TOW #13: The Indispensable Man: Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) by Howard Chua-Eoan (article)

Nelson Mandela’s recent death on Thursday, December 5^th struck sadness through many. Mandela’s legacy of apartheid and nonviolence will live on forever in the hearts of many. In the Times Magazine article, The Indispensable Man: Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) by Howard Chua-Eoan, the author recalls the life of Mandela. From the beginning of his life when his name was Rolihlahla (which means “troublemaker” in Xhosa language) to his Presidency of the country of South Africa, Chua-Eoan captures it all. Mandela’s life was full of bumps and triumphs including 27 years in prison and a lifetime as a humble leader.

         Chua-Eoan uses Mandela quotes sporadically throughout the article. For example, when the author writes about Mandela in prison, he quotes Mandela and how he “was the symbol of justice in the court of the oppressor…the representative of the great ideals of freedom, fairness and democracy in a society that dishonored those virtues. I [Mandela] realized then and there that I could carry on the fight even within the fortress of the enemy.” By adding this quote and many others, Chua-Eoan is able to driving home his purpose of showing how amazing of a man Nelson Mandela truly was and how his legacy will live on forever. The author also uses an idolizing tone of diction throughout to describe Mandela. He uses words like “power”, “savvy saint”, and  “modest”. The title of the piece is even called “The Indispensible Man”!

          Chua-Eoan wrote this article for anyone who has ever heard of Nelson Mandela because Mandela was such an influential figure in history. I believe that Chua-Eoan was able to achieve his purpose of showing his readers the legacy of Mandela and the story of his life. This is because he talks about all the key characteristics and actions Mandela had or had done which had made him the “hero” Mandela is know as today. This article is a fantastic commemoration of Mandela’s life. An amazing figure finally has his freedom.

http://world.time.com/2013/12/05/the-indispensable-man-nelson-mandela-1918-2013/

TOW #12: The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls (IRB)

            Brilliantly written and nearly impossible to put down. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls has so far  been about Jeannette’s life as a child. The memoir begins with the author seeing her mom digging through a dumpster. Both her parents are homeless, so when she sees her mother she ducks due to how ashamed of her parents she is. After this short glimpse into her adult life, Walls starts telling the story of her childhood. With a mother who didn’t want the responsibility of raising a family and an a brilliant father who became destructive under the influence of alcohol, Walls life and the lives of her three siblings was anything but ordinary.  From moving over eleven times before she turned four to spending over 6 weeks in the hospital due to severe fire burns, Walls seemed to be living through the worst possible situations. But she somehow is unshaken even after all these traumatic events occurred.

            This riveting memoir had me hooked after the first page. It reads like a story and recalls the unbelievable life the author had to live.  The memoir appeals more to an older audience; but I believe that everyone at some point in their life should read it. Walls’s use of personal anecdotes throughout helps her readers see the independence of her and he siblings sprout at ages as young as two.  For example, she discusses how at the age of three she could read as well as a six year-old and when she was in second grade her father made her do her math homework using binary numbers which Walls would then transfer back to Arabic numbers for class. I can only imagine what it would be like to be that gifted so young.

            The author’s purpose in writing The Glass Castle is to show her readers that her life was like growing up in an entertaining manor. I strongly believe that so far in the memoir Walls is doing a spectacular job achieving her purpose. As of now, Walls is only seven, so I can’t wait to read what else she has in store.

TOW #11: The Best Job in the Army by Carole Emberton (article)

            In the army there are many important jobs that must be done. But which job is the best? According to Carole Emberton, that job would be the driving of a commissary wagon.  A commissary wagon is a shop supplying food or equipment in a military camp during the Civil War.  Emberton’s great-great grandfather was a Commissary at the time of the war. As the article progresses, the author talked about the importance of food in the military and how different kinds of food were supplied for different reasons. For example, the vegetable, Onion, was seen as a delicacy for army men because it contained vitamin C, which is needed in order to prevent scurvy. At the end of his article, Emberton discusses Sam Watkins and strays slightly away from the importance of a Commissary. But, he keeps the idea of the importance of food in the army contestant throughout.

