Page 1148 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing

8. The author writes of being ten years old and visiting a
country club pool where white parents “pull[ed] their kids from

the pool in terror.” What is the effect of the words “in terror”?

9. The author writes that people at the black table called him

“Oreo” and “white boy.” In another context, an Oreo is a

delicious cookie and a white boy is simply a young Caucasian

male. Why are the terms insulting when “hurled” at the author

from the black table?

10. Graham says that the black lunch table is indicative of “the

superficial inroads that integration has made in society.” Exactly
what does he mean by that? Can you think of a specific

example to support or refute his assertion?

Discussing the Essay