Page 428 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing

Examining an Essay

Liz Weston’s essay embodies all three of the writing techniques

featured in this chapter . The first technique that the writer

incorporates is comparison-contrast. Mainly, the essay compares

the ways that people spent money in the 1970s with the way they

spend it today. We could also say that the essay contrasts the ways
that people spent money in the 1970s with the way they spend it today

and be just as correct. The term comparison also includes contrast;

that is, we may compare two things and find them similar, or we may

find them quite different. The term contrast, however, always suggests

that a difference will be found.

The author also uses cause-effect to suggest the effect that

emulating the spending of the 1970s might have on the reader’s

overall spending. After comparing the areas of spending in the two

decades, Weston tells us exactly how much money might be saved by
reverting to the spending habits of the 1970s.

Finally, the entire essay constitutes an argument for dialing back

spending a few decades. Argumentation, sometimes called

persuasion or persuasive writing, comes in all strengths, from “gentle

nudge” to “baseball bat over the head.” Weston’s argument is on the
gentler end of the scale. How can we tell? First, touches of humor

spice the essay. Her gentle jabs at the 1970s include humorous

mention disco, polyester pant suits, and plaid shirts. In addition,

Weston’s tone is helpful rather than dictatorial; that is, she presents