- What is the source’s stated purpose (the argument or thesis)?
Jim Yardley analyzes the simultaneous presence of “misery, work, politics and hope” in a city-slum, Dharavi, in order to highlight India’s similar incongruities as a whole. India has a large economy, yet is riddled with pockets of some of the worst poverty in the world. Yardley illustrates the “parallel economies” of India: the formal and informal sector. To illustrate the lack of opportunity in the formal economy Yardley focuses on a particular slum, Dharavi.
- What evidence does the author provide to support his or her main argument? How is the author attempting to logically prove his or her thesis and how does this affect the organization of the document?
Yardley uses the latest statistics such as “42% of children under the ago of 5 are malnourished” gathered from other sources in order to support his more philosophical and culture based approach to the incongruities in India. He uses a mixture of quotes, vivid imagery, and photography to bolster his thesis. He begins with a broad overview that lends him validity using mostly statistics. He then transitions into separate focuses of misery, work, politics, and hope. This progression allows him to begin with misery, an altogether depressing and draining subject, and move towards the
- Who is the audience? What does the author assume the audience already knows about the topic?
This article was intended for a fairly well educated audience that may not have extensive knowledge about India. Generally speaking, the audience of the New York Times is more educated and focused on international issues than the average newsprint audience.
- Describe the author’s methods (i.e. how does the author know what he or she knows)? In your opinion were they appropriate why or why not?
I appreciated the mix between the abstract and concrete. However, the origin of some of the numbers, especially those that painted the picture of the city were unclear. Yardley’s overview of the city’s history was very solid. As a reader, I felt like he had spent a significant amount of time both in the city and researching his topic. The quotations he used were a tool to state his own opinion through the words of others. As a researcher and observer, this is really the best way to present ideas. The citizens of a country have lived there longer than you and have greater insight. One can learn from them and then draw conclusions.
- To what other sources (theorist, researchers, artists) does the author refer? Explain the specific ideas the author draws upon from these other sources to support his or her own argument (the theoretical framework).
The author has compiled the statistical research of others and peppered it throughout his piece to support his arguments. He utilizes highly respected sources like the World Bank to quotes from Indian leaders. This strategic use of these sources lends validity to his points and gives the reader the illusion that they reached this conclusion on their own rather than being led to it.
- What are the connections between this source and your project? How useful or applicable is this source’s approach to your own project? How is yours new and different? As I narrow down my focus for my research it is important that I evaluate its pertinence to my current interests. This article fits into both my interests of development and medical research. Additionally, I really liked the way the author was able to use statistics and facts to bolster his more abstract thesis. I will be doing something very similar. Like Yardley, I need to remember that my audience will not be people as interested in India as I; my final result needs to include enough background to allow others to understan
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