            As stated in the title of the piece, Emberton’s purpose for writing this article was to convince his reader’s that driving a commissary wagon is the best job in the army. By starting off the article with a list of three reasons why being a Commissary or even better a Chief Commissary is the best job.  One of these reasons was that the Commissary is close to food and supplies at all times.  Also, Emberton uses his great-great grandfather’s experience as a Commissary to enhance his points by giving short anecdote about what he did on the job.

            Overall, I was not completely convinced by Emberton. In the beginning, I thought he had a strong and well-supported argument going, but as the article progressed, he completely stopped talking about the Commissary job. Although, he did keep the focus on the importance of food throughout, which in a way does support the job, I believe his article switched focus from the job being the best in the army, to just on the importance of the food.

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/02/the-best-job-in-the-army/

TOW #10: AT&T "Cutest Grape" Commercial (Visual)

Children are our future, but are they also the future of advertising? AT&T harnesses the cuteness of little children to advertise many different aspects of its company.  Recently, AT&T has been airing multiple of these adorable ads. They begin with an interviewer asking a group of four young children a question. In this commercial in particular the question asked was, “why is it better to get what you want now instead of later?”. In reply, a little girl says the phrase: “you don’t want to wait to eat your raisins because they’ll turn into grapes”. The commercial finished by stating that “now is better” and that AT&T is now the fastest and most reliable 4g LTE network.

AT&T targets adults and anyone in search of a new wireless network through this commercial. Their purpose is to create a memorable advertisement that would stick in the minds of viewers in order to promote its own networking company. By adding the young children into the commercials, AT&T is able to successfully appeal to pathos. By first interviewing the kids and then turning what they say into an advertisement, the company can proudly display their masterpiece of manipulation. These clever and lovable kids, just like the ones in the Cutest Grape ad, draw attention to the AT&T Company and help create sales. Also, the children often add naive humor that also grabs viewer’s attention. For example, when asked what place she is in for the competition of cutest kid, the same little girl that mentioned the grapes responded that she was in kindergarten. How could anyone ignore something that adorable?

I personally believe that AT&T successfully fulfilled their purpose of making a memorable advertisement in order to promote their company. These ads are one of my favorites that are currently airing.  Although I do not use AT&T, nor do I plan on changing my wireless provider (not like that was my decision in the first place), I still found this commercial adorable and unforgettable. No one can ignore these adorable children.

TOW #9: Let Go of the College Essay, and Let Your Teenager Speak for Herself by Lacy Crawford

            With SAT’s nearly a month away and the college application process creeping closer and closer, my only thought is HELP!  With a few clicks, I soon found myself looking at articles on the New York Times website about applying to colleges.  The article Let Go of the College Essay, and Let Your Teenager Speak for Herself by Lacy Crawford jumped out at me. Intrigued, I began to read this article and soon learned that it was not written for the overwhelmed high schooler, but for his or her over-protective parental unit.  You see, Crawford wrote this article in order to tell parents that they cannot help their child write their college essay. In the end, only their student can truly tell their own story.

        Crawford starts with a personal anecdote about a father who asked her if she could write his sons college essay for him. She declined his offer, but she helped his son by taking him on a walk and having him talk about himself.  She continues by comparing how kids might answer certain questions and how their answers affect a colleges view on them as a person. For example, “it is the difference between the young man who writes, ‘I understand suffering because I’ve watched my dad live with a chronic illness and nothing in my life has ever been that difficult,’ and the one who writes, ‘Seeing my dad in pain was devastating for me. And also inspiring.  It’s why I’ve taken AP Bio and Chem, and why I’m hoping to be pre-med’”. Crawford uses this example to show how only the student can truly answer the college essay in order to make it personal like colleges hope they will be.

            But, it is the way Crawford ends her article that really drives home her purpose.  She answers the question that all parent readers’ want answered: so what can a parent do?  Her response is simple; tell your child what you admire about him or her, because in the end, their student is the only one who can tell the story of themself.

http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/15/let-go-of-the-college-essay-and-let-your-teenager-speak-for-herself/?ref=admissions&_r=0

IRB Post 2: The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

            A new marking period means a new IRB book, and for this marking period I have chosen to read the memoir, The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls.  The book is about the author’s struggles growing up and how all the children in her family were forced to learn how to take care of themselves due to their father’s drinking problem and their mother’s lack of responsibility towards raising a family.  After hearing endless compliments towards this non-fiction book, I thought it was time to see for myself what made this book so memorable.  Also, this memoir is a New York Times best seller, which made it even more appealing to me. I hope to gain a new understanding of what it would be like to have to raise oneself. I can not wait to drive into to this unique view of life.

