WEEK ONE, column 1
Anna Quindlen: Why Stuff Is Not Salvation
Quindlen critiques materialistic American culture with a seemingly odd mix of disdain and humor. She also utilizes a conversational tone throughout , giving the impression she is talking directly to her audience. Although the tone is unusual, it works well in this piece, as she shows how her life relates to others using examples from her own life. Beginning with the death of a Wal-Mart employee, and continuing on to discuss the United States' "addiction to consumption so out of control that it qualifies as a sickness" (line 9), it seems as though the article will have a disappointing tone throughout. Her tone suggests a clear disdainful mood and makes the reader pay attention and may also trigger guilt.
Afterwards, Qunidlen launches into a personal story about how badly she wished for a Chatty Cathy doll as a child. She wanted it so badly that "her head almost exploded" (line 14) when she spotted it underneath the Christmas tree. Her childhood memory completely changes the tone into a nostalgic one mixed in with some humor, sure to trigger some smiles and laughs from her audience. They might also enjoy her witty humor, shown in her comment concerning how "[n]ow much of the country is made up of people with the acquisition habits of a 7-year old" (lines 32-33) and how "[t]he result is a booming business of those free-standing storage facilities, where junk goes to linger in a persistent vegetative state, somewhere between eBay and the dump"(lines 33-35). Her blend of disgust and humor is both refreshing and likable. Overall, her tone makes the column easy to read and enjoy. She uses examples that the audience relates to, improving her argument and persuasiveness.
Afterwards, Qunidlen launches into a personal story about how badly she wished for a Chatty Cathy doll as a child. She wanted it so badly that "her head almost exploded" (line 14) when she spotted it underneath the Christmas tree. Her childhood memory completely changes the tone into a nostalgic one mixed in with some humor, sure to trigger some smiles and laughs from her audience. They might also enjoy her witty humor, shown in her comment concerning how "[n]ow much of the country is made up of people with the acquisition habits of a 7-year old" (lines 32-33) and how "[t]he result is a booming business of those free-standing storage facilities, where junk goes to linger in a persistent vegetative state, somewhere between eBay and the dump"(lines 33-35). Her blend of disgust and humor is both refreshing and likable. Overall, her tone makes the column easy to read and enjoy. She uses examples that the audience relates to, improving her argument and persuasiveness.