An English teacher critiques the 9/11 report, by Kirstin Ruth Bratt
This essay has a lot going
for it: clear and cogent details,
story arc convinces, prevails
over lost fragments, arguing
well enough. Now here’s where it fails:
Demanding unity is known
as bandwagon appeal and prone
to exaggeration, assails
thoughtful readers. The vague pronoun,
though, is the worst offense owing
to a weak referent, derails
the entire conclusion, sowing
doubt. Writing for others entails
active voice, and anchored pronoun.
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Kirstin Ruth Bratt is a professor of English and English pedagogy. She loves her sweet and thoughtful children, traveling abroad, the theater of complex and interesting playwrights, and the music of good listeners.
