Many of us know Hope Solo as one of the best goal keepers in the world. She's an inspiration to any athlete, anywhere. But what many people don't know is her tough past, the past that molded her into the woman she is today. A Memoir of Hope, written by Hope Solo with the help of Ann Killion, reveals the other life Hope Solo once lived, along with her achievements, failures, both inside and out of the soccer world. Chapter one of the book is an introduction to Hope and her family and some of the hardships they were put through because of her father. It begins with a description of her first house with the smiley face fence, followed by the aspects of her family, half family, and most importantly her father. Hope Solo appealed to the audience's emotions by using anecdotes to achieve her purpose of describing her family, and that her dad is a difficult man who created many difficulties in her tough past.
A Memoir of Hope is a book meant for anyone, especially young athletes, who can immediately be inspired from Hope's story as a girl and as a soccer player. They can learn about Hope's past she went through, and even through all of the turmoil, she worked hard and achieved her dream. This chapter specifically, can reach out to readers who may also have had some rough patches within their family life. Hope splits up the memoir and the chapter with specific story to emphasize her puprose and point she is trying to achieve. For starters, the day her family found out Gerry Solo wasn't even the real name of her dad. He had also been stealing money from her grandparents and other places while also tearing apart Hope's family by having affairs other women. The reader cannot help but feel sorry for Hope, for she was only a confused 7 year old who wanted to spend time with her Dad, but was being tossed around in the wrath of lies he had created to keep their relationship on top. She was filled with anger, forced to spend time with a family she didn't want to because her irresponsible father would only get himself into more trouble. For instance, a story she shared, when her and her brother, Marcus, were kidnapped by her father for several days. Eventually, her father had been caught and she had been picked up and put back into reality. Well, her family's reality. "I was mad at my mother for taking us home. Mad at my father for lying to us. Mad at myself for doing something wrong. I was mad at the world." (Solo, 20) That was a young girl, already angry at the world. I as a reader, believe Hope acheived her purpose. Through the stories she already was able to tell throughout chapter 1, the hardships her family faced were mainly caused by her father, and the rest of her family's mess was the reject to everything he had done. Secretly not paying mortgages, creating several identities, and kidnapping own children.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Sunday, September 22, 2013
TOW #2: Is Coffee Bad for You? Actually, Drinking Coffee May Be Good for You: January W. Payne
Is Coffee Bad for You? Actually, Drinking Coffee May Be Good For You
By: January W. Payne
Addressing both the benefits and side effects of drinking coffee, this article written by January W. Payne explains that for some people, a moderate amount of coffee a day isn't so bad for you. Under the circumstances though, decaffinated may be the better decision. Approaching those who enjoy including a up or two of coffee in their daily routine, Payne was able to achieve her purpose that it is okay to drink coffee if it's a moderate amount of caffeine. But if someone is consuming a ridiculous amout, it could lead to insomnia, nausea, muscle tremors, or even an irregular/fast heartbeat. Also, a person with diabetes should probably switch to decaffeinated. On the plus side, coffee consumption can also prevent skin cancer and decrease the risks of strokes. Proved by research, coffee drinking may also offer a protective effect against Alzheimer's. Paranoid coffee drinkers, for whom this article is meant for, can now either relax a little bit about their daily habbit, or have to face a new challenge of breaking it.
January W. Payne is a writer for US.NEWS. and has already published several different articles. Proving that she is credible through her valid points, she appeals to both logos and ethos. (ethos because she proves that as an author/speaker, she is both credible and trustworthy.) She appeals to logos because behind her reasoning, she has facts. Each argument she proposes is backed up with research. For example, she mentions a review from Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism relating to diabetes and also a review published in Neurological Research about the protective effects coffee may have against Alzheimer's disease. By appealing to logos, Payne is able to achieve her purpose offering clear and rational ideas. As a daughter of a coffee drinker and just as a regular reader, I believe that Payne acheived her purpose. She reaches out to coffee drinkers and displays that coffee drinking can be beneficial but also have side effects.