TOW #8: What Teachers Make by Taylor Mali (IRB post)

What do teachers make? The simple question that turned Taylor Mali’s world upside-down. Mali was asked this question by a lawyer at a dinner party and they answer he gave changed his whole life. You see, Mali didn’t answer the lawyer’s question that night, but the next day through a poem. This poem later lead the author to write the book, “What Teachers Make”, which is described as “praise to the greatest job in the world”.  After reading the first haft of this book, I was able to learn more about Mali’s life as a teacher and how certain memories from his teaching career influenced different lines in his poem. But upon completing the book, I was able to truly understand why Mali loves what he does.

Mali wrote this book with the intention of showing his readers what teachers truly make. He hoped that his poem and book would be able to appeal to all; teachers, students, parents, and basically anyone who has ever been affected by a teacher.  Mali even adds information about his personal goal for the poem/book. His goal is to have his pieces create one thousand new teachers.

By using the memories he has from teaching, Mali is able to support his overall purpose of showing his readers what teachers make.  Each of his memories emphasizes a different event that has made teaching so special for him. One memory in particular that Mali used that really stood out to me was when he said that once he reaches his goal in the quest for one thousand teachers he would donate his hair. This is because while he was teaching at an all boys’ school, he found out that one of his students had cancer. As a treatment, Mali’s student, Tony, had to go through chemotherapy that caused him to lose all his hair. The other twelve boys in his class shaved their heads in solidarity of Tony. Mali describes this memory as a “beautiful sight”.  I believe that this moment not only helped Mali prove his purpose of what teachers make, but also helped him see the difference students can make in a teacher’s life.

So what do teachers make?

Teachers make a difference. 

TOW #7: Do We Invest in Preschools or Prisons? By Nicholas D. Kristof (Article)

            Getting a head start is always the best thing a person can do. A head start allows people to stay on top of their project, schedule, and even life. In Nicholas D. Kristof’s opinion article, Do We Investing in Preschool or Prison?, it is discussed on how supplying better education to children ages 0 to 5 will create a better future for the kids. In the intro, Kristof mentions how congress is often compared with pre-K, which may seem negative, actually creates a sense of hope. He addresses the idea that children who have a head start with early education are less likely to be held back or diagnosed with a learning disability.  He also mentions how poorer children are more likely to not receive the proper education needed to give them the jump-start into schooling.

            Kristof wrote this article with the intension of showing his readers the importance of early childhood education and how it is becoming a more prevalent topic in the government.  It’s a Call to action in order to display the positive effects of educating children at a young age. He mentions how even “President Obama called in his State of the Union address for such a national initiative”. 

            The audience of this piece is the government and anyone with young children between the ages of 0 and 5. He targets these individuals in particular because they are the ones who can make the most impact.

            By using statistics showing government support of early education which is“ from 84 percent of Democrats and 60 percent of Republican” and presenting how poor families who use the Nurse-Family Partnership program create “a 59 percent reduction in child arrests at age 15 among those who had gone through the program”. I believe that Kristof’s use of statistics made his article more appealing and informative to reader, which overall allows him to achieve his purpose and show his readers the importance of early childhood education.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/27/opinion/sunday/kristof-do-we-invest-in-preschools-or-prisons.html?ref=opinion&_r=0

TOW #6: Cereal Box (Visual Tow)

Breakfast has always been known as the most important meal of the day. For many Americans, cereal is a top choice for this meal. From babies to senior citizens, many residents across the country consume the beloved breakfast cereal of Cheerios. The bright yellow packaging of this General Mills product is not only alluring but also informative. This packaging was made to attract potential buyers to Cheerios. The purpose of the packaging of the Cheerios is to convince people of the benefits of eating Cheerios. I believe that General Mills achieves their purpose through the use of multiple rhetorical strategies.

First off, on the front of the cereal box there is a list of basic nutrition facts for one serving of Cheerios. With information like 100 calories per serving and zero grams of saturated fats, what health nut wouldn’t love this product? Useful information like this makes consumers feel like Cheerios are the healthiest cereal choice for them.

