AP English Language & Composition
Sample Responses to Questions on Lars Eighner’s “On Dumpster Diving”
1. The effect of the first five paragraphs should be seen as a shift in focus from the common ideas that the homess are uneducated or imparired in some way. You could make the argument that the appeal is to logos, with the focus on the intellectual and and logical discussion of the origin of the word Dumpster. Or you might see the shift to the word origin as a subtle reminder of the poignancy of the situation that requires this intimate interest in the Dumpster. Certainly, paragraph 3 as a single sentence should suggest a moment of surprise, as this is not an esoteric exercise in world origin but a personal experience with the Dumpster and its contents. You could also justifiably see ethos as key to these paragraphs. Eighner establishes his intellect and his knowledge of how to access information as well as his understanding of the nature of the history of the word and the subtlety of the nature of scavenging to suggest that he is living off what has been left behind. He clearly establishes his qualifications as someone knowledgeable.
2. The rhetorical effect is to give the reader a sense of the direction of the essay. The essay will be informational, almost a technical manual. The rhetorical question that is paragraph 8 adds to this sense of “how-to” for Dumpster diving.
3. Readers may be surprised that someone with this technical knowledge is homeless. Certainly, they will see this information as addint to Eighner’s expertise, and some will see this as part of the paradox of homelessness. Some may suggest that the technical information helps distract readers from considering their revulsion about eating things from a Dumpster. It distances the experience of eating chocolate out of the trash and brings into focus the facts and considerations needed to safely eat food from a Dumpster.
4. It’s possible to suggest that the macroeconomy benefits from these wasteful habits, especially if one thinks that individual consumers will go out and replace what is perceived as spoiled or ruined.
5. Readers should see that paragraph 25’s last sentence, “So I find it advantageious to keep an eye on the academic calendar,” suggests the situational irony of a homeless person perceived as uneducated watching the local academic calendar for information about when to expect good Dumpster diving. Paragraph 30 beings with, “Students throw out canned goods and staples at the end of semesters and when they give up college at midterm.” This decision by students seems capricious if they are now going to be out in the world; it would seem that hanging on to these nonperishables would be expected. Of course, some may note that the whole idea of frequenting an area near a university – where many students are working hard for an education in to get a good job – to get the best goods from the Dumpsters is also ironic. The discussion of the role of students in the economy at large may suggest that they are more consumer than producer. Some readers might suggest that the support of parents makes many students less practical. Others may suggest that students take on temporary jobs in the community and create jobs for others at the same time.
6. Readers may see this as humorous. Rhetorically, the paragraphs prior to this have given a factual and interesting description of eating from a Dumpster. With the matter-of-fact tone, it would be easy to forget that Eighner is describing his way of life. The paragraph provides a reality check for the reader and a reminder of the inherent desperation of eating from Dumpsters.
7. Readers may comment on the information in the comparison as somewhat eye-opening. Some might suggest that this comparison calls into question the preconceived ideas of society about the homeless. The comparison may be seen as a way to see each homeless person as an individual and to realize the desperation caused by drug addiction as well as hunger.
8. One’s answer here will obviously depend on one’s awareness about the complex issue of homelessness and who the homeless are. Some readers will suggest that even as Eighner intelligently discusses the issue, his writing and its quality suggest that he could be working. Others will point out the snub of keeping things that the essay ends with and say that his approach and obvious knowledge give more credibility to the need to reconsider consumerism for its own sake.
9. To answer this question requires familiarity with Emerson’s essay on “Self-Reliance,” which puts forth as part of its argument that the individual must learn to trust him- or herself, as well as the idea that societal disapproval should not determine one’s actions. Clearly, the Dumpster diving expertise that Eighner describes here would fall under these ideals, but not in any way that Emerson could have imagined.
10. In the sentence, this refers to recognizing that material things themselves don’t hold sentimental value. The irony of the last three paragraphs is that Eighner is describing his battle with keeping too many possessions and yet he is homeless. Few would see any value in what he has collected – his treasures are other people’s trash. He then suggests that he has this attitude in common with the very wealthy, as they can always get more as well. Readers will vary in their opinions to the last question, obviously. Some will suggest that this attitude works better when a person has no family or others to care for. They may suggest that things like love letters hold value as part of the history and connections that transfer from one generation to another. Others will suggest that Eighner is correct, as most people will hold on to too much. They may reference the television show Hoarders as an example.
11. To answer this question, a reader might discuss that Eighner’s suggestion that “mental things are longer-lived than ... material things” (para 76) and that sentiments are separate from material things would certainly eliminate the need for many material objects, from wedding rings to photo albums to teddy bears. On the other hand, food, shelter, and clothing seem important even to Eighner. Readers may see this as a call to reevaluate and simplify life, which could result in less consumption.
12. Your answers are likely to vary a lot on this one, so I’ll read what you wrote instead of giving you something to compare your answer to.