By: January W. Payne
Addressing both the benefits and side effects of drinking coffee, this article written by January W. Payne explains that for some people, a moderate amount of coffee a day isn't so bad for you. Under the circumstances though, decaffinated may be the better decision. Approaching those who enjoy including a up or two of coffee in their daily routine, Payne was able to achieve her purpose that it is okay to drink coffee if it's a moderate amount of caffeine. But if someone is consuming a ridiculous amout, it could lead to insomnia, nausea, muscle tremors, or even an irregular/fast heartbeat. Also, a person with diabetes should probably switch to decaffeinated. On the plus side, coffee consumption can also prevent skin cancer and decrease the risks of strokes. Proved by research, coffee drinking may also offer a protective effect against Alzheimer's. Paranoid coffee drinkers, for whom this article is meant for, can now either relax a little bit about their daily habbit, or have to face a new challenge of breaking it.
January W. Payne is a writer for US.NEWS. and has already published several different articles. Proving that she is credible through her valid points, she appeals to both logos and ethos. (ethos because she proves that as an author/speaker, she is both credible and trustworthy.) She appeals to logos because behind her reasoning, she has facts. Each argument she proposes is backed up with research. For example, she mentions a review from Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism relating to diabetes and also a review published in Neurological Research about the protective effects coffee may have against Alzheimer's disease. By appealing to logos, Payne is able to achieve her purpose offering clear and rational ideas. As a daughter of a coffee drinker and just as a regular reader, I believe that Payne acheived her purpose. She reaches out to coffee drinkers and displays that coffee drinking can be beneficial but also have side effects.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
TOW: New Research Reveals That If You Really Want That PR, You Have to Train Your Brain - Hard ---- By: Alex Hutchinson
This article, out of Runner's World Magazine, is about mental fatigue. Alex Hutchinson, the author, a runner himself, has gone through a series of exercises and training techniques to help prevent his brain from becoming so easily fatigued while running. "There's been a revolution in running science the last few years." (pg 72) Many people usually focus on the fatigue of muscles, heart, legs, etc., but this article focuses on the mental aspect of running. Studies show that "mental fatigue can negatively affect physical performance" (pg 73). The author, Alex, not only has gone through the tests himself, as explained in the article. As an original 1500 runner, Alex experiences mental fatigue in longer races such as the 5,000. He could not sustain the focus needed to keep a steady pace for that distance, therefore effecting is overall performance. He always knew he had more in him during the races too because at the end his finishes included too much energy he could have used during the race instead. Alex worked with one of the researchesrs mentioned, Samuele Marcora, who worked with him through exercises to challenge and work the brain to help resist fatigue. The article goes from explaining the effects of mental fatigue, to a problem-solving solution. Alex was trying to prepare for a marathon, so working with an expert on how to fix his mentality while running long distances was a must for a 26.2 mile race. Although his muscles gave out by the end of his marathon, he ran more smoothly and consistantly through the middle miles than he had ever done before. His purpose, is to inform other runners that workouts and races don't always just involve the body. A lot of it has to do with the brain. Being a runner myself, I believe Hutchinson achieved his purpose. I learned alot about the way the mind works, and also can now take it into consideration that when I want to give up during a workout to keep going, because a lot of it is all in my brain. Alex Hutchinson was able to appeal to his audience mainly through pathos. By including himself and his personal expereinces within the article to reach a purpose, the idea was easily understood. Runners can connect to his personal experiences because most runners experience the same things. Even as Alex was explaining his muscle fatigue during his last miles of his marathon, I felt his pain. I could embrace the feeling of soreness by the end of the race, and how you just wish your legs could feel fresh. This article could be seen as a confidence booster, advice giver, and just a story to all runners out there in the world.
