the plot against people humorous essay by russell baker introducing the humorous essay elements of...
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The Plot Against PeopleHumorous Essay by Russell Baker
Introducing the Humorous Essay
Elements of Nonfiction: Tone and Diction
Reading Skill: Recognize Classification
The Plot Against People
Keys get lost.
INTRODUCING THE HUMOROUS ESSAY
When are little things a BIG DEAL?
In the essay you are about to read, Russell Baker proposes an interesting theory about why such things happen.
Computers crash. Every day, people encounter problems, inconveniences, and other annoyances that make life stressful.
The Plot Against People
1. Bus to school breaks down
When are little things a BIG DEAL?INTRODUCING THE HUMOROUS ESSAY
QUICKWRITE
What are some of the things that annoy you when they break down, don’t work, or get lost?
Make a short list of about five items.
Then choose the one that annoys you the most and explain why to a classmate.
Annoyances
2. Locker won’t open
3.
4.
5.
The Plot Against People
While reading an essay, you might notice that the writer seems serious, mocking, or sentimental.
That quality of the writing is known as the tone, or the writer’s attitude toward a subject.
Tone and Diction
The Plot Against People
Everyday words arranged in simple sentence patterns create a casual tone.
One way the writer creates tone is through diction, the word choice and the arrangement of words, or syntax.
We took the puppy home. We fluffed up some blankets on the floor. The little ball of fur curled up there right away. I fell in love before he even fell asleep.
Upon our arrival home, we arranged some blankets on the floor for the exhausted pup, and he retired there without hesitation. My heart was his in an instant.
Use of more sophisticated words and longer sentences creates a more formal tone.
Tone and Diction
The Plot Against People
Notice how Russell Baker uses formal, scientific language in this sentence.
The goal of all inanimate objects is to resist man and ultimately to defeat him, and the three major classifications are based on the method each object uses to achieve its purpose.
Instead of the word “things,” Baker writes “inanimate objects.”
Also, Baker’s sentence structure is complicated, or suitable for a scientific paper.
Tone and Diction
The Plot Against People
The contrast between Baker’s elevated style and the everyday topic creates a humorous tone.
As you read his essay, notice the diction and details Baker uses to create tone.
Tone and Diction
The Plot Against People
Recognize Classification
Common patterns of organization include
Pattern of organization refers to how a writer arranges ideas and information.
• cause and effect
leads to leads toCause Effect/Cause New Effect
• chronological order
time passing
Event 1 Event 2 Event 3time
passing
• comparison and contrast
Item 1 Characteristics
Item 2 Characteristics
Shared Characteristics
The Plot Against People
A fourth pattern of organization is classification. To classify is to sort ideas or objects into groups that share common characteristics.
Recognize Classification
This type of organization is revealed in Baker’s thesis statement: “Inanimate objects are classified scientifically into three major categories—those that don’t work, those that break down, and those that get lost.”
The Plot Against People
In the third column, note important characteristics of each group.
As you read, use a chart like the one shown to identify examples of each category identified in the thesis statement.
Make Inferences
Things that don’t work
CharacteristicsCategory Examples
Things that break down car, washing machine
Things that get lost
create maximum frustration for people
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