Close Reading 3: Schneider: TV set proves bigger is better - For awhile http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20111023/COLUMNISTS09/110230498/Schneider-TV-set-proves-bigger-better-awhile

Schneider had a definite opinion about things. This story he talks abut getting a new TV, normally that doesn't sound to interesting, but he uses so many literary techniques to make the whole article interesting to read. The diction that he uses, creates a friendly tone. By using words like "ho-hum" and "flickered" make him seem less professional, this type of tone makes the reader relate to Schneider more than normal, and you get the feeling that the author is talking to a friend, and just giving friendly advise, or telling a funny tory that happened. 


The Syntax Schneider uses shows how excited he was to finally be one of the people in the neighborhood to get this huge flat screen TV. "Oct. 5 - the day before the do-or-die fifth, and final, game of the Tigers-Yankees divisional playoff series." This phrase helps the reader know and relate to the author. You now know that he likes baseball, and that he followed the Tigers/Yankees pretty religiously. The author then goes on to say "It was like Christmas Eve." This you can relate too, having that excitement building up about the next morning, knowing something good is about to happen. That is how excited the Author is about his new TV. 


Schneider switches the subject to how human nature is what it is, which sort of reminded me of "the American Dream" in some ways, how Mommy and Daddy always talk about how things are the way they are. When Schneider talks about this nature, the language becomes a little bit more factual, but still remains friendly, which was goos technique on the authors part, because you take what he is saying about human nature seriously, but you still relate to him at the same time.  

Close Reading 2 "Grover, You Need to Fix Your Pledge." http://domemagazine.com/mberman/mb093011

Maxine Berman in this article has a very strong and expressed opinion about this "pledge" where if you sign it, you agree that there should be no more new income taxes made. The diction she uses portrays her opinion very well by using words like "pussyfoot", "snickers", and "effing" create almost a condescending tone to the piece, or as if she is mocking the people who have signed their names to this pledge that she finds incredibly stupid. Along with the words, she also has phrases like "congress has never been known to act immediately" to show what she thinks of congress. She uses the phrase "After all, poisoned drinking water is not an immediate threat. Probably, you would die slowly." This phrase shows that she really just wants people to see this as a joke, and that this "joke" should not be taken seriously. This use of diction and syntax is helping the author seem very sarcastic and apathetic, not caring that other people may take this offensively.