Summary Of Making A Home In A Restless World By Scott Russell Sanders

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In the excerpt from Staying Put: Making a Home in a Restless World, Scott Russell Sanders creatively responds to a piece written by Rushdie in which he opposed. In response to Rushdie’s piece, Sanders argues against the idea that movement is always beneficial. Sanders uses his direct tone with real examples which gives off the persuasive tone that ultimately leaves the reader thinking about their own life.
The first paragraph primarily illustrates a history of migrants, which links present to past. Sanders includes a biblical reference of The Promise Land which symbolizes where one is suppose to end up. The use of asyndeton suggests that the list of people who were migrants could be never endind, allowing the reader to think of more examples themselves. The use of imagery makes the reader think about their own life as Sanders explains a farm, village, a dead end job. The sentence, “Stand still, we are warned, and you die,” is much shorter than the other sentences that surround it. Sanders did this purposefully to bring attention and emphasis to the deeper meaning of the sentence.
The next paragraph explains Rushdie’s position and how many Americans would also agree with him for the most part. Sanders uses the word “mongrel” which seems to be negative, but it allows the reader to really think …show more content…

Although the reader knows Sanders position, the formal thesis doesn’t come until that last paragraph which also acts as a conclusion of the piece. The entire first sentence of the final paragraph shows constant opposition between the good and bad of migrant creatures. Sanders plays with both the mental and literal effects of moving. The last sentence connects with the reader, “By settling in, we have a chance of making a durable home for ourselves, our fellow creatures, and our descendants,” by encouraging the reader to think about their own descendants and even their

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