About Blow's article ' Library Visit, Then Held at Gunpoint '

To be honest, I am not familiar to any of the writer of three authors: Blow, Rouner, Steinbash. I did not read articles in English before, nor books. However, from now on, I think I will remember one of them, Charles Blow. I like his writing ‘Library Visit, Then Held at Gunpoint’. He share his son’s story and claim about what Yale security officer done to him. Then he cites that the method of solving problem was unacceptable.

First of all, I like the way he develop the story. He explained us what happened in his son’s viewpoint. It starts from “This is how my son remembers it:” He noted down exactly what his son commented, such as “I did not pay him any mind, and continued to walk back towards my room. I looked behind me, and noticed that the police officer was following me.” And this way of writing can make reader think it is about their own experience – indirect experience. Of course it made me more likely to agree to son’s emotion – confusion, scared.

Blow wrote down the climax part at the very first paragraph. “He had been accosted by a campus police officer, at gunpoint!” Also he inserted his emotion – outrage - to the sentence. This writing strategy aroused our curiosity and interest. Moreover, he used the word ‘Gun’. By using this provocative term, he snatched our attention and made us focus on the essay. I have short attention span, but I could finish reading this story with full attention.

For last, I like the way he wrote down with expressing his anger in the middle period. “Why was a gun drawn first? Why was he not immediately told why he was being detained? Why not ask for ID first?” He pointed out the problem one by one in outraged expression. And this kind of writing reduced my fury and stuffy mind which occurred while reading the article. I kept nodded my head while reading this part and I felt like Blow is my spokesman.  

The article ‘Library Visit, Then Held at Gunpoint’ involves personal opinion, but it also has emotional expression – it looks more likely human being. That is the main point why I like this story and Blow.