Question

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.
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?

Answer 1

The first excerpt provides a narrative structure, telling a story about Justin's upbringing and experiences with land degradation. It includes personal anecdotes and details about his family's history. The second excerpt, in contrast, presents information in a more informative structure, highlighting the cause of the damage (generations of plowing) and its effects.

The first author likely chose a narrative structure to engage the reader emotionally and create a connection with Justin's experiences. By sharing personal anecdotes and family history, the author adds depth and relatability to the story.

The second author, on the other hand, likely chose an informative structure to convey factual information concisely and clearly. By focusing on cause and effect, the author can present the information in a straightforward manner without distractions or personal anecdotes.