Bellringer An excerpt from: Sophistication Sherwood Anderson The grammatical errors in this passage are intentional. There is a time in the life of every boy when he for the first time takes the backward view of life. Perhaps that is the moment when he crosses the line into manhood. The boy is walking through the street of his town. He is thinking of the future and of the figure he will cut in the world. Ambitions and regrets awake within him. Suddenly something happens; he stops under a tree and waits as for a voice calling his name. Ghosts of old things creep into his consciousness; the voices outside of himself whisper a message concerning the limitations of life. From being quite sure of himself and his future he becomes not at all sure. If he be an imaginative boy a door is torn open and for the first time he looks out upon the world, seeing, as though they marched in procession before him, the countless figures of men who before his time have come out of nothingness into the world, lived their lives and again disappeared into nothingness. The sadness of sophistication has come to the boy. With a little gasp he sees himself as merely a leaf blown by the wind through the streets of his village. In this short passage by Sherwood Anderson, the author uses several figures of speech in his descriptions.  Quoting text from the passage, identify at least two uses of figures of speech, and explain the effect they have on the reader.

Review What is the difference between Editorial and Article? • Article is a general word that is used for all news stories covering events, natural disasters, accidents, meets and discussions, etc. • Editorial is a special article that appears in a newspaper and carries the opinions of the editorial board on the issue discussed. • The editorial staff decides the events and issues that need opinions of the editorial staff. • An editorial is meant to persuade people to think along the lines of the newspaper. It is an attempt to influence the thinking of the people. • Editorial is opinionated whereas general articles are unbiased and free from subjectivity.

How do you write a letter to the editor? 1. Open the letter with a simple salutation. Don't worry if you don't know the editor's name. A simple “To the Editor:” is sufficient. 2. Grab the reader's attention. Your opening sentence is very important. It should tell readers what you’re writing about, and make them want to read more. 3. Explain what the letter is about at the start. Don't make the editor or the general public wait to find out what you want to say. Tell them your key point at the beginning. 4. Explain why the issue is important. While the importance of your topic may seem clear to you, remember that the general public probably doesn't share your background or the interest. Explain the issue and its importance simply. Use plain language that most people will understand 5. Give evidence for any praise or criticism. If you are writing a letter discussing a past or pending action, be clear in showing why this will have good or bad results. 6. State your opinion about what should be done. You can write a letter just to ''vent," or to support or criticize a certain action or policy, but you may also have suggestions about what could be done to improve the situation. If so, be sure to add these as well. Be specific. And the more good reasons you can give to back up your suggestions, the better. 7. Keep it brief. Generally, shorter letters have a better chance of being published. So go back over your letter and see if anything can be cut or condensed. Keep your letter under 300 words. 8. Sign the letter. Be sure to write your full name (and title, if relevant) and to include your address, phone number, and e-mail address. Newspapers won't print anonymous letters, though in some cases they may withhold your name on request. They may also call you to confirm that you wrote the letter before they publish it.

Sample Letter to the Editor P.O. Box 2831 Daytona Beach FL 32120-2831 February 22, 2013 Letters to the Editor The News-Journal P.O. Box 2831 Daytona Beach FL, 32120-2831 To the Editor: I like the comic section of the Bloomington News very much, but lately I have become upset with the comic strip "Street Smart." In the last few days, "Street Smart" has been making fun of homeless people. I don’t think being homeless is funny. In fact, it’s a human rights violation. Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights says – Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care… . I think the cartoonist, Marcia Chapman, is very inconsiderate to make fun of homeless people. I don’t find it the least bit amusing or entertaining. The problem of the homeless is serious and these people have a right to be helped. John Doe 9th Grade University High School Orange City, FL

Begin Writing! Letters should be under 300 words and deal with a single subject Letters to the Editor The News-Journal P.O. Box 2831 Daytona Beach, FL 32120-2831

Exit Ticket How would your life improve if the goal in your letter to the editor was accomplished?