3-1-11
Author’s Argument
In the tenth chapter of the novel Animal Vegetable Miracle (2007) by Barbra Kingsolver entitled Eating Neighborly she emphasizes the importance of locally pulling food sources. First she sites a personal anecdote of her in a restaurant that uses only local products in their foods. Next Kingsolver asserts field based evidence by calculating the effects a transition would have in world wide economy if only ten percent of goods were bought from local producers, concluding that commercial companies would collapse. Lastly, Kingsolver uses a rhetorical question and definition to answer the question of just what local is collaboratively using quotes and explanation to further develop the answer. The purpose of the chapter is to enlighten people on how beneficial and impactful local producers can be to the immediate communities they are surrounding. Most people interested in the chapter would either be small farmers or people who would be contributing to the growing economies. It would be instrumental in aiding people into the realization of the power they have.
Vocabulary
Feedlot-an area or building where livestock are feed or fattened up
Conglomerates-a number of different things or parts that are put or grouped together to form a whole but remain distinct entities
Oligarchy- a small group of people having control of a country, organization, or institution
Carpetbagging- people who move from one region to another because of beneficial pull factors
Gargantuan- of enormous size or quantity
Tone
The tone is empowering in a call to action style: empowering, motivational.
Rhetorical Strategies
Anecdotes-They kept running up and down to show me intriguing edibles: powdered flowers…weed wrapped in cellophane.
Rhetorical Question- How is local defined in this case?
Quotation- “’Thinking globally is an abstraction. What the world needs now isn’t love sweet love –that’s a slogan.”’
Evidence- “’ If every restaurant got ten percent of it’s food from local farmers… the infrastructure of corporate food would collapse.”’
Analogy- “ We could her the crash of corporate collapse with every bite.”’
Discussion Questions
In this chapter what does the authors numerous anecdotes lend its self to do for the reader?
Why is it important for the reader to understand the motivational language within the chapter?
How does the Kingsolver develop a tone that pulls the reader into a desired mood of action?
Memorable Quote
“ Tough work, but somebody’s gotta do it.”
