Outside Reading: Editorial

March 21 http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/20/opinion/l20abuse.html?_r=1&ref=opinion
"Abuse of the Disabled in Group Homes"

This editorial was written in a very unique style - rather than being written from one author, it included letters from five diffferent people.  This made it difficult to find one specific tone or writing style, but I believe that it was much more interesting than it would have been otherwise.  As most of the writers had a direct connection to someone who is in a group home, I found myself being angered by the issues they were writing about.
The diction used in these letters are very pursuasive and cause the reader to feel personally upset by the issue of abuse towards the disabled.  The writers use words such as "devastating," "terrifying," and "dismay" to portray their feelings towards this problem.  These kinds of words bring emotions to the readers, allowing them to temporarily feel the same way that they do.
Imagery is also used to display the authors' feelings.  The last letter especially shows with precise imagery what she has experienced with homes for the disabled.  Most of the imagery is pleasant, but it also shows the negative side of the abuse that she is hearing about.
Some of the details that make these letters very believable are when the authors state their connection to someone who is disabled, be it a friend or relative.  Readers are much more likely to take an article seriously when they are given reason to believe that it is written by a person who really does believe in what they are saying, and who really does feel the way that they say that they feel.
Although this was a very strong article, if there had been one specific author who used quotes from these letters, it might have been stronger.  There was no one person to provide connections between the letters, which made it slightly difficult to follow.
This editorial definately would not work as an AP essay.  There is more than one author, and all of the letters are written in first person.  The diction is very mature, though, and it is a very convincing editorial.  Even though it would not be an appropriate AP essay, it is still very well written and it is a very interesting article to read.