Kelsey Lisowski Assignment 1B Rhetorical Reflection Section HB-McGough September 15, 2013 Comment Elwyn Brooks White, writer

of the excerpt Comment on page sixty of Convergences, wrote this slightly underrated piece along with his short story The Second Tree From the Corner. White was born during the late 1800s and experienced just about every American struggle throughout his lifetime. He endured World War I, World War II, and the Cold War while still alive, causing him to frequently write on topics such as modernism, warfare, and technological advancements. While some of his topics werent of such a serious nature, it is evident that Comment is to be taken in the most serious of regards. The excerpt explains the importance of reading in society, and ultimately, ties it to the importance of education and leadership. Whites argument, that reading is essentially a factor of success, but is on the downturn, is correct in many ways, although reading is still an essential tool used to inform Americans throughout the United States, and is of just as much importance now as it was back in the 1940s. E.B. White wrote Comment during a time of change and uncertainty in the United States. The decade was full of transition as Americans started to adjust to a normal lifestyle, which was far different from the wartime lifestyle they had become used to. Education was in the process of being reformed, and the working force was going through a period of change as men returned home from war and women were once again pushed out of the workforce. During this time, White focused much of his time on writing about modernism, a theme that started to evolve in the late 1940s and early 1950s. His Comment, specifically, was targeted at addressing the educational reform that was occurring all throughout the country. White takes an interesting approach as to how he deals with this theme, writing in Comment about the importance of reading and education, two things that he was likely afraid would become unimportant due to the disorder throughout the United States. Technological advancements started to receive more attention than books and reading materials during this time, and the education system was in shambles. Through Comment, White stresses the importance of the connection between a tangible book and a reader, and how a reader is essentially a leader in a community. It seems to be that through Whites words, he is trying to reach the young Americans who were more concerned with asserting their identity than assessing the importance of a book. Technology played a significant role in these students lives, especially with the development of the radio, automobiles, and the television. Students did not care about the group of leaders who actively read at school, rather they wanted to be called teenagers and rebel against the many standards of society. Clearly, Whites intention was to try and stop this from happening by informing

society about the significance of a book, and explaining how a reader is held in very high esteem compared to the rest of society. Fast-forward 70 years and Whites message is still very important to society today. His quote has reached thousands of students through the Convergences textbook, reminding them of the importance of reading material and other things during college. It is debatable, however, whether each student reads the Comment or just flips to the next required page of reading. Many students do not take the time to read their textbooks; rather they do their homework based on the teachings they have learned in class. With that being said, Whites message still remains true; regardless of the day and age, it is important to actively read in order to gain more knowledge. It is equally important to look up to those that have gained a wealth of knowledge through reading, because what they have to offer is extremely valuable. Elwyn Brooks White was a truly remarkable writer who had a lot to say about living in a society plagued by change and reform. All of his work is highly esteemed in the professional world of writing, which is most certainly due to his knack for words and his ability to strongly emphasize the significance of the topic he is writing about. His piece, Comment, although short compared to many of his other works, has effectively reached thousands of students throughout the United States, meaning that he has successfully reached his audience as intended. His audience has definitely been well informed by his words, which is of much importance in society today and in the past.