1. Carolyn Foster Segal, "The Dog Ate My Disk, and Other Tales of Woe" (301-305)
What is Segal’s thesis statement?
“…my students persist, week after week, semester after semester, year after year, in offering excuses about why their work is not ready. Those reasons fall into several broad categories: the family, the best friend, the evils of dorm life, the evils of technology, and the totally bizarre” (301)
What is Segal’s rhetorical purpose? Who might the audience be for this essay?
What is her tone? How does it affect her purpose?
What are some of the characteristics of these classifications? In other words, how are they more specifically divided?
How does the visual on the bottom of 302 affect your understanding of Segal’s essay? What is the artist trying to depict?
Can you think of any classifications that Segal has left out? Why or why not might these classifications be important in her consideration of this subject?