Reading Journal: "The Art of Eating Spaghetti" Russel Baker

1)In a sense in his essay "The Art of Eating Spaghetti" is personal. At the beginning of his essay, he shares some personal thoughts with the readers. Baker expresses how he feels about himself as well. Most importantly, he reveals some of his goals in life. Therefore, Baker is writing informally.

2)In the first sentence of Bakers's introduction paragraph he tells the readers his main goal. Baker writes "The only thing that truly interested me was writing, and I knew that sixteen-year-olds did not come out of high school and become writers(60)."This is a very personal and important topic for Baker. He admits that he knows their is a small chance of him making it as a successful writer.However, he still likes to think of himself as one because it gives him a sense of identity. Even the slightest thought of him becoming a writer made him happy.
                                                      

3)Russel Baker's purpose for his essay is to inform readers about how his dream of becoming a successful writer came about. He starts off by telling the readers that the only thing that interest him is writing. Russel then shares an important moment in his life with the readers. He specifically talks about his experience in his third year English class.He ends up writing and turning in an essay that originally was not meant to be turned in. Russel thought his teacher Mr. Feagle would be upset about his essay. However, he ended up favoring his essay over all the student's essay's.

4)Russel Baker's essay is exactly like a narrative. He was not formal at all. In his introduction paragraph, Baker talks about the downside of being a writer.He admits "It was so obviously not real work,not a job at which you could earn a living"(60).In a casual way Baker was admitting how unrealistic it sounded for him to think being a writer would be an acceptable profession knowing it would not bring in any money in for him to survive.