Buried Onions
This is your end of novel test. Each question
is worth 20 points. Spelling and grammar
errors will be factored into your grade. Be
sure to include examples from the text. You
will have time in class with the novel on
Tuesday, May 28th in order to complete the
test – BUT you MUST work on this at home
and be prepared to turn it in end of class
5/28/13. You should come to class on
Tuesday with questions 1, 2 and 3
completed, or at least a general idea of how
you are going to respond.
Ethos (Credibility), or ethical appeal, means convincing by the character or the author. We tend to believe people whom we
respect.
Please answer questions 1-3 in complete evidence and referring to incidents in the text to explain your responses. You do not
have to provide quotes and page #’s for these first three questions (unless you want to) but you have to refer to the text.
1.
2.
3.
Why do you connect with Eddie?
Why do you respect Eddie?
Based on poems and stories you have read by Gary Soto, have you come to respect him as a writer? Explain
Pathos (Emotional) means persuading by appealing to the reader's emotions. (We can look at texts ranging from classic essays to
contemporary advertisements to see how pathos, emotional appeals, is used to persuade.) Language choice affects the audience's
emotional response, and emotional appeal can effectively be used to enhance an argument.
4. Identify three emotions you have felt while reading Buried Onions and explain how you think Eddie, or Soto, was able to
elicit the response from you. Refer to specific passages—and language—in order to support your answer. (include page
#s)
Logos (Logical) means persuading by the use of reasoning. What makes an effective, persuasive reason to back up your claims?
Giving reasons is the heart of argumentation, and cannot be emphasized enough. We use logos in order to decide the author’s
theme/message and to come up with an argument that supports our claim.
We do not actively hear Soto laying out his reasons for Eddie’s life situation. The author shows it to us and we, as intelligent
readers, are able to use prior knowledge, personal connections and our understanding of the political and social climate to arrive
at our claim.
Could Soto’s message possibly be ‘don’t bother trying to live the straight and narrow, doing right, because it will get you
nowhere?’ Is it more probable that Soto wants you, as his readers, to know that the fight for good is sometimes a long and
difficult one, but worth it? And does a person’s race and socio-economic factors make the fight even more arduous?
5. Identify a theme in Buried Onions and provide evidence from the text as your proof. Remember, when dealing with
logos, support for your claim is the heart of your argument. (include page #s)