't go to Iran, so he lied to her when he swore on the Koran that they'd be back in two weeks. He received many derogatory, racist remarks at work because of his nationality. He even lost his job, which is both enraging and moving, but can be solved, as Betty said, in the U. S. Courts. The courts look down on racism, especially since there are many races in the U. S. Judicial System. He needed to face his problems instead of running away from them. Furthermore, Betty said she would cooperate, and really had no intention of doing so, but even when she pretended to, things didn't get better like Moody promised. All that changed was she didn't get beaten because she wasn't back talking to him.
All things considered, Moody made some very bad financial decisions for his family, wasn't trustworthy, and he abused his wife. He promised and swore to her on the Koran that they would return in no more than two weeks. He said they were only going on a vacation to spend some time with his family, but Betty and Mahtob ended up spending a few years there against their will. He also promised that they would be safe and in no danger. How could they be safe in a waitron country? There were bombs falling about them all hours of the day and night. They came very close to becoming seriously injured. For instance, when Betty was locked up in their house alone and forced solitary confinement by Moody, bombs fell outside so close that the windows shattered and glass went everywhere. Again, Moody promised that when Betty said she wanted to make the situation work, that everything would be so much better from there on. It only got better for him. She still always had to work like a servant. She always had to watch her back because of her fear of being browbeaten or physically beaten. When she tried to leave again and take Mahtob from school he beat her severally and threatened to kill her.
Moody's abusiveness kept Betty from ever arguing in her favor for very long. He always cut her short with a threat or a beating. For example, when they first came there, she could barely get a word in. She was just threatened and slapped. When Iraq was bombing Tehran, she tried to remind him that he promised they'd all be safe. He only blamed the bombing on the U.S. for selling weapons to Iraq, but he knew the country was in war when they came there. Betty had told Moody that it was not in Mahtob's best interest for her to go to school in Iran, but again, he cut her short. Mahtob was forced to go to school, and was miserable. She didn't understand what was going on well enough to be in school.
With all the preceding points, one must come to the conclusion that Betty deserves our sympathy in the movie "Not Without My Daughter." She was deceived and had no idea what going to Iran meant would happen to her and Mahtob. Moody abused Betty and Mahtob both physically and mentally. Betty could really never argue in her favor because Moody would always verbally or physically abuse her to stop her. Someone who loves his family, no matter what culture they are from wouldn't treat them this way!