The first excerpt is a personal narrative that tells the story of Justin's upbringing and his realization about the harmful effects of plowing on soil. It focuses on his experiences and emotions, providing specific details and anecdotes. In contrast, the second excerpt is a more informative and scientific explanation of the negative impacts of plowing on soil. It uses facts, statistics, and examples to support its argument.
The author of the first excerpt likely chose to present the information in a personal narrative format to engage the reader on an emotional level and make the topic more relatable. By sharing Justin's experiences and family history, the author helps the reader understand the personal connection and stakes involved.
The author of the second excerpt likely chose to present the information in a more informative and scientific manner to provide a clear and logical argument. By presenting facts and evidence, the author aims to convince the reader of the harmful effects of plowing and the importance of preserving soil health. This format appeals to the reader's logic and intellect rather than emotions.
Working with his dad and brother on land homesteaded by his maternal great-grandparents just after the Civil War, Justin grew up hearing how his grandmothers put wet tea towels in windows to try to keep out the black blizzards of the Dust Bowl. Given responsibility for several fields while still in high school, he’d watched his own soils blowing and washing away, weeds running out of control and paltry yields. But it wasn’t until he went off to Kansas State University that he understood a prime cause of that damage: generations of plowing. Though few landscapes appear more beautiful, fertile and orderly than the straight, black, fragrant furrows of a newly tilled field, plowing is unnatural and, in many climates and soils, one of the most destructive things a farmer can do. Plowing strips soil bare, exposing it to erosion by rain and wind. It collapses soil structure — closing off the water channels left by deep roots and worms — and harms life in the soil, which though it may appear dead is in fact Earth’s most biodiverse ecosystem, containing a third of all organisms. Those thousands of microbial species are critical to human survival. They sustain photosynthesis, which all food and oxygen come from, by ferrying nutrients to plants and protecting them from pathogens. They decompose wastes, turning corpses of plants and animals back into new life. They’re also directly vital to human health, the source of 90 percent of antibiotics and 60 percent of anticancer drugs.
In 3–5 sentences, compare and contrast the text structure of the two excerpts. Why do you think each author chose to present information in this way?
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