Also on the front of the box is a quote stating that Cheerios are “clinically proven to help reduce cholesterol”. High cholesterol is becoming a more prevalent problem in today’s society; so with Cheerios claiming that they can help lower it, consumers with high cholesterol are automatically drawn to the product. Just like the nutrition facts on the front of the box, this quote helps emphasize the health aspect of Cheerios to the buyer.

On the side of the Cheerios box, there is a large list of all the nutrition facts of the cereal. These facts not only show how healthy Cheerios are, but also how they are for everyone. When listing the serving size of the product, a special serving size is listed for children ages four and under. By adding this element, General Mills is showing parents that Cheerios are a safe food for their precious children and that the product was created with kids in mind. Through these rhetorical strategies, General Mills is able to achieve their purpose of showing consumers the benefits of eating Cheerios.

TOW #5: Elephants Get the Point of Pointing, Study Shows by Carl Zimmer

           To your average human, the action of pointing may seem like second nature, but there is much more sophistication to the act then meets the eye. Most babies learn this movement by the time they turn one and they use it in order to silently draw your attention to an object. Pointing is a rare ability in the animal kingdom; surprisingly, elephants may possess this simple gift. In Elephants Get the Point of Pointing, Study Shows by Carl Zimmer, it is revealed that elephants may understand pointing. Biologist, Richard Byrne, and his graduate student, Anna Smet, conduct a simple pointing test. The test is that they will put food in one of two buckets and point to the one with food in it. Then they will wait and see what bucket the elephant would stick its trunk into. With two months and eleven elephants the test was completed. 

Zimmer, a biology writer for the New York Times, allows readers to see the test and the results by going through the experiment with them.  Any reader with a curiosity for life and nature would enjoy this piece. With something as fascinating as elephants holding a human characteristic, who wouldn’t want to read this article? Zimmer’s purpose in writing this piece was to show readers the new discovery on how elephants, most likely, get the point of pointing.

The author uses counterarguments and quotes in order to achieve his purpose, which I believe was successful. At the end of the piece, Zimmer quotes an expert on elephant cognition named Diana Reiss who points out flaws Byrne and Smet’s experiment. These flaws include how the elephants used were from an elephant camp and how they might have learned pointing from their human caretakers. I also think that by quoting Byrne and Smet, Zimmer was able to enhance his article by allowing the biologists’ voices to come through as well as his own. Both of these strategies help Zimmer achieve him purpose of showing how elephants get the point of pointing.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/10/science/elephants-get-the-point-of-pointing-study-shows.html?_r=0

TOW #4: The View From Dubai by Lauren and Mike Arnold, NY Times (Article)

         Dubai is home to the world’s largest building, the Burj Khalifa. The Burj Khalifa stands 2,716 feet tall, has 163 floors and is home to Lauren and Mike Arnold, the authors of the article, The View from Dubai. The authors give their opinions on what it is like to live in Dubai and in the Burj Khafila. Lauren is a health care executive and Mike is an artist and architect, they have both been living in the building since 2011. They write the article as if the reader is completing their Friday morning routine right along beside them. By describing the view and the vibe that comes with living in Dubai, the authors give the reader a glimpse into this unique lifestyle.  

          Any one from an avid traveler to an architect will appreciate and enjoy this article.  By giving a positive prospective on what life is like for residents of the Burj Khalifa, the authors are able to appeal to a large range of readers. Their goal in this piece is to tell their readers about life in Dubai and also about the cultural influences that belong to the building and city. By using a casual tone, the authors are able to achieve their goal of giving the reader a view into the life of Dubai citizens. Words like “we” and “our” attempt to allow the reader to feel engaged and involved in the article.

            I believe that the Arnold’s were able to achieve their purpose because as I was reading the article I felt as if I was in Dubai with them. I was able to visualize the view from the building and even the elevator ride the authors take to get to the 123 floor of their building. They said, “we board one of the tower’s 57 elevators and are catapulted even higher, to the 123rd floor, as if we were weightless objects being effortlessly lifted through the air. Our ears adjust several times as we speed along at almost 60 feet a second”. By illustrating what life is like in Dubai, the authors are able to successfully achieve their purpose.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/06/opinion/sunday/the-view-from-dubai.html?ref=opinion&_r=0

TOW #3: IRB Post, What Teachers Make by Taylor Mali

What Teachers Make by Taylor Mali is an insightful memoir about a poem of the same name. In 1997 at a New Years Eve party, a young, arrogant lawyer insulted the author by asking the unnecessary question of what do teachers make? The answer to this question was not given until the next day, when Mali wrote the poem, “What Teachers Make”. His overall answer was simple: teachers make a difference. In the book, Mali goes into a greater depth about all the elements in his poem. For each section of the book, there are back-stories and examples that reveal the purpose of every single line in his poem.

