"On Dumpster Diving" - Discussion

Question 1

SOAPSTONE

Answer 1

• S: Eighner, homeless, defensive
• O: homelessness justification (survival), explanation of need
• A: people who are horrified
• P: argue the value and explains the manners of dumpster diving
• S: language manipulation, instructional organization
• TONE: instructional, even criticism

Question 2

focus: rhetorical analysis

Answer 2

• avoid including: personal opinions about author, personal opinions about topic, personal experiences
• do include:
• claim (a description of the rhetorical devices an author uses (metaphors, juxtaposition, etc.))
• data (examples from the text to support your description (textual evidence))
• warrant (explanation of how the textual evidence applies and to what affect)
• rhetorical analysis ONLY analyzes an author’s writing and identifies how he or she achieves certain effects

Question 3

argument

Answer 3

• avoid including: redundant verbage, logical fallacies, outdated data
• include:
• personal experiences (anecdotes, memories, observations (ones that emphasize the argument))
• rhetorical devices (metaphors, juxtaposition, similes (to enhance the argument))
• rhetorical appeals (ethos, logos, pathos (using all three appeals is ideal))

Question 4

step 1

Answer 4

Eighner’s

Question 5

step 2

Answer 5

juxtaposition

Question 6

step 3

Answer 6

of his elevated diction with his seemingly debased subject of Dumpster diving

Question 7

step 4

Answer 7

lends support to his argument that it is “honorable” occupation

Question 8

claim: eighner cultivates contrasts to exemplify the paradigm one person’s trash is another person’s treasure

Answer 8

eighner contrasts extremes to remind people that trash can also be treasure

Question 9

claim: the author weaves figurative language through the message that materialism can be spiritually damaging

Answer 9

“some material things are white elephants that eat up the possessor’s substance”

Question 10

eighner cultivates _____ to exemplify the paradigm one person’s trash is another person’s treasure

Answer 10

parallel structure, contrasts

Question 11

claim: eighner crafts elevated diction into the message that life is transcendent

Answer 11

the author incorporates elevated diction to convey the message that life is transcendent

Question 12

claim: eighner cultivates contrasts to exemplify the paradigm one person’s trash is another person’s treasure

Answer 12

“very pleased when I can turn up exactly the thing I most wanted to find”

Question 13

claim: eighner crafts elevated diction into the message that life is transcendent

Answer 13

possessions are often lost and less important - this is true for everyone from all walks of life