Columnist Unit Post

The column I chose to read was "The very poor case for arming teachers" by Krista Ramsey. (1) To give a brief overview of the column, Krista Ramsey does not believe it is wise to give teachers firearms despite past school shootings and other forms of violence in schools around the country. (2) The hyperlink for this column is given here. (3) I felt that the best line in the text was, "But sending weapons into schools - the vast majority of which have not been and will not be the scene of violence - is the most unwise of solutions." This line impacts the reader in that it drives home Ramsey's point about arming school staff using a definite tone to ensure the reader her point is logical and correct. An example of syntax would be the use of the dash throughout the quote because it provides a pause of emphasis to show that Ramsey is trying to portray an important point or thought and wants the reader to be engaged. (4) Ramsey's style of writing is intimidating and confident. She uses cold hard facts and rhetorical questions to make the reader consider her point of view. We can see these rhetorical questions in the article such as, "Does an armed teacher leave his class to respond elsewhere?" and "Will incoming police know a staff member from an assailant?" These questions are used to intimidate the reader into looking at a subject with a new perspective. (5) Are you trying to rally support for your own argument or shoot down the arguments of others? As a columnist, are you allowed to be neutral on a subject and write about it, or do you have to choose a side before pen touches paper? What is the hardest topic to cover being a columnist?