Mali, being a teacher for many years, now goes around touring the world teaching about the art of poetry. He went to graduate school for poetry but came out as a teacher; which makes his answer to the lawyer’s question much more meaningful. He used both of his passions to create his answer: teachers make a difference. Those four words are his whole purpose. This makes this book appealing to all willing to read it. It even states on the back cover: “What Teachers Make is a book that will be treasured and shared by every teacher in America- and everybody who’s ever loved or learned from one”. 

As of now, I am on page 57 of 197. In these 57 pages, I have learned about many of the teaching strategies Mali had used during his career. One chapter in particular that really appealed to the book’s pathos would be the chapter named “Calling Home”. This is about how Mali makes phone calls home to families to tell them GOOD things about their child. By doing so, Mali is able to allow parents to see a different side of their child they may have never seen before. I believe that this example helps Mali achieve his purpose of making a difference, because after receiving his phone calls, not only do parents feel good, but the student now has an even greater reason to do good. In the end, the teacher is the one who made the difference in that child’s life.

                             Taylor Mali reading this poem What Teachers Make

Tow #2: Visual Text, "I Can't Make You Love Me" by Mandy Moore

             Dance is living art; it can tell a story without using a single word.  Dance has the ability to do something words could never achieve. A turn of a head could have hundreds of different meanings. In the piece “I Can’t Make You Love Me” choreographed by So You Think You Can Dance choreographer, Mandy Moore, viewers can feel the pain of losing the love of their life. Dancers, Jenna Johnston and Neil Haskell, embody the characters of two people in the process of a breaking up. Neil’s persona is still madly in love with Jenna and is fighting to have her stay. Jenna, on the other hand, is ready to move on from the relationship.

            Many people have gone through tough breakups like the one portrayed in the dance. Mandy Moore wanted to create a piece that could be related to by countless amounts of people. Her purpose in creating this number was to show the struggle between the choices of breaking up and staying together. In the dance, the audience can see Neil struggling to have Jenna stay with him. In addition, Moore’s music selection of “I Can’t Make You Love Me” sung by Mark Masri helps emphasize the story she is trying to tell. Although, watching dances is not for everyone, this piece was made for anyone who has every experienced the battle with a breaking heart and the constant strive to keep the one you love from walking away.

            I believe that Mandy Moore was able to achieve her purpose of showing the strain of a break up. In the dance, viewers can feel the emotions of both sides of the tale through Jenna and Neil. Both dancer emote the two different sides of a relationships’ end. Most-likely having experienced broken hearts themselves, Moore and the dancers let these emotions shine through in the performance and the choreography. In my opinion, all these things are strong components of an effective story told through the art of dance.

TOW #1: "Bacchanalian Carnival: Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby" by Nathan Heller

           Gatsby. The beloved character from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel, The Great Gatsby, has been reinvented through the eyes of director, Baz Luhrmann, in the 2013 summer blockbuster.  A Film and TV crique for Vogue, Nathan Heller, gives his opinion on the film in his article: "Bacchanalian Carnival: Baz Lurhmann's The Great Gatsby".  Heller is a Harvard graduate and has also written for “The New Yorker” and “The New York Times”. In this article, he shows his readers Lurhmann's bold take on Fitzgerald's well-known classic. Between the over-the-top parties, extravagant cars, and Gatsby's endless love for Daisy Buchanan, Lurhmann's take on the roaring twenties is hard to ignore.    

          Heller's purpose was to show his readers how Lurhmann was able to keep the familiar storyline of the novel, while giving it a modern makeover. For example- popular artists, Jay-Z and Fergie, did the movies music scoring. He believes that the film itself is " not a movie for Fitzgerald purists—or even, probably, their close relatives". Its unorthodox vibrancy is what gives the film so much appeal to begin with. Although the novel's purists maybe overwhelmed by the film, Heller shows readers how this film is perfect for those who love both the story of The Great Gatsby and the vibe of today’s modern society. Lurhmann was able to blend the two in a way that the film is far enough off from the original novel, that it becomes alluring to all. Even Gatsby sticklers can re-fall in love with Gatsby.

