Nickel and DimedNickel and Dimed

On (Not) Getting by in On (Not) Getting by in AmericaAmerica

About the AuthorAbout the Author

►Barbara Eherenrich Barbara Eherenrich ►Originally from Butte,Originally from Butte, MT, but moved all over MT, but moved all over the country as she grewthe country as she grew up.up.►Father was a coal miner, but later Father was a coal miner, but later

worked in the engineering aspect of worked in the engineering aspect of the business.the business.

►Mother was a homemaker.Mother was a homemaker.

How How Nickel and DimedNickel and Dimed changed changed her life:her life:

► [This book] changed my life in important [This book] changed my life in important and unexpected ways. and unexpected ways. Nickel and DimedNickel and Dimed plunged me into the nascent living wage plunged me into the nascent living wage movement, traveling to union rallies, picket movement, traveling to union rallies, picket lines and organizing meetings around the lines and organizing meetings around the country. Once terrified of public speaking, I country. Once terrified of public speaking, I became comfortable addressing crowds became comfortable addressing crowds through a bull horn, with no notes at all. I through a bull horn, with no notes at all. I got arrested at a protest with Yale workers; I got arrested at a protest with Yale workers; I joined picket lines with hotel workers in joined picket lines with hotel workers in Santa Monica and janitors in Miami; I Santa Monica and janitors in Miami; I leafleted for a living wage in Charlottesville leafleted for a living wage in Charlottesville and marched with ACORN in Michigan. and marched with ACORN in Michigan.

Undercover journalismUndercover journalism

►Undercover journalism is a form of Undercover journalism is a form of journalism in which the writer tries to journalism in which the writer tries to infiltrate a social group by posing as infiltrate a social group by posing as someone friendly to that particular someone friendly to that particular community.community.

►Often this takes months and years to Often this takes months and years to do effectively.do effectively.

Social Issues in the BookSocial Issues in the Book

► Attacks the following notions:Attacks the following notions: Low-wage workers are “too lazy to get real Low-wage workers are “too lazy to get real

jobs”.jobs”. Employment will defeat poverty.Employment will defeat poverty. Low-wage jobs require “unskilled labor”.Low-wage jobs require “unskilled labor”. Help Wanted ads mean an employer is Help Wanted ads mean an employer is

hiring.hiring. Low-wage jobs offer enough income to Low-wage jobs offer enough income to

support a single person without children or support a single person without children or a spouse.a spouse.

Who is really being Who is really being generous?generous?

► ““When someone works for less pay than she When someone works for less pay than she can live on ... she has made a great sacrifice can live on ... she has made a great sacrifice for you ... The "working poor" ... are in fact the for you ... The "working poor" ... are in fact the major philanthropists of our society. They major philanthropists of our society. They neglect their own children so that the children neglect their own children so that the children of others will be cared for; they live in of others will be cared for; they live in substandard housing so that other homes will substandard housing so that other homes will be shiny and perfect; they endure privation so be shiny and perfect; they endure privation so that inflation will be low and stock prices high. that inflation will be low and stock prices high. To be a member of the working poor is to be To be a member of the working poor is to be an anonymous donor, a nameless benefactor, an anonymous donor, a nameless benefactor, to