In this piece Allen is called upon by the NY Times to write about his experiences as a hypochondriac because he is strongly believed to be one. Allen points out in the lead paragraph that his affliction is actually similar to hypochondria, but not quite the same. His following paragraphs after the lead explain the difference between being a hypochondriac and an alarmist and why what he goes through is very real rather than imaginative. He gives examples of different situations in which he dealt with being an alarmist - the smallest things that happened to him, such as having chapped lips, had him fearing death was around the corner.
"The point is, I am always certain I’ve come down with something life threatening. It matters little that few people are ever found dead of chapped lips. Every minor ache or pain sends me to a doctor’s office in need of reassurance that my latest allergy will not require a heart transplant..."
I thought this piece was well-written because it was personal and gave evidence to his argument that what he goes through is real. It also has a touch of humor that causes the reader the become more involved with the story since it is entertaining as well. The only downfall was that he didn't have support from any other sources.
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"The Thinking Person's Entertainment" By Alissa Quart
In this article Quart discusses various TV shows that people find entertaining simply because they tell an interesting story and give people a break from their own lives and the constant exercise of multitasking. This is increased by our easy access to watching these shows at our leisure, by way of DVR and Netflix.
Quart points out that because of technology we're always jumping from one activity to another. By just sitting and watching TV we get a sense of peace from one problem occurring and being solved within the same episode.
"By pulling us away from Twitter, texts, e-mails, pointless videos and all the other technological distractions demanding attention, “Homeland,” “Mad Men” and “Breaking Bad” provide a coherent (albeit sometimes disturbing) refuge from our fragmented lives."
I thought this piece was very well-written because it not only gave Quart's personal account of how watching TV shows gives her a piece of peace in her otherwise hectic life. She also has supporting evidence from a scholar from the City University of New York Graduate Center, Lev Manovich which shows she reached out to get more information from a credible source.
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