NF Critical Analysis: Return Of The Measles

In “Return Of The Measles” by Patricia Smith, Smith wants to inform her readers about the recent outbreak of the Measles and how it could have been prevented. Something the author did to discuss this topic is use statistics to enhance the importance of this issue. Another way Smith enhanced  certain issues is she made some quotes big, bold, and red to catch the reader’s eye. For example, “ The US vaccination rate is lower than in Bangladesh.” Thirdly, Smith explains how the outbreak started to give the reader a better understanding of how it could have been prevented. For example, “The outbreak started at Disney Land… when a visitor infected… passed it onto… [7 others]... six weren’t vaccinated. From there it spread to 17 states”. These things depict how the author tries to use various methods to bring attention to the fact that this disease could’ve been prevented.

Patricia Smith expects to prove to her readers that this entire outbreak could’ve been prevented if people stopped trying to defy the government, and their rules about medical needs.

She achieves this by including biased political cartoons that support her perspective on the topic. These cartoons show that ‘anti-vaxxers’ are doing more harm than good and it’s their own children that they’re putting at risk. Basically, the author uses these cartoons to explain the irony of the situation. Also, Smith includes only certain quotes from doctors that were sure to support her argument. There are always going to be people opposing her position but it’s her job to counter other people’s claims. Patricia Smith fails to do that in her article, which weakens her argument as a whole.

After reading the article, “Return Of The Measles”, I have been informed on a topic I didn’t know about at all. But, I also think this author forgets to inform the reader on any possible reasons that anti-vaccinators are doing what they’re doing in the first place. This has gotten me thinking about this massive blank on the topic. I think that this whole issue is based off of showing the government that they can’t always force people into things, and there might actually be some dangers in these vaccinations that this text fails to address. All in all, this article proves to be very biased, uninformative in some areas, and not a reliable source.

One Two Buckle My Shoe: Reading Response

Now because I’m still in the middle of this book I’ve been carefully analyzing the author’s craft. But so far this story’s about a serial killer kidnapping, molesting, and eventually murdering little boys who has earned the name ‘The Chocolate Man’. He is then revealed to be suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder and a horrid past which proves that this little girl, Emily’s, abduction was an accident considering the exactness of all the previous cases. Now as she writes these texts, I question the purpose in the information she’s giving us.

For example, when she gives background information on things that have happened in Emily and her mother’s previous lives. She tells us that Emily’s father has left. She also informs us that her mother does everything in her power to make sure Emily has a happy childhood because she was violated and lost her father as a child and she doesn’t want her to also feel that way. How I respond is I see how that applies to the story but I don’t feel that interested in her concept because I’m more focused on the serial killer and what his motive is.

Also, the author informs us on a little bit of background behind the killer as well. She tells us about the killer’s family through quick flashbacks, and his life after he attempted to burn them in their house. And I can see that the author is trying to get us to better understand the motive behind the killer. But I just end up feeling even worse for the killer than the kids he is actually victimizing throughout the book.

And I get to the point where I’m questioning who’s fault it really is, and whether or not the author intended for me to comprehend the book the way I did, or if my point was extremely farfetched. But I guess it all depends on different readers and there really is no one way to interpret a book.

Revised Literary Essay: The Maze Runner

The book The Maze Runner, by James Dashner, is about this boy who wakes up in an elevator with no recollection of his past other than his name, Thomas. He finds himself in a place called the Glade which he soon figures is surrounded by a massive maze filled with these monsters who have obtained the name Grievers. Throughout the frustration of the lack of knowledge of your surroundings, the characters in this book have constantly shown the theme of persistence throughout the book.

The main character of this book, Thomas, obviously expresses the theme of persistence throughout the story. For example, even after he encountered his first griever in his first night in the maze he was still determined to become a runner. He thought, “ his desire to become a Runner had taken a major blow. But he had to do it. Somehow he knew he had to do it (24).” He wanted to further explore the maze because of his persistence of helping everyone get out of that death trap, and back to wherever else they should be.

The supposed co-leaders of the rest of the characters in the book had a number one priority, and they surely had to have determination to it. When Thomas was asking questions while he was still new, he asked the keepers of the runners, Minho, about his development with figuring out the maze. Minho’s reply was, “Can’t take a chance that one day, in one spot, somewhere, an exit might appear. We can’t give up. Ever (118).” Even after two years of searching for an escape, they still haven’t given up. Even with the pressure of a whole group of kids counting on them, they knew giving up wouldn’t do anyone any good. So they took that as their motivation to keep going. 

As you can see, The Maze Runner clearly portrays the message of determination and persistence to further continue through the obstacles you’ll face in life. Even if they’re not as drastic as being in the middle of a gigantic maze with no way of getting out, you should always carry the strength of endurance, for that is rare but sacred in all life-choices.

Unrevised Version:
http://thewickedbananahammer.blogspot.com/2015/01/reading-response-maze-runner.html