Running head: SUMMARY AND RESPONSE

Summary and Response Joanna Rapaski Madonna University

2 SUMMARY AND RESPONSE People scramble to purchase the latest iPhone or the newly released Xbox Live. They constantly search for what is new in technology, or whats the latest, best-ranked car in the automotive industry. At the time, the newness and excitement of receiving the latest and best technology may bring out the child in any adult, holding their attention for many hours at a time. However, days or months later, a new version of that product appears on the market. This product is advertised as new and improved, and yet again sends people rushing in a mad race to see who can get their hands on the latest technology first. More often than not, people fail to realize that what they already have is suitable for their needs, and frankly, would not need replacing for another five years or so. In a society that revolves around having the best products, people must ask themselves this important question: what is more important, material goods that are temporary, or the more important things that people need on a daily basis to survive? Using literary techniques and statistics in Newsweeks article entitled Stuff is Not Salvation, Anna Quindlen demonstrates that material goods are not everything, however she fails to present the opponents point of view, leaving readers unable to develop their own opinion. Quindlen indicates that despite the economic hardships faced by all of society, people continue to spend their money on items they cannot afford. In earlier times, people were grateful for minor things that we take for granted. In this day and age, toys and appliances are constantly updated as new versions come out. Although society often finds itself fixated on the newest gadget, there are more important amenities that need to be taken care of first. Stuff is Not Salvation reveals an astonishing fact; for the first time, the number of people on food stamps will exceed thirty million (Quindlen, 2008). This demonstrates a true need for basic necessities, however, they have taken a backseat to a society that demands the newest items. Quindlen further states that the happiest people she knows do not have everything, rather they have

3 SUMMARY AND RESPONSE possessions that mean something to them, and for them, that is enough. This brings up the question, do Americans really need all this stuff, and if so, what will matter to them in the end, all this stuff they accumulate or the possessions that have meaning. Quindlenuses plenty of examples to support her argument against accumulating material goods. She presents an interesting look at a topic that plagues society today: consumerism. Quindlen uses an appeal to logos when she reports that Americans will owe a trillion dollars in credit card debt by 2010 (Quindlen, 2008) In addition, she references that consumers continue to accumulate goods while needing food stamps to purchase food, and loans to pay for their homes or college tuition. Readers are kept engaged throughout the article, not only by relevant statistics about food stamps and credit card debt, but by the emotional appeals in the article as well. Quindlen uses pathos appeals when she relates the actions of people on Black Friday. She details how some people are willing to get other people killed over something as simple as a microwave. This forces readers to think about the buying craze that has taken over the nation, and if it is really worth it, and reinforces Qindlens argument that there is more to life than material acquisition. In addition, she recollects the story of a family in Pennsylvania who raise bees for honey and are happy with the possessions they have, rather than seek out the newest innovations (Quindlen, 2008). An insight on the joys of a family that stresses the importance of possessions that have meaning demonstrates that it is possible to find happiness in the smallest of belongings. Stuff is Not Salvation does not make unsubstantiated claims. It is true that Americans will disregard their credit card debt if they want latest technology badly enough. Even though Quindlen presents a clear perspective and keeps readers engaged, Stuff is Not Salvation fails to present statistics supporting the opponent. There are no statistics about how much money people spent indulging on material goods, nor are there any stories that appeal to the emotions of

4 SUMMARY AND RESPONSE someone who might side with the people who constantly buy new products as soon as they are released. This makes it difficult for the reader to draw their own conclusion regarding the importance of material goods versus meaningful possessions. In Stuff is Not Salvation Quindlen addresses societys need to constantly buy material goods that hold their attention span for a small amount of time. Using personal stories, she appeals to emotions and gives readers something to think about. The article forces its readers to think about why they purchase all this meaningless stuff, yet they are unable to afford basic necessities, such as food, rent money, or tuition money. Despite this, the article is riddled with bias as it fails to support the opposing argument. Readers are unable to draw their own conclusion as there is no evidence to support why it might be satisfying for consumers to indulge in purchasing new gadgets each year.

5 SUMMARY AND RESPONSE Reference Quindlen, Anna. Stuff Is Not Salvation. Newsweek 22 Dec. 2008: n.p. Print.