IRB Intro Post - Marking Period 1
This marking period, (mp 1) I will be reading "A Memoir of Hope Solo" written by Hope Solo with Ann Killion. This book is simply about the life of USA's Woman's National Soccer Team's goalie, Hope Solo, and her battles throughout her journey of becoming one of the world's best goal tenders. I selected this memoir because I've always been a fan of Hope, and I can connect to the soccer portion of the book since I am a player myself. I hope to gain some new background I don't know about Hope Solo, and also a sense of inspiration. From what I've heard, this book is great, and Hope Solo truley is an inspiring person and athlete. I look forward to being inspired as a reader, athlete, and girl.
Monday, September 2, 2013
Killing My Body to Save My Mind by Lauren Slater
"Saving my Mind"
Struggling through the ups and downs of depression.
Killing My Body To Save My Mind is about a person, a woman; a mom who wants to live a happy, depression free life. Zyprexa, the most extreme anti depression drug works wonders. But of course every drug has side effects, zyprexa leading to weight gain. In Killing My Body To Save My Mind, the woman (narrator) is in a battle with her mind and her body. After deciding to take the drug zyprexa, her whole life has changed. She's happy now, but in the meantime, her weight gain has turned into a life threatening problem. Almost diabetic and shortening her life span, she still decides to take zyprexa. After all, she'd rather be "a happy elephant than a miserable hominid."(257) The depression was extreme, creating a darkness over her mind. She heard cries from children she could not find, and her beautiful garden would turn into an ugly, depressed sight. She was so desperate to seek happiness again that zyprexa seemed to her just as a cure, not a drug that could bring her into the dangers of obesity. She had tried several other drugs prescribed by her doctor, none doing the trick. Zyprexa seemed to be the only answer left. Once on the drug, although constantly wanting food, she was happy. She felt as though a burden was lifted from her soul. 50 pounds later she realized the damage she was doing to her body while trying to save her mind. Dieting and exercising could not even help the weight gain. She felt as though it was worth it...she could enjoy her families company, laugh at the little things, and just see life differently.
Lauren Slater is both an author and a psychologist. She's an author of seven books and this article coming from the magazine Elle. Lauren Slater's purpose in writing Killing My Body to Save My Mind is to describe the affects of zyprexa but to also show readers that for people in depression, gaining weight means nothing compared to being happy again. Even if the body is being destroyed, the mind is being saved. I believe, as a reader, that Lauren Slater did achieve her purpose in writing this essay. Although I may not understand the narrators choices exactly, I think to others in depression and suffering from the same experiences may have a better comprehension of why the narrator chose the path she chose. Targeted towards the certain audience of others who have gone through derpession, I think Lauren Slater reached her goal of saving the mind and that you are in control of your life. You have the ability to make the choices to either help yourself, hurt yourself, or even both in this case.
Antanagoge is a rhetoric device used in "Killing My Body to Save My Mind". Lauren Slater/the the narrator of the book, sees zyprexa as both a positive and negative thing. Although zyprexa causes you to gain weight, it also causes you to see life as a happy beautiful thing. Or although zyprexa relieves your depression, it can change your life into a large health problem. It goes along with even though she is destroying her body, she is saving her mind. Hence "Killing My Body to Save My Mind".
Struggling through the ups and downs of depression.
The Bitch is Back
Sandra Tsing Loh
The Bitch is Back is an essay about women and their mid life phase of menopause. It describes a womans feelings and emotions she experiences during menopause. The unbalance of her hormones at this time in her life also messes with her moods and tolerance of those around her. The essay provides examples of women in their menopausal stage including the author herself and her own personal experiences. Reaching out to the audience of other women who may be approaching or experiencing their own mid life menopausal stage, this essay describes what women go through while also providing books to help, or something along those lines. Also, as a female who isn't apporaching menopause anytime soon, I was able to embrace the intense emotions women do feel through this process in life. To those readers my age or others who may know a women in their mid 40s-60s, they can try and connect the behavior of the woman they know to the behavior described in the essay.
Sandra Tsing Loh has written several books and is a regular tributor to The Atlantic, which is where The Bitch is Back is from. The purpose of writing The Bitch is Back is to explain to readers the stage of menopause and what it could be like to go through it. It also explains the reasoning for some womens strange behavior, such as unbalanced hormones, or fertility. I definitely think that Sandra Tsing Loh reached her purpose, but in a really intense way. Although I can't be for sure if she may be exaggerating at some points because I have not yet experienced menopause.
