Soapstone: Purpose
Speaker: The speaker is Nicholas Kristof. Kristof voices the jailed and mentally ill. Kristof shows sympathy for those mental illnesses (which is not to be confused with sympathy for criminals). His collection of evidence adequately supports his argument that a resurgence of health institutions for the mentally ill must occur.
Occasion: Mental health centers frequently shutting down leave incarceration as the only option for the mentally unstable. Here they attempt to find refuge because they fail to find the necessary aid. The negligence of affordable medication and proper facilities for mentally ill inmates, and non-inmates, causes Kristof to draw attention to a possibly underestimated issue in society.
Audience: The article speaks to not only American society, but specifically to government officials, law enforcement, and the public that is willing to make a difference for the mentally ill who need help. Kristof refers to society in first person; he repeatedly says, “we as a society”. By including himself in the situation, the audience feels a relatable, personal connection. This allows the audience to accept fault for inadequate care of the mentally ill.
Purpose:
Purpose: In almost all his OP-Ed’s, Kristof has a sophisticated and educated way of presenting his argument. Kristof refers to society in first person; he repeatedly says, “we as a society”. Kristof does not directly pinpoint the blame on a certain group of people, he accounts liability on everyone. By including himself in the situation, the audience feels a relatable, personal connection. The audience accepts fault for inadequate care of the mentally ill. In this passage, Kristof wants his readers to understand the struggles and reality of inmates who are unable to deal accordingly with their health. Kristof aims to raise awareness of the avoidable incarceration of mentally unstable “criminals” that otherwise would be out of jail. He questions the his audience’s logic and credibility by stating that instead of progressing from times like the 1800s, we have gone full circle in terms of care for the mentally ill. He also proves that taxpayers are spending more money maintaining these people in jail than they would be spending if they provided the mentally ill with adequate aid. This article serves as a wakeup call to the public to take responsibility for their actions and do what is just and humane.
Subject: This article deals with the inhumane incarceration of psychiatric disorders. He uses plentiful statistics, facts, and figures. He claims that “more than half of the prisoners in the United States have a mental health problem” and the only way some for these people can deal with it is through self-medicating with alcohol and drugs.
Tone: Kristof’s tone is slightly indignant and critical throughout. He questions the public’s morals and humanity when he asks, “Do we really want to go back two centuries?” This makes reference to the unjust incarceration of those with psychiatric disorders. He also carries his argument eruditely, demonstrating his research and knowledge on the topic with the use of statistics, facts and figures.
Occasion: Mental health centers frequently shutting down leave incarceration as the only option for the mentally unstable. Here they attempt to find refuge because they fail to find the necessary aid. The negligence of affordable medication and proper facilities for mentally ill inmates, and non-inmates, causes Kristof to draw attention to a possibly underestimated issue in society.
Audience: The article speaks to not only American society, but specifically to government officials, law enforcement, and the public that is willing to make a difference for the mentally ill who need help. Kristof refers to society in first person; he repeatedly says, “we as a society”. By including himself in the situation, the audience feels a relatable, personal connection. This allows the audience to accept fault for inadequate care of the mentally ill.
Purpose:
Purpose: In almost all his OP-Ed’s, Kristof has a sophisticated and educated way of presenting his argument. Kristof refers to society in first person; he repeatedly says, “we as a society”. Kristof does not directly pinpoint the blame on a certain group of people, he accounts liability on everyone. By including himself in the situation, the audience feels a relatable, personal connection. The audience accepts fault for inadequate care of the mentally ill. In this passage, Kristof wants his readers to understand the struggles and reality of inmates who are unable to deal accordingly with their health. Kristof aims to raise awareness of the avoidable incarceration of mentally unstable “criminals” that otherwise would be out of jail. He questions the his audience’s logic and credibility by stating that instead of progressing from times like the 1800s, we have gone full circle in terms of care for the mentally ill. He also proves that taxpayers are spending more money maintaining these people in jail than they would be spending if they provided the mentally ill with adequate aid. This article serves as a wakeup call to the public to take responsibility for their actions and do what is just and humane.
Subject: This article deals with the inhumane incarceration of psychiatric disorders. He uses plentiful statistics, facts, and figures. He claims that “more than half of the prisoners in the United States have a mental health problem” and the only way some for these people can deal with it is through self-medicating with alcohol and drugs.
Tone: Kristof’s tone is slightly indignant and critical throughout. He questions the public’s morals and humanity when he asks, “Do we really want to go back two centuries?” This makes reference to the unjust incarceration of those with psychiatric disorders. He also carries his argument eruditely, demonstrating his research and knowledge on the topic with the use of statistics, facts and figures.