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COMPARATIVE: In “Address to the Nation on the Explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger,” President Reagan addresses the public about a national tragedy. In A Night to Remember, the tragedy is recounted through interviews with various people who experienced the Titanic’s crash. How do the different structures of the texts help to effectively communicate information regarding the tragedies? Are there advantages or disadvantages to the structure of either text? Which one do you prefer? Cite specific examples from the text to explain which structure better helps to effectively communicate information and make the author’s point.

User JGV
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"Address to the Nation on the Explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger" is a speech given by President Reagan in the immediate aftermath of the Challenger disaster, whereas "A Night to Remember" is a non-fiction book written by Walter Lord about the sinking of the Titanic. The structure of the two texts is quite different, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of effectively communicating information about the tragedies.

One advantage of President Reagan's speech is that it is delivered in real-time, immediately following the event. This allows him to address the nation with a sense of urgency and to provide a sense of comfort and reassurance to the American people. Additionally, as the President, he has access to information about the disaster that the general public does not have, which allows him to provide a more detailed and accurate account of what happened.

On the other hand, A Night to Remember is written after the event, which allows Walter Lord to research, interview, and gather a great deal of information about the tragedy, including different perspectives and accounts of what happened. This allows him to provide a more in-depth and nuanced understanding of the event.

In terms of which structure is better at effectively communicating information and making the author's point, it is difficult to say, as it depends on the specific goals of the text. In President Reagan's speech, his primary goal is to provide a sense of comfort and reassurance to the American people, and in that regard, his structure is quite effective. On the other hand, A Night to Remember's primary goal is to provide a detailed and nuanced understanding of the event, which it does effectively.

In conclusion, both structures effectively communicate information about the tragedies in their own way, and the choice of structure depends on the specific goals of the text.

User Its Not Blank
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