Structural Analysis of Caring for Your Introvert

The author’s approach to his essay has a little bit more obvious structure than what I usually read in an English class. He goes through what are probably frequently asked questions and answers them from his own point of view as an open introvert. I think his structure is not as effective as a traditional essay format because the reader gets the impression that he is writing more informally. Informal writing can sometimes be seen as a more personal message to the reader, but this essay gave me the impression of something I would read in a forum rather than a journal.

               At a few points during his essay he connects to the reader’s astonishment by bringing up how serious some of his facts are. For instance, he references an article “Why Should Extroverts Make all the Money?” and follows it with “(I’m not making that up either)” (Rauch 3). This piggybacks on the informality of his writing, but in the positive sense of connecting to his readers.

               The author’s view on extroverts seems very senile and hateful. Jonathan Rauch does not appreciate the way that extroverts treat introverts and he addresses this very clearly through his tone. One example of his spiteful tone is “In our extrovertist society, being outgoing is considered normal and therefore desirable, a mark of happiness, confidence, and leadership” (Rauch 3). The first part of his sentence suggests that introversion is not normal because we do not belong to an introvertist society or even a society with no clear defining orientation. A reader can make the assumption that Rauch does not think introversion is desirable because it is not normal by his claim. As noted at the beginning of the essay, his writing incited an introvert’s rights movement. I believe that his tone is what brought his story of oppression out and got people to feel sympathetic towards his argument.

The Symbolism of Rain in Wasteland

Connecting stories to the main point of the article is one way the author can achieve success in selling his issue. In Wasteland by Frederick Kaufman, the author uses his own personal experience as well as the story told to him by John Brunston, a victim of human waste overflow, to illustrate his point that any average person can fall victim to the issue that he is presenting. Kaufman uses the reader’s humanity to lure the reader’s interest before he presents his issue. Starting with a story other than his own was a great way to gain the reader’s trust in his own opinion. Brunston’s story provides a connection between the author and the reader that strengthens his points. Following Brunston’s story with his own encounter amongst the human waste world results in Kaufman achieving success by sewing his opinions through a relatable experience that holds the attention of the reader.

When touring one of the facilities, Askew claims to Kaufman that “on a cold morning, you will see the water vaporing off and it will rain inside the plant” (Kaufman 4). The scientific properties of the condensation were not nearly as fascinating as the symbolic nature of the rain. The plant’s job is to clean human waste and repurpose it somewhere in society, while the rain is symbolic as a cleansing experience in literature. Not only that, but the rain is also symbolic of a bad situation and the doom that the world faces if it does not find a solution to the issue on waste. This symbolism brought out the author’s viewpoint in a very interesting and unique manner that retains the audience’s attention. This article was successful in expressing the author’s opinion on the waste management issue through personal encounters and imagery.