Question

What is the central theme and the author's purpose in this text? How does the author develop and

communicate this theme and purpose? Give specific evidence from the text to support your answer. (10
points).

There's a condition in combat that occurs when a soldier is completely stressed
out and is "on the verge of a nervous collapse." In World War I it was called 'shell
shock. Simple, honest, direct language. Two syllables. Shell shock. It almost
sounds like the guns themselves

...[i]n World War II the same combat condition was called "battle fatigue." Four syllables now; takes a little longer to say. Doesn't seem to hurt as much...
By the... Korean War... the very same condition was being called "operational
exhaustion." The phrase was up to eight syllables now, and any last traces of
humanity had been completely squeezed out of it....
Then... we got into Vietnam, and, thanks to the deceptions surrounding that war,
it's no surprise that the very same condition was referred to as "post-traumatic
stress disorder." Still eight syllables, but we've added a hyphen, and the pain is
completely buried under jargon... I'll bet if they had still been calling it "shell
shock," some of those Vietnam veterans might have received the attention they
needed.

Answer 1

The focus of the book is what is now known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Over time, the author explains how soldiers' stress and demand for aid have evolved. They use the word "shell shock" as an illustration of how the term came to be used. Compared to the names it was afterwards referred to, the author feels this two-syllable phrase was simpler and more straightforward. "The pain is completely buried under jargon," it is said. I'll bet if they had still been calling it "shell shock," some of those Vietnam veterans might have received the attention they needed. Authors argue that troops were better served by the original word, shell shock, since it didn't have a long phrase and many more syllables. When a soldier is "on the edge of a nervous collapse," he or she is said to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

Step-by-step explanation:

Write in your own words to avoid plagiarism. (teachers are smart)