Name: Lauren Sawyer
Contemporary Communications: The Hot Zone
Hour: 4
Read the article provided and answer the following questions. Be sure to include a detailed explanation in support of your responses.
Title of Article: Obama: 'Extremely Low' Odds of U.S. Ebola Outbreak
Author: Eric Bradner
Website/Address: http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/06/politics/obama-ebola/index.html
1. What type of article is this (biography, essay, journal, true adventure, other)? Explain your choice.
This article is a nonfiction report. The author is reporting about Obama's response to the Ebola Outbreak and informing the reader about the situation. The author makes his opinion stand out but remains true to the facts of the report. He directly quotes Obama throughout the article and provides brief commentary following the quotes.
2. Is this article mainly description, narration, or exposition?
Exposition
3. Quote 2-3 sentences exemplifying the main type of writing.
"The President's comments come one week after a Dallas man who recently returned from a trip to West Africa became the first person diagnosed with Ebola in the United States. A nurse in Spain on Monday became the first woman to contract Ebola outside Africa."
4. What is the author's purpose? What is the message and how is it conveyed?
The author's purpose is to inform the reader about Obama's response but also to criticize how Obama failed to express the seriousness of the Ebola outbreak and that he is failing us as a leader by downplaying the situation. He wants the reader to understand the seriousness of the situation and how the actions of Obama are useless in protecting our country from the disease. He, as a leader, needs to step up and stop putting the responsibility on other countries. He also needs to recognize the severity of the disease and so something to stop it from entering the country. He portrays this message by quoting Obama and reflecting on the irony of his statements.
5. What is the tone and mood of the article? What Diction supports the tone/mood?
The tone of the article is irritated and critical. The author uses diction like "Obama downplayed" "He complained" and "plans to heap pressure" to portray his disgust towards Obama's actions.
6. Does any part of this "non-fiction" article seem embellished, sensationalized, or made up? Which part?
The article relays the facts correctly, but he includes critical diction and his opinion following the true facts. Rather than come out with his own personal views he states the information as it happened and directly quotes Obama, letting his comments speak for themselves. He then follows the quotes with snarky comments in order to depict his feelings towards Obama's actions.
7. Does the article show tension between characters? Cause tension for the reader? How?
The article shows tension between the author and Obama. He is irritated that Obama has downplayed the situation and is trying to put the responsibility on other countries. The author is creating tension between the readers and out leader by putting blame on Obama and reflecting on his weak leadership skills regarding the Ebola crisis.
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