The Plot Against PeopleHumorous Essay by Russell Baker

Introducing the Humorous Essay

Elements of Nonfiction: Tone and Diction

Reading Skill: Recognize Classification

The Plot Against People

Keys get lost.

INTRODUCING THE HUMOROUS ESSAY

When are little things a BIG DEAL?

In the essay you are about to read, Russell Baker proposes an interesting theory about why such things happen.

Computers crash. Every day, people encounter problems, inconveniences, and other annoyances that make life stressful.

The Plot Against People

1. Bus to school breaks down

When are little things a BIG DEAL?INTRODUCING THE HUMOROUS ESSAY

QUICKWRITE

What are some of the things that annoy you when they break down, don’t work, or get lost?

Make a short list of about five items.

Then choose the one that annoys you the most and explain why to a classmate.

Annoyances

2. Locker won’t open

3.

4.

5.

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While reading an essay, you might notice that the writer seems serious, mocking, or sentimental.

That quality of the writing is known as the tone, or the writer’s attitude toward a subject.

Tone and Diction

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Everyday words arranged in simple sentence patterns create a casual tone.

One way the writer creates tone is through diction, the word choice and the arrangement of words, or syntax.

We took the puppy home. We fluffed up some blankets on the floor. The little ball of fur curled up there right away. I fell in love before he even fell asleep.

Upon our arrival home, we arranged some blankets on the floor for the exhausted pup, and he retired there without hesitation. My heart was his in an instant.

Use of more sophisticated words and longer sentences creates a more formal tone.

Tone and Diction

The Plot Against People

Notice how Russell Baker uses formal, scientific language in this sentence.

The goal of all inanimate objects is to resist man and ultimately to defeat him, and the three major classifications are based on the method each object uses to achieve its purpose.

Instead of the word “things,” Baker writes “inanimate objects.”

Also, Baker’s sentence structure is complicated, or suitable for a scientific paper.

Tone and Diction

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The contrast between Baker’s elevated style and the everyday topic creates a humorous tone.

As you read his essay, notice the diction and details Baker uses to create tone.

Tone and Diction

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Recognize Classification

Common patterns of organization include

Pattern of organization refers to how a writer arranges ideas and information.

• cause and effect

leads to leads toCause Effect/Cause New Effect

• chronological order

time passing

Event 1 Event 2 Event 3time

passing

• comparison and contrast

Item 1 Characteristics

Item 2 Characteristics

Shared Characteristics

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A fourth pattern of organization is classification. To classify is to sort ideas or objects into groups that share common characteristics.

Recognize Classification

This type of organization is revealed in Baker’s thesis statement: “Inanimate objects are classified scientifically into three major categories—those that don’t work, those that break down, and those that get lost.”

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In the third column, note important characteristics of each group.

As you read, use a chart like the one shown to identify examples of each category identified in the thesis statement.

Make Inferences

Things that don’t work

CharacteristicsCategory Examples

Things that break down car, washing machine

Things that get lost

create maximum frustration for people