         Heller uses Pathos in this piece by explaining how the treasured masterpiece written by Fitzgerald could be altered to fascinate all who encounter it. I believe that Heller was able to achieve his purpose that Lurhmann was able to keep the familiar storyline of the Great Gatsby, while giving it a modern twist. He achieved his purpose by showing readers how even with the modern take, the same beloved characters of Daisy, Nick, Tom, Jordan, and, of course, Gatsby, were still the same as in the novel.  The characters are what, as Heller says: “the quiet eye of the hurricane, the center of its luxurious storm”.

http://www.vogue.com/culture/article/bacchanalian-carnival-baz-luhrmanns-the-great-gatsby/#1

IRB Introduction Post #1: What Teachers Make by Taylor Mali

         For my first Independent Reading Book of the year, I chose to read the memoir, What Teachers Make by Taylor Mali. The book is a tribute to "the greatest job in the world", teaching. What started out as a simple poem, whose name is the same as the book title, is now an insightful memoir on the joys of teaching. The poem was brought about when a rich man at a dinner party asked Mali the simple question: What do teachers make? The purpose of this book is to show the reader a teacher's perspective of a classroom in a humorous, yet, intuitive way. Mali also uses his memoir to explain why teaching is so vital to our society today. I was drawn to this book with the goal of acquiring a greater understanding on why teachers do what they do and how being a teacher has affected their lives. Every teacher I have had, has an effect on who I am as a person today. I am hoping that I will gain from this book a greater appreciation on what it takes to be a teacher. I also hope to learn how students have an affect on their teachers, just like how teachers have an affect on their students.

"Duh, Bor-ing" by Joseph Epstein

            “Duh, Bor-ing” by Joseph Epstein explores the different facets of boredom. Epstein uses personal accounts and others opinions on the idea of being bored throughout his piece. The essay starts out with a list of things that could be considered a bore. The author continues on by stating: “One cannot be human without at some time or other having known boredom”.

            Epstein was a teacher and apart of the peacetime army; both of which he considered boring at one point or another. A teacher, he claims, is someone who cannot say something just once; they sometimes repeat themselves more than ten times. Peter Toohey, a professor at Calgary University, is quoted many times throughout the piece due to the fact that he has written multiple novels on the idea of boredom, including Boredom: A Lively History. The topic of boredom was brought about by the author’s curiosity on the components and theories of being “bored”. 

            The purpose of the essay was to go into depth on the concept of boredom.  The author introduces a multitude of concepts and opinions on the topic.  Readers are mainly people who are also intrigued by the question “What is boredom?” The audience of this piece will gain a greater understanding on what it truly means to be bored.

            Everyone has experienced boredom at some point in his or her life. This familiar feeling that all of us have experienced allows us to connect to the piece through the rhetorical element of pathos. The author uses Logos all through the essay by quoting the viewpoint of other authors, teachers and philosophers, including Martin Heidegger and Joseph Brodsky, viewpoints on the topic.

            As a reader myself, I believe that Epstein did a fine job in accomplishing his purpose; which was to go into greater depth on boredom. He did so by sharing his own thoughts, facts on boredom, and by showing how boredom is being coped with in modern times. He noted that the invention of the iPhone and the iPad has created a distraction for people’s boredom. These features allowed me to fully grasp Epstein’s purpose for writing this piece. 

In "Duh, Bor-ing" by Joseph Epstein, it is explained how everyone is affected by boredom at one point or another in their life. 

"How Doctors Die" by Ken Murray

           “How Doctors Die” by Ken Murray explores the feelings of a doctor and his thought on death. The essay begins with Murray discussing the death of his mentor, Charlie. He was one of the best surgeons in the country but unfortunately was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Instead of pursuing extreme medical procedures, Charlie stayed at home with his family and friends until his death.  Doctors know enough about modern medical technology to know what to expect and when the treatment becomes unnecessary. It is the quality of life, not the quantity. Murray allows readers to feel the constraints of a doctor.

