At the end of February, the Democratic leaders of the House and Senate and other Members concerned with energy came to the White House.
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What does the speaker say? (CI of the section |
Text: Mark the parts of the text that are specific choices to help the speaker achieve his/her purpose |
Analysis: Explain HOW the underlined CHOICES help the author
achieve his/her purpose |
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Speaker talks about the oil situation in the united states. Speaker informs that lack of the congress to pass laws that can see the united states mining its domestic oil has resulted to too much spending on oil. The speaker also talks about the need for the congress to support efforts by the federal governments in ensuring the security of the job security of American citizens through participation on laws that help the country’s efforts to reduce foreign spending on products that can be generated in the country. |
Good evening. 2 Last January 15, I went before your Senators and Representatives in Congress with a comprehensive plan to make our country independent of foreign sources of energy by 1985. Such a program was long overdue. We have become increasingly at the mercy of others for the fuel on which our entire economy runs. Here are the facts and figures that will not go away. The United States is dependent on foreign sources for about 37 percent of its present petroleum needs. In 10 years, if we do nothing, we will be importing more than half our oil at prices fixed by others—if they choose to sell to us at all. In two-and-a-half years, we will be twice as vulnerable to a foreign oil embargo as we were two winters ago. We are now paying out $25 billion a year for foreign oil. Five years ago we paid out only $3 billion annually. Five years from now, if we do nothing, who knows how many more billions will be flowing out of the United States. These are not just American dollars, these are American jobs. I asked the Congress in January to enact this urgent 10-year program for energy independence within 90 days—that is, by mid-April… At the end of February, the Democratic leaders of the House and Senate and other Members concerned with energy came to the White House. They gave me this pamphlet outlining energy goals similar to mine and promised to come up with a Congressional energy program better than mine by the end of April… 8 Their request stretched my original deadline by a couple of weeks. But I wanted to be reasonable; I wanted to be cooperative… 9 What did the Congress do in March? What did the Congress do in April about energy? Congress did nothing. In fairness, I must say there were diligent efforts by some Members—Democrats as well as Republicans—to fashion meaningful energy legislation in their subcommittees and committees. My administration worked very hard with them to bring a real energy independence bill to a vote. At the end of April, the deadline set by the Congressional leaders themselves, I deferred for still another 30 days… So, what has the Congress done in May about energy? Congress did nothing and went home for a 10-day recess. February, March, April, May—as of now, the Congress has done nothing positive to end our energy dependence. On the contrary, it has taken two negative actions: the first, an attempt to prevent the President from doing anything on his own, the second, to pass a strip mining bill that would reduce domestic coal production instead of increasing it, put thousands of people out of work, needlessly increase the cost of energy to consumers, raise electric bills for many, and compel us to import more foreign oil, not less. I was forced to veto this anti-energy bill last week, because I will not be responsible for taking one step backward on energy when the Congress will not take one step forward on energy. The Congress has concentrated its attention on conservation measures such as a higher gasoline tax. The Congress has done little or nothing to stimulate production of new energy sources here at home. At Elk Hills Naval Petroleum Reserve in California, I saw oil wells waiting to produce 300,000 barrels a day if the Congress would change the law to permit it. There are untold millions of barrels more in our Alaskan petroleum reserves and under the Continental Shelf. We could save 300,000 barrels a day if only the Congress would allow more electric power plants to substitute American coal for foreign oil. Peaceful atomic power, which we pioneered, is advancing faster abroad than at home. Still the Congress does nothing about energy. We are today worse off than we were in January. Domestic oil production is going down, down, down. Natural gas production is starting to dwindle. And many areas face severe shortages next winter. Coal production is still at the levels of the 1940's. Foreign oil suppliers are considering another price increase. I could go on and on, but you know the facts. This country needs to regain its independence from foreign sources of energy, and the sooner the better. There is no visible energy shortage now, but we could have one overnight. We do not have an energy crisis, but we may have one next winter. We do have an energy problem, a very grave problem, but one we can still manage and solve if we are successful internationally and can act decisively domestically. Four months are already lost. The Congress has acted only negatively. I must now do what I can do as President. First, I will impose an additional $1 import fee on foreign crude oil and 60 cents on refined products, effective June 1. I gave the Congress its 60 days plus an extra 30 days to do something—but nothing has been done since January. Higher fees will further discourage the consumption of imported fuel and may generate some constructive action when the Congress comes back… When I talk about energy, I am talking about jobs. Our American economy runs on energy—no energy, no jobs. In the long run, it is just that simple. The sudden fourfold increase in foreign oil prices and the 1973 embargo helped to throw us into this recession. We are on our way out of this recession. Another oil embargo could throw us back. We cannot continue to depend on the price and supply whims of others. The Congress cannot drift, dawdle, and debate forever with America's future. I need your help to energize this Congress into comprehensive action. I will continue to press for my January program, which is still the only total energy program there is. I cannot sit here idly while nothing is done. We must get on with the job right now. Thank you and good night. |