There were both some metaphors and similies used throughout the essay to emphasize menopause and also describing certain books that are about menopause. "Dry as it may seem, though, one menopause book does rise like Mount Etna above the rest."(221) Sandra Tsing Loh is describing The Wisdom of Monopause, a 656 page all about menopause. Or how about describing "the Hour of the Wolf" aka around 4:00 pm when all women seem to hit a slump in the day. "how many of our inner wolves appear at afternoon carpool time" (221) Hence the inner wolf, Loh is comparing a wild animal to how a menopausal women feels during this hour.
Source "Menopause"
Midlife problems.
Sandra Tsing Loh
The Bitch is Back is an essay about women and their mid life phase of menopause. It describes a womans feelings and emotions she experiences during menopause. The unbalance of her hormones at this time in her life also messes with her moods and tolerance of those around her. The essay provides examples of women in their menopausal stage including the author herself and her own personal experiences. Reaching out to the audience of other women who may be approaching or experiencing their own mid life menopausal stage, this essay describes what women go through while also providing books to help, or something along those lines. Also, as a female who isn't apporaching menopause anytime soon, I was able to embrace the intense emotions women do feel through this process in life. To those readers my age or others who may know a women in their mid 40s-60s, they can try and connect the behavior of the woman they know to the behavior described in the essay.
Sandra Tsing Loh has written several books and is a regular tributor to The Atlantic, which is where The Bitch is Back is from. The purpose of writing The Bitch is Back is to explain to readers the stage of menopause and what it could be like to go through it. It also explains the reasoning for some womens strange behavior, such as unbalanced hormones, or fertility. I definitely think that Sandra Tsing Loh reached her purpose, but in a really intense way. Although I can't be for sure if she may be exaggerating at some points because I have not yet experienced menopause.
There were both some metaphors and similies used throughout the essay to emphasize menopause and also describing certain books that are about menopause. "Dry as it may seem, though, one menopause book does rise like Mount Etna above the rest."(221) Sandra Tsing Loh is describing The Wisdom of Monopause, a 656 page all about menopause. Or how about describing "the Hour of the Wolf" aka around 4:00 pm when all women seem to hit a slump in the day. "how many of our inner wolves appear at afternoon carpool time" (221) Hence the inner wolf, Loh is comparing a wild animal to how a menopausal women feels during this hour.
Midlife problems.
Outlaw
Jose Antonio Vargas
From The New York Times Magazine
Outlaw is about a man who moved to America, but was an illegal immigrant from the Phillpines. He didn't even know himself until one day when he went for his driving permit and his green US residency card ended up being fake. From that day on, he lived his life through high school, work, college, hiding under an identity that could get him into some serious trouble. Meanwhile, he tries to be as involved as he can with everything, a hard worker through out high school, earning better positions with his job. He felt has though if he worked hard enough he could really earn his citizenship as an American. He built a career as a journalist and along the way told some people his secret. Living in guilt and paranoia, he decided to tell the truth and review his options with a legal council after telling his story.
Jose Antonio Vargas is a journalisnt, filmmaker and obviously an immigration activist. After his article "outlaw", there was a halt to the deportation of undocumented immigrants under age 30 eligible for the DREAM Act; although he did not qualify due to his age. The purpose of this essay was to reach out to help children in similar situations and to help them with their path to citizenship. Also, readers that are not dealing with the same problem, are opened to the world of immigration, and how many people have dealt with the problem of illegal citizenship. As a reader myself, I do think that Vargas acheived his purpose. Even from just his story, I was informed a great amount about immigration.
A rhetorical device, audience, was used in this essay because the author was writing the essay to reach out to an audience by telling the truth. Reaching out to make Americans more aware, or reaching out to other immigrants who have dealt with the same thing was a big purpose of the essay in the first place. As well as audience, Vargas used pathos throughout the essay to emotionally draw in readers. Readers can feel is paranoia and guilt as reading through the essay and it helps him acheive his purpose even further.
