Editorial Oustide Reading: February 21

Editorial Outside Reading

“The Information” by Adam Gopnik

The New Yorker February 14. 2011

            In “The Information,” Adam Gopnik discusses the effects of technology on society.  His editorial focuses on the Internet, but in analyzing its ramifications, Gopnik also discusses television and Gutenberg’s printing press.  For the majority of the piece, Gopnik addresses society’s contrasting opinions of the Internet, and then concludes by revealing his own thesis.  This approach is extremely effective; Gopnik makes appropriate rhetoric choices in this piece that allow him to clearly communicate, and in the end, the reader is left unsettled and convinced.

            Gopnik connects to the reader in his first paragraph, and in so doing makes his essay relatable.  In contrasting J.K. Rowling’s Hermione Granger to the Google-oriented youth of today, Gopnik is able to frame his argument and introduce a scenario to which the reader can relate.  As the analysis that follows the first paragraph is detailed, this hook is essential.  Gopnik also employs language in helping the reader to stay engaged.  Although his argument is undoubtedly complex, he adds a lot of humor to the piece that lightens the mood and thus helps the reader to remain interested.  Although this informality would be inappropriate for an AP level essay, these constant connections to the reader are Gopnik’s biggest strength.  The little bits of humor and allusions to works such as Harry Potter leave the reader wanting more and prompt him or her to continue wading through Gopnik’s analysis.  It’s also important to mention the alliteration that Gopnik employs; in adding this to the language, he is able to point out to the reader what is really important.

            Gopnik also makes his piece fairly ordinary.  He chooses diction that he knows the reader will be able to understand.  In addressing the three main schools of thought about the Internet, instead of using a complicated name to characterize them, Gopnik refers to them as “the Never-Betters, the Better-Nevers, and the Ever-Wasers” (2).  This choice in particular is essential in helping the reader to understand Gopnik’s thesis.  As mentioned, Gopnik is effective at prompting the reader to continue reading.  However, if the reader just continues for the sake of laughing at the few sentences of humor that he uses, then Gopnik’s editorial will all be for naught.  He therefore uses diction to give his essay meaning.  He knows that his thesis is complex, and he thus employs diction to help the reader glean something worthwhile from his editorial.

            Despite the regularity and commonness that Gopnik introduces however, “The Information” is still written in an academic style.  Gopnik accomplishes this through syntax.  Because his diction is rather ordinary, he uses long sentences to give his piece a strong voice.  This helps to solidify his argument, as the complex sentence structures that he employs give credibility to what he’s saying. Without this syntax, Gopnik would lose his academic voice and thus would lose authority in the eyes of the reader.  Although essential, this is Gopnik’s weak point.  His syntax is often so complex that meaning is lost entirely.  However, despite this setback, Gopnik is effective at communicating his thesis and leaves the reader disconcerted and completely persuaded.