Final answer:
The passage discusses various types of shifts in writing, including tense shifts, transitions, and shifts in perspective, which are important for understanding the text's structure and the progression of ideas.
Step-by-step explanation:
Identifying and explaining shifts in a passage is crucial for understanding the progression of ideas and the structural elements the writer employs. In the given extract, shifts occur in various forms, including tense shifts, transitions, and shifts in perspective or voice. For instance, the use of different tenses can signify changes in time frames, with past tense indicating events that have already occurred and present tense focusing on current observations or general truths, often referred to as the literary present. The use of transitional words and phrases, such as those underlined in the passage, serve to guide readers through the text, marking the introduction of new ideas or reasons and connecting them to the overall argument or narrative. Additionally, changes in perspective can reveal character development, pose questions, or alter the tone, creating a multifaceted reading experience.
For example, shifting from a narrative mode, which tells a story, to a lyrical mode, which expresses emotions or ideas, requires attentive reading to understand the significance of each. Another kind of shift, seen in the question about "This Is Just to Say," is in the thematic development or the way the idea of the plums changes throughout the poem. Each of these shifts is integral to the writer's intent to engage with and challenge conventional expectations, rendering the text rhetorically effective.