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4. Speaking and Listening. Hold a class or small group discussion about how free you are

from censorship in your daily life. Are there environments in which you feel you can’t say or
write what’s on your mind for fear of repercussions? How does your own experience of
censorship affect you and those around you?
5. Research. Conduct research on the U.S. Patriot Act, which was originally passed in response

to the 9/11terrorist attacks in 2001, to determine what the U.S. government can and cannot do
to read and possibly censor private communication between citizens. Are there any
connections between the Patriot Act and what occurs in this short story?
6. Research. Research the history of a country’s government censorship, particularly in an

authoritarian regime, such as the Soviet Union, East Germany, or Argentina in the 1970s. How
extensive were these government operations, and how successful were they in keeping
information from citizens?

7. Creative Writing. Try out being a censor like Juan by creating what is called “erasure poetry,”
a form of found poetry writers generate by crossing out or obscuring part of an existing text,
creating a wholly new work from what remains. Working with a newspaper article, a letter, or
any other text that interests you, mark out what Juan might find objectional in his job. What is
different about this new text that you’ve created with your erasures?

Using Personal Experience in

an Argument

You may have read some of the speeches earlier in this chapter and seen the impact an
effective argument can have on the world. Martin Luther King Jr. made the case for
nonviolent economic boycotts to improve conditions for workers in Memphis; Malala
Yousafzai presented her argument for universal education in the face of religious
extremism before an international audience; and Nelson Mandala presented a case for
a time when a movement might be required to turn to violence to achieve its aims. Real
arguments matter in the real world. The ability to communicate your ideas about a
topic — especially one that affects you personally — is an essential skill both in the
classroom and in your life outside of it.
While a balanced argument — appealing to ethos, logos, and pathos — is usually the
writing workshop
most effective, pathos can be the most powerful appeal in your arsenal when used
wisely, and talking about your personal experience is a good way to unlock it.
Fundamentally, humans are attracted to stories. We remember them, and we respond
emotionally to them.
In this workshop, you will use the following prompt to think about how to apply your
own experiences to an argument:

Select a topic that is important and meaningful to you about which you can take a
position that is debatable. Write an argumentative essay in which you use evidence
that includes, but is not limited to, your own personal experiences.
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