Week 10 Article

Op-Ed Contributor

Penny Foolish

By ERIC SCHLOSSER

Published: November 29, 2007

I came upon this editorial in the NYT. I think Schlosser is a great example of an editorial writer who values informing the public about human rights issues. Is this a bias? Absolutely, as he obviously sides with the idea that Florida's migrant farm laborers deserve better treatment and pay. However, he does a good job of including facts to support his convictions. He also attributes his quotes well, and he does a great job of persuading the public that this is an issue worth caring about.

Finally, and most importantly, this is an editorial, and the reader is expecting to hear a public opinion about a public issue.

His most eye-opening assertion, in my opinion:

"The prominent role that Burger King has played in rescinding the pay raise offers a spectacle of yuletide greed worthy of Charles Dickens. Burger King has justified its behavior by claiming that it has no control over the labor practices of its suppliers. “Florida growers have a right to run their businesses how they see fit,” a Burger King spokesman told The St. Petersburg Times.

Yet the company has adopted a far more activist approach when the issue is the well-being of livestock. In March, Burger King announced strict new rules on how its meatpacking suppliers should treat chickens and hogs. As for human rights abuses, Burger King has suggested that if the poor farm workers of southern Florida need more money, they should apply for jobs at its restaurants."

One of the last opportunities to comment...what do you think about his objectivity in relation to the article? Do you think that he does a good job in giving citizens "truth?"

Week 9 Article

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/27/oversized-portions-blame-the-chef/
November 27, 2007, 1:19 pm

Oversized Portions? Blame the Chef

By Tara Parker-Pope

Lede: Nutrition experts have long urged Americans to pay more attention to portion sizes. But someone forgot to tell the chef.

^^I like this; it catches attention.

I took interest in this article because I work at a small privately-owned business at home, and I know that the last thing on our chef's mind is calorie-counting. Business is more about taste and food-presentation. Portion size, schmortion size.

December is the busiest month at our restaurant and at restaurants across the country, so I'm sure that this article will be of interest to many who are looking forward to going out with friends during the holiday season--and who may be slightly concerned about packing on the infamous holiday-pounds.

But the key word here is 'holiday.' Does anyone really want to calorie-count during the holidays? This topic may be best left-alone. ;)

Child Dies in Duplex Fire; Two Suspected of Arson

By Toni Skalican

KALAMAZOO, Mich.--A 3-year-old child died, after a suspected act of arson burnt her house to the ground early this morning; two men have been arrested in connection to the fire, according to officials.
Tiffany Blanchard died of smoke inhalation, according to officials at Bronson Hospital. She and her brothers--5 year old Tory and 6-year-old Terry-- had been trapped in the fire on the second floor of their duplex at 1275 Monroe Street.
Although the Kalamazoo Fire Department presumes the fire was started around 2 a.m., the fire department was not called until 2:10. Two trucks arrived on the scene within 5 minutes, and the fire department released the series of events as follows:
Seven residents to the duplex escaped the building unharmed, despite the buildings' absence of fire detectors.
Two Kalamazoo firefighters on the scene, Sam Walshe of Company 4, and James O'Brian of Company 2, tore a hold in the roof of the duplex to rescue the children from their smoldering home.
The two suspects arrested were Vincent DeNofrio, 33, of Mattawan, and a 16-year-old unidentified juvenile. Witnesses reportedly saw the two running from the duplex at the time of the fire, DeNofrio with a canister in hand.
Investigations are underway to determine whether Tiffany's mother, Marie Blanchard, 32, was the target of arson by DeNofrio, who building residents describe as her "estranged boyfriend."
Tiffany Blanchard died at 3:57 a.m. Tory and Terry were treated for minor injuries, and both boys were released to their mother at 10 a.m.
"The building is at a total loss," said Patricia Clarkson, Deputy Chief of the fire department. Damages have been assessed at $250,000, according to Clarkson.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/28/magazine/28Evangelicals-t.html?ex=1194321600&en=6c3d1338010c3d06&ei=5070&emc=eta1

New York Times Magazine
"The Evangelical Crackup"
By David D. Kirkpatrick
Published: October 28, 2007

Theme: Christian Evangelicals are torn between presidential candidates for 2008. Almost all candidates-Democrat and Republican- are currently trying to appear as moderate as possible, and they are searching for a candidate that will make decisions along their 'theological lines.'

Descriptive techniques:

Avoiding adjectives- Instead of saying "the pastor had the support of his congregation," the author makes the passage more interesting by using active verbs. He figuratively says, "His congregation, for the most part, applauded."

When the author does use adjectives, he makes good use of them. Instead of simply laying out the names of the current Republican presidential candidates, the author helps one picture them. Each analogy bears the negative stereotype that an evangelical might have of the candidate: "a lapsed-Catholic big city mayor; a Massachusetts Mormon; a church-skipping Hollywood actor; and a political renegade known for crossing swords with Rev. Pat Robertson and the Rev. Jerry Falwell."

Using Analogies- "Ever since they broke with mainline Protestant churches nearly 100 years ago, the hallmark of evangelicals has been a vision of society as a sinking ship, sliding toward depravity and sin."

Limit physical descriptions- In detailing that Rev. David Welsh is a conservative, the author does not note Welsh's physical attributes, but instead describes his clothing: "Welsh, who is favors pressed khaki pants and buttoned-up polo shirts, is a staunch conservative..."

Use lively verbs- Instead of saying that pastors are against abortion rights, the author says that they "combat abortion rights."

Set the scene: The author does this well in the lead: "The hundred-foot white cross atop the Immanuel Baptist Church in downtown Wichita, Kan., casts a shadow over a neighborhood of payday lenders, pawnbrokers and pornographic video stores. To its parishioners, this has long been the front line of the culture war. "


In combining descriptive and narrative techniques, the author also uses compelling storytelling structure, as he takes the reader through his experiences with evangelical elites, pastors, and congregation members. By detailing his observations, he makes the reader feel as though they are in each location, at his side in the interviews. Ultimately, he does a great job at taking a completely non-biased approach to the story, and allows readers to draw their own conclusions.