            Patients, doctors and the system- three things that answer the question: How do doctors administer care that they would not want for themselves? Being a doctor himself, the author uses death experiences of family, friends and patients to support his purpose. Murray’s purpose for writing this piece is to show readers that it’s the quality of life, not the quantity that ultimately matters.  He gives multiple examples throughout that show how the people who choose to not undergo the medical procedures and live their last few moments with their family live a happier and, in some cases, longer life.

            This essay was written for anyone curious about how doctors look at death. It gives readers a new perspective on life and how to approach it when faced with death. Murray uses logos throughout the piece by giving readers examples of deaths that the author experienced. His cousin Torch’s situation is a great example of how he used logos. When Torch discovered that he had cancer, he decided against heavy treatments and only took pills that controlled his brain’s swelling. In the end, Torch died happier and lived longer than he would have if he went through with treatments.

            I believe that Murray accomplished his purpose in showing readers how the quality of life is greater than the quantity. His essay gave me a new perspective on death and even on how doctors view it. The author’s strong diction and stories used throughout allowed his intention to be achieved. 

In “How Doctors Die” by Ken Murray, the people who died at home ended up having the better quality life.

"Killing My Body to Save My Mind" by Lauren Slater

          “Killing My Body to Save My Mind” by Lauren Slater is about a choice the author must make between her mind and her body.  Slater is on many medications for her depression, but her essay revolves around one drug in particular, Zyprexa. After taking the psychotropic for only three days her depression seemed to vanish. The only downside to this medication was the side effect of excessive weight gain. When Slater’s depression went away her appetite returned; before she knew it she had gained fifty-plus pounds. Her psychopharmacologist warned her about the side effect, but having a psychology degree herself, she ignored the hazard due to her desperation for happiness. Once she realized what Zyprexa was doing to her body she had to choose, happiness or health.

            Slater is placed in the situation where she has to choose the happiness in her mind or the healthiness of her body. Her purpose in this essay was to allow readers to see her struggle in making her decision.  At one point during the piece, Slater stated: “I wasn’t giving much thought to my increase in appetite or weight, [I] focused solely on how happy I was to have my life back”. After being depressed for an extensive amount of time, she did not seem to have a care in the world other than the fact she was finally happy again.           

            Depression and weight gain are two very common struggles for people today - especially women. By writing this essay, Slater was able to appeal to an audience who may be dealing with a similar situation to hers. Her conflict is what draws individuals to this piece.  

            Pathos is used throughout in order to keep readers interested and to connect them to the essay. I believe that Lauren Slater did a wonderful job accomplishing her purpose, which was to show readers her struggle in making the decision. In the end, she chose her mind over her body. I could tell that by choosing her mind she will live a fuller and happier life overall.  

In “Killing My Body to Save My Mind” by Lauren Slater, she must choose between her happiness and her health.

"The Good Short Life" by Dudley Clendinen

            “The Good Short Life” by Dudley Clendinen is about how the author looks at his life once he learns that he is going to die. Clendinen is sixty-six years old, gay and a recovering alcoholic. Also, he has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, more commonly known as ASL or Lou Gehrig’s disease. He is not negative or angry about his end. In a way, Clendinen is at peace - death is accepted. “[He] realized [he] had a way of life”.  His life was a good life and Clendinen is happy and appreciative about everything wonderful in it, including his friends, family, and daughter.

            Clendinen shows how life should be treasured. Once he learned he was going to die, he was not prepared. His diseases gave him this epiphany on his life; giving him the credibility sought after by all writers.  Even though Clendinen’s diseases will eventually cause his life to end, it also allows him to view his life in a new way. This new perspective on life is what brought about this essay.

            Anyone can learn from Dudley Clendinen and his view on life. He wrote this essay for anyone willing to read it. This piece shows how even with Lou Gerhrig’s disease, the author was able to be accepting of death and loving of life. The author used the memory of when he was first struck by the fact that he was going to die to appeal to pathos. This memory caused him to realize that he does have a life plan and “[he] can do anything, one day at a time”.

            The purpose of this essay was to express to the reader that he has a wonderful life, but he is ready for death. As the reader, I believe Clendinen did an astounding job of showing how death no longer scares him and he is in control of his whole life. The essay intrigued me and kept me interested throughout; but I think that end of the essay sums up the piece perfectly. “When the music stops… I’ll know that Life is over. It’s time to be gone”.

On Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Dudley Clendinen is Self-actualized because he has accepted the fact that he is going to die.