Week 6

Grammar has mostly been the focus of class this past week. I feel pretty confident about the test coming up on Friday. I've always been strong in grammar because I'm actually interested in words and the rules of language. I'll probably do another practice exam before the test, but I think I should do well.

I read a really strong article in the New York Times, "A Farmer Fears His Way of Life Has Dwindled Down to a Final Generation." The piece is a great example of examining an individual case to tell a broader story. It has a very strong human element, one that is not superficial like "The Formula" stories I talked about in my post last week. Charlie LeDuff gives us a clear portrait of one man whose situation reflects those of other independent farmers who know a completely different way of life.
It's got a good lead:
"The heart of the heartland, the exact geographic middle of the continental United States, is owned by a middle-aged Kansas man named Randall Warner. He exports wheat, beef and soon his second grown son to the city. He stands in his boots in his field and wonders what's become of his way of life."
From that I kept reading and was pleased to find that the story didn't quickly segue into a general topic. Yes, sometimes hearing from many different perspectives is important, but in this story the strength comes from the singular focus. That is the type of human element that can be most effective in storytelling. We should be striving to find that perfect example to serve as a microcosm for the larger point we want to get across.
Plus the article had a great arrangement of four photographs that perfectly showed the two sides of the story—the conservative farmer who loves working the land above all things and the college-bound son looking for something new beyond the farm.
Good photography. Good writing. Good story.