The underlined choices puts the authors agenda on the map since oil one of the most precious commodities for any country’s economy. These choices thus establishes alternatives for the United states apart from having to import oil, thus reduce federal budget spending. |
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What does the speaker say? (CI of the section |
Text: Mark the parts of the text that are specific choices to help the speaker achieve his/her purpose |
Analysis: Explain HOW the underlined CHOICES help the author achieve his/her purpose |
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Through the life of James Dickey, one of the most famous and controversial poet, the speaker communicates the journey of success, failure, triumph and inspiration. The speaker is also communication the power of determination as and courage as was seen in the life of Jams Dickey |
A Biography of James Dickey One of the most highly regarded twentieth-century poets, James Dickey was perhaps best known for his 1970 novel, Deliverance. A writer, a critic, a lecturer, and a teacher, Dickey was described by the New York Times as a “big, sprawling, life-loving man.” A Georgia native, Dickey was born in 1923 in Atlanta, where he spent his childhood. He enrolled in Clemson University in 1942 but dropped out just a few months later to join the Army Air Corps. His early experiences as a navigator—flying over 100 missions in the Pacific during World War II—ultimately would provide rich fodder for many of his poems, including one of his most famous, “The Firebombing.” Upon returning from the war, Dickey completed his undergraduate degree and earned a master’s degree in English at Vanderbilt University. While at Vanderbilt, Dickey tried his hand at poetry and had several poems published in the university’s literary magazine. After college, he married Maxine Syerson. In 1950, they moved to Houston, Texas, where he began teaching English at Rice University. After just a couple of years at Rice, Dickey was recalled to active duty by the military when the Korean War began. During his service, Dickey sold his first poem, “Shark in the Window,” to the Sewanee Review. Dickey returned to Rice after completing his military service and then moved on to the University of Florida, but he found it difficult to make ends meet on his teacher’s salary. He left teaching behind for the more lucrative advertising business and moved to Manhattan to work as a copywriter. Dickey was a success, and for five years he worked for agencies in New York and Atlanta, but he found he had little time left to devote to his poetry. He also felt guilty about his work, viewing advertising as a form of corruption. “I knew how to manipulate those poor sheep, but the fact I felt that way about them was an indication of my own corruption,” he said. Dickey finally left advertising behind and, after a year in Italy, he spent the next few years as “poet in residence” at several universities and published two volumes of poetry and a selection of critical essays. Dickey’s poetry from this time is known for “a mixture of lyricism and narrative,” as Richard Stull wrote in Modern American Poetry. Dickey often focused on everyday subjects, from his wartime experiences to animals to football players. In 1966, his collection of poems, titled Buckdancer’s Choice, which contained “The Firebombing,” was awarded the prestigious National Book Award for Poetry. In 1967, Dickey was named the consultant in poetry to the Library of Congress—the equivalent of what is now the poet laureate—and while there he was known for his strong, outspoken opinions. The following year he was hired by the University of South Carolina, where he remained on the faculty until his death in 1997. While at the university, Dickey was viewed as a popular and inspirational teacher but was almost as well-known for his outrageous behavior. Poetry was always Dickey’s first love, but the publication of Deliverance, the gripping story of four Atlanta businessmen on a weekend canoe trip that ends in disaster, brought Dickey a degree of acclamation not usually experienced by poets. The subsequent Hollywood movie based on the novel, for which Dickey wrote the screenplay, made him a household name. The book’s success was a turning point for Dickey, according to The New Georgia Encyclopedia. Dickey’s poetry in the years after became “more experimental and abstract, less spontaneous and effective.” While he continued to teach and write, he never was able to attain the same sort of success or critical praise for his work. |
The author uses chronology to inform the reader of the different aspects related to Dickey’s life. He shows as the importance of decisions in life especially when it comes to keeping individual sanity and following your passion. |
1. What are two central ideas in the Gerald
Ford speech? Provide textual details to support the central ideas.
The first central idea in Gerald Ford Speech is the issue of patriotism- throughout his speech Ford talks about the need for the United States congress to consider passing laws that will not harm the ordinary American citizen.
The second central Idea is economic development - The president calls on the congress to pass laws that reduce government spending on oil, and encourage local oil production, which will also see ordinary Americans reserving their jobs.
2. What are two central ideas in the James
Dickey Biography? Provide textual details to support the central ideas.
The first Idea is about resilience- in the biography one can see the life of Dickey from the United States Air corps navigator, to a poet, a teacher, a degree student and established author whose book influence many.
The second idea is integrity –throughout his lifetime Dickey promoted the need to earn an honest living. One can see that even though advertising was lucrative, he felt that it was full of manipulation thus be quit.
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