Chapter 19 - Persuading Readers to Act - Exercise

Chapter 19: Persuading Readers to Act - Exercise

Soul of a Citizen: Living with Conviction in a Cynical Time - Pages 288 - 290 - Reading for Better Writing Exercise:

1. What is the writer arguing for and against? What does he want readers to do? Look at the question in the opening paragraph. What answer does Loeb present?

The writer is arguing for public participation. He wants the readers to be more active in speaking out and making this country and the world a better place for us and for our grandchildren to come. Loeb answers his question in paragraph one by telling the reader to stand up for what they believe in. He wants to the reader to understand that your voice/ opinion can matter. And he shows the reader some examples of how a person he knows and people from history have made a difference. He shows us how, in fact, people in history spent more time than you think in the causes for which they believed in.

2. What efforts does Loeb make to address readers’ questions, concerns, and opposing arguments? Are these efforts successful? Explain.

I think that Loeb points out in this essay how most people think that their voice does not matter or would never be heard no matter what they did or do. But he addresses this concern with his examples; showing how the people in these examples kept pushing and working towards the changes they believed in. With all their hard work it paid off for them in the end. Changes were made in favor of what they believed in.

3. Consider the examples Loeb offers: Pete Knutson and Rosa Parks. Do these examples work as support for the writer’s claims? Why or why not?

I believe these examples do work in favor of the writer’s claims. He shows the reader how these people; Pete Knutson and Rosa Parks kept working towards what they believed in. He showed how these individuals kept letting their voices be heard over and over again. He showed how maybe at first it seemed as though their claims went unnoticed or at first nothing changed. But with persistence, changes were made.

4. Broadly speaking, what is the author’s view of life, and how does that perspective come through in this essay?

I believe that the author’s view of life is that we, as human beings are not caring as much about the world around us. He believes that we are not thinking about the future of this world. We allow some to starve as others live with many riches. I believe the author thinks that we, as human begins, are not acting in a way that we should be. We allow extraordinary imbalances to take place. And most of all, we do not speak up about anything. We all kind of jut live in our own little bubbles. I think the author gives you something to think about when you read this essay. He makes you think of how you can change yourself to make a different in this world.