Thinking Critically Questions - Jones

ERWC

Value of Life

Thinking Critically Questions - Jones

QuestionsaboutLogic(Logos)

1. Aninterviewisaformofnonfiction—atext thattells the “truth.” Doyou think JonesisbeingtruthfulinhisobservationsofRoger Ebert?Doyou think Ebertisbeingtruthfulinhisstatementsabouthimself?Areyou morelikelytobelievewhatsomeoneelse saysaboutapersonorwhatthe personsaysabouthimselfor herself?Explainyourreasoning.

2. Howare emotionalpain andlossdifferentfromphysicalpain and loss?Canthetwo becomparedfairly?

Questionsaboutthe Writer(Ethos)

3. Unlike somecancersurvivorstories,Chris Jones’sinterviewwithRogerEbertdoesn’tmakeitclearthatEbertissuccessfully winninghisfight againstcancer.Howdoesthe uncertaintyof Ebert’shealthimpactthe way weseehisattitudetowardthe valueoflife?WouldEbert’scredibilitybethe sameifhehadlong agodefeatedcancer?

4. CompareEbert’sattitudeaboutdreamstoHamlet’s.Howdo dreamsaffectthe sufferingofbothmen?Whatdotheirattitudes towarddreamsrevealabouttheircharacters?

5. CompareEbert’sattitudeaboutdeathtoHamlet’s.Howdoeseach characterize“theundiscoveredcountry”(Hamlet’swords)“onthe other sideofdeath”(Ebert’swords)?Howdotheirattitudes towarddeathandwhatmighthappenafterdeathrelatetothe way theyapproachlife?

6. WhatdoesEbertmeanwhen hesays,“WhenIam writingmy problemsbecomeinvisibleandIam the samepersonIalways was.Alliswell. Iam asIshouldbe.”(par.18)?

7. HowdoesJonescharacterizethe post-cancerEbertasbeing differentfromthe pre-cancerEbert?

8. Re-readthe paragraphbeginning,“But now everythinghesays mustbewritten...”(par.20).WhydoesJonessay ofEbert’s newlife,“somanywords,somuch writing”?Whatdoesthis statementhelpusunderstandaboutwhat Ebertvaluesinlife?

9. Whatevidence,ifany,can you findthatsuggestsEbertismoreof anoptimistafterfightingcancerthanbefore?

10.Whatevidence,ifany,can you findthatsuggestsChris Jones admiresandbelievesRogerEbert?

QuestionsaboutEmotions(Pathos)

11.WhydoesJonesdescribeEbert’smedicalcrisesin2006in graphicdetail?Whatwordssuggestthe brutalityofthe cancer treatmentandrecoveryprocessEbertexperienced?

12.Howdoyou think Jones’sdescriptionofEbert’s“opensmile”mightimpactreaders?

13.Whatlanguageinthe excerptfromEbert’sreviewofBroken Embracesinthe article’sconclusionsuggestsEbert’senduring passionforlife?