Jose Antonio Vargas
From The New York Times Magazine
Outlaw is about a man who moved to America, but was an illegal immigrant from the Phillpines. He didn't even know himself until one day when he went for his driving permit and his green US residency card ended up being fake. From that day on, he lived his life through high school, work, college, hiding under an identity that could get him into some serious trouble. Meanwhile, he tries to be as involved as he can with everything, a hard worker through out high school, earning better positions with his job. He felt has though if he worked hard enough he could really earn his citizenship as an American. He built a career as a journalist and along the way told some people his secret. Living in guilt and paranoia, he decided to tell the truth and review his options with a legal council after telling his story.
Jose Antonio Vargas is a journalisnt, filmmaker and obviously an immigration activist. After his article "outlaw", there was a halt to the deportation of undocumented immigrants under age 30 eligible for the DREAM Act; although he did not qualify due to his age. The purpose of this essay was to reach out to help children in similar situations and to help them with their path to citizenship. Also, readers that are not dealing with the same problem, are opened to the world of immigration, and how many people have dealt with the problem of illegal citizenship. As a reader myself, I do think that Vargas acheived his purpose. Even from just his story, I was informed a great amount about immigration.
A rhetorical device, audience, was used in this essay because the author was writing the essay to reach out to an audience by telling the truth. Reaching out to make Americans more aware, or reaching out to other immigrants who have dealt with the same thing was a big purpose of the essay in the first place. As well as audience, Vargas used pathos throughout the essay to emotionally draw in readers. Readers can feel is paranoia and guilt as reading through the essay and it helps him acheive his purpose even further.
"Immigration Protests"
Immigration activist, or someone who just wants to live free?
You Owe Me by Miah Arnold
You Owe Me is about a teacher who teaches in a hospital. She teaches a writing class filled with children from all ages who are either fighting cancer, or suffering from cancer. She isn't just there to teach though, she really tries to connect with the kids and make every minute worth it. Everytime a child she has grown close to, or too close to, arrives near their death, she feels as though she will leave after their death. It will be the end to her teaching career at the hospital, for she cannot bare to teach a day further without that certain child. It's been a few years now, and she hasn't left. She feels as though she must stay for the other children, as hard as it can be, she needs to be there for them. For instance, Michael, a nine year old boy coming to his wits end, would just simply sit on the teachers lap everyday. He felt secure there, he needed the warmth of her arms around him as she read him poetry. He needed faith.
Miah Arnold is an author of several short pieces of literature. "Her work has appeared in Michigan Quarterly Review, Nanofiction, Confrontation, Painted Bride Quarterly, and the South Dakota Review. She has received a Barthelme Award, an Inprint/Diana P. Hobby Award, and an Established Artists Grant from the Houston Arts Alliance for her work." (miaharnold.com) You Owe Me was published in the Michigan Quaterly Review reaching out to the audience of children, parents, teachers, or pretty much anyone else. Teachers can recieve a new apprectation for what they do everyday, whether it's for teaching sick children, or teaching healthy ones. Kids who read this essay can appreciate their well being, and be thankful or maybe kids with an illness can connect to this. Also a person who may be connected to sick people or children such as Miah can connect to her feelings throughout the essay. Leading to the purpose of You Owe Me, I believe Miah Arnold acheived her purpose of the essay of really transfering her feelings into words and giving the reader a full affect in just 13 pages. It had me basically in tears, and I didn't really even have a special connection from previous personal experiences to connect to the essay. (Thank God, knock on wood!) It gave me a new appreciation for teachers who do teach children or people like this and that it is actually a really diffcult place to be in when you put your heart into it.
For rhetorical devices, I was able to point out a few metaphors right away as I was reading. It gave me an even better grasp of some of the characteristics described throughout the essay. "I am a Dixie cup, and these children's lives and needs are the hundreds of oceans, and by some increible grace I have been able to contain them." (37) It gives the essay a different view on how to see it, as well as "his bones, in my mind, were dried-out honeycombs." (40) I as a reader, as able to fully understand certain details as they were compared to real life or different situations.
You Owe Me is about a teacher who teaches in a hospital. She teaches a writing class filled with children from all ages who are either fighting cancer, or suffering from cancer. She isn't just there to teach though, she really tries to connect with the kids and make every minute worth it. Everytime a child she has grown close to, or too close to, arrives near their death, she feels as though she will leave after their death. It will be the end to her teaching career at the hospital, for she cannot bare to teach a day further without that certain child. It's been a few years now, and she hasn't left. She feels as though she must stay for the other children, as hard as it can be, she needs to be there for them. For instance, Michael, a nine year old boy coming to his wits end, would just simply sit on the teachers lap everyday. He felt secure there, he needed the warmth of her arms around him as she read him poetry. He needed faith.
Miah Arnold is an author of several short pieces of literature. "Her work has appeared in Michigan Quarterly Review, Nanofiction, Confrontation, Painted Bride Quarterly, and the South Dakota Review. She has received a Barthelme Award, an Inprint/Diana P. Hobby Award, and an Established Artists Grant from the Houston Arts Alliance for her work." (miaharnold.com) You Owe Me was published in the Michigan Quaterly Review reaching out to the audience of children, parents, teachers, or pretty much anyone else. Teachers can recieve a new apprectation for what they do everyday, whether it's for teaching sick children, or teaching healthy ones. Kids who read this essay can appreciate their well being, and be thankful or maybe kids with an illness can connect to this. Also a person who may be connected to sick people or children such as Miah can connect to her feelings throughout the essay. Leading to the purpose of You Owe Me, I believe Miah Arnold acheived her purpose of the essay of really transfering her feelings into words and giving the reader a full affect in just 13 pages. It had me basically in tears, and I didn't really even have a special connection from previous personal experiences to connect to the essay. (Thank God, knock on wood!) It gave me a new appreciation for teachers who do teach children or people like this and that it is actually a really diffcult place to be in when you put your heart into it.
For rhetorical devices, I was able to point out a few metaphors right away as I was reading. It gave me an even better grasp of some of the characteristics described throughout the essay. "I am a Dixie cup, and these children's lives and needs are the hundreds of oceans, and by some increible grace I have been able to contain them." (37) It gives the essay a different view on how to see it, as well as "his bones, in my mind, were dried-out honeycombs." (40) I as a reader, as able to fully understand certain details as they were compared to real life or different situations.
"The Best Laughter"
Making their lifetime as amazing as they deserve.
Source
How Doctors Die by Ken Murray
How Doctors Die is about how most doctors prefer to die, or at least that is the author's opinion. Every single day doctors are saving lives, helping in saving lives, or in the process of making sure their patient has a little longer to live. They've seen it all, their patients go through medicines, treatments, khemo therapy, nights in and out of the hospital, and plenty more. Doctors experience the treatment and illness through their patients, and only turn their heads if it ever became their turn. "I cannot count the number of times fellow physicins have told me, inwords that vary only slightly, 'Promise me if you find me like this that you'll kill me.'" (232) Although patients are getting treated daily, the process they go through comes off as miserable to most doctors. Patients getting cut open, tubes getting shoved into their bodies, assaulted with drugs. Not only to mention that this intensive care unit could cost thousands of dollars a day. Doctors feel as though they want to die happily, not alone, and not in pain. They believe that little treatment and spending your final times with quality instead of quanity is the better way to go. "Death with dignity."(235)
Ken Murray, the author of this essay, was a family medical doctor who had a private practice of general medicine for 25 years. This essay, actually, has brought him most of the attention he has recieved and currently writes for an online magazine of ideas: Zocalo Public Square. The purpose of him writing this essay, is to give the audience of those who may be connected to a doctor specifically, or possibly a former patient in a hospital, the idea that doctors feel about their way of dying. The audience can get a better understanding of possibly why a doctor may choose to die the way he dies, for it could have been a relative or a friend who was a doctor and chose the same path. The essay gives several examples and points of evidence as to why doctors choose a death with dignity and a death with quality, rather than quantity. I believe that Ken Murray achieved his purpose. Even in just 4 pages, I was able to grasp the feeling of the doctors who treat patients everyday, and why they may choose less treatment for themselves if they were ever to become ill. Ken Murray, also being a doctor for 25 years can understand as the author and the narrator so the essay can really connect to an actual doctor's feelings.
The rhetorical device enumeratio, is used to help Ken Murray's examples throughout the essay. For example, Torch, his older cousin, decided to recieve less treatment for his cancer and enjoy his last few months and having fun. Ken Murray was using this example to prove the better quality in Torch's last few days, meaning company, adventures, food, and money. Enumeratio makes a point with details. The author makes the point of quality and includes the details of Torch gaining weight because he isn't just eating hospital food, and going to Disneyland because he can. Torch ended up dying in his sleep, painless...the cost of his medical care for the 8 months he lived was around $20. Khemo therapy wasn't promising him anything over 4 months of survival, that costing several thousands of dollars. Ken Murray was able to reach the point with his example which was also supported by several other examples.
How Doctors Die is about how most doctors prefer to die, or at least that is the author's opinion. Every single day doctors are saving lives, helping in saving lives, or in the process of making sure their patient has a little longer to live. They've seen it all, their patients go through medicines, treatments, khemo therapy, nights in and out of the hospital, and plenty more. Doctors experience the treatment and illness through their patients, and only turn their heads if it ever became their turn. "I cannot count the number of times fellow physicins have told me, inwords that vary only slightly, 'Promise me if you find me like this that you'll kill me.'" (232) Although patients are getting treated daily, the process they go through comes off as miserable to most doctors. Patients getting cut open, tubes getting shoved into their bodies, assaulted with drugs. Not only to mention that this intensive care unit could cost thousands of dollars a day. Doctors feel as though they want to die happily, not alone, and not in pain. They believe that little treatment and spending your final times with quality instead of quanity is the better way to go. "Death with dignity."(235)
Ken Murray, the author of this essay, was a family medical doctor who had a private practice of general medicine for 25 years. This essay, actually, has brought him most of the attention he has recieved and currently writes for an online magazine of ideas: Zocalo Public Square. The purpose of him writing this essay, is to give the audience of those who may be connected to a doctor specifically, or possibly a former patient in a hospital, the idea that doctors feel about their way of dying. The audience can get a better understanding of possibly why a doctor may choose to die the way he dies, for it could have been a relative or a friend who was a doctor and chose the same path. The essay gives several examples and points of evidence as to why doctors choose a death with dignity and a death with quality, rather than quantity. I believe that Ken Murray achieved his purpose. Even in just 4 pages, I was able to grasp the feeling of the doctors who treat patients everyday, and why they may choose less treatment for themselves if they were ever to become ill. Ken Murray, also being a doctor for 25 years can understand as the author and the narrator so the essay can really connect to an actual doctor's feelings.
The rhetorical device enumeratio, is used to help Ken Murray's examples throughout the essay. For example, Torch, his older cousin, decided to recieve less treatment for his cancer and enjoy his last few months and having fun. Ken Murray was using this example to prove the better quality in Torch's last few days, meaning company, adventures, food, and money. Enumeratio makes a point with details. The author makes the point of quality and includes the details of Torch gaining weight because he isn't just eating hospital food, and going to Disneyland because he can. Torch ended up dying in his sleep, painless...the cost of his medical care for the 8 months he lived was around $20. Khemo therapy wasn't promising him anything over 4 months of survival, that costing several thousands of dollars. Ken Murray was able to reach the point with his example which was also supported by several other examples.
"No Code"
Do not try and save a doctor from his death, do not resuscitate. They want to die with as much happiness as possible. Not to die alone or in pain; but to die with dignity.
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