Outside Reading Week 2 Part A

Vocab:
pseudo (71)- false; trying to be; almost; approaching; not actually but having the appearance of

salacious (76)- lustful or lecherous; obscene

Appeals:
"I, on the other hand, was all alone. That's why I decided, like it or not, I had to talk to Quentin" (70). Homer is clearly desperate and in need of help. His mother wants him to build a rocket, and he basically has to otherwise the entire town will ridicule him. This is an emotional appeal because it shows Homer's thoughts and feelings and how he is willing to do anything to build his rocket. Talking to Quentin was his last futile attempt.

"In 1957 southern West Virginia, you wouldn't likely starve if you didn't have any money. There was always bread and commodity cheese you could get from the government. But that was about all there was" (75). This states the fact that in 1957, starvation wasn't usually a way of death which makes it a logical appeal. It reassures the fact that if a mine were to close down, people would still have enough to eat. But this could also be considered an emotional appeal because the reader is able to realize the terrible predicament these miners and their families are in and why it's so important to leave Coalwood if possible.

"There was a company-store system in most of the towns in southern West Virginia....The big store had just about everything anybody in Coalwood needed, but would it have rocket fuel?" (79). This paragraph (or multiple paragraphs) is a logical appeal. Homer clearly states some facts and a little bit of trivia about company stores and the company-store system in Coalwood. It's also a great example of writing style. Homer Hickam starts the paragraph with what could be considered a lead-in before he gets to his point. We learn a bit more about his life and Coalwood through this technique and although some people find it unnecessary, I enjoy learning more about my author/ narrator.

Quote:
"'Oh, hi, Sonny!' she said brightly and then slipped past me, to join her future date on a stroll up the aisle. I stood there, my heart sinking to my toes" (87). Homer Hickam is very bright for his age and seems to have given his future quite a bit of thought. While most of his friends wish or talk about how they are going to get out of Coalwood, it's pretty much evident they won't. Homer actually tries to do something to help his chances of leaving, even if he doesn't know why he should leave. He seems much more mature then most people during their teenage years and may seem too sophisticated to relate to, but this quote shows his normality as a teenage boy. He still cares about such things as girls and these teenage feelings and aspects are still important to him even though he has much bigger things to deal with, like rocket building. By showing his vulnerability and averageness, Homer allows the reader to relate to him.

Theme:
Failure isn't something to be ashamed of; it's something to learn from. Homer learns this from Quentin and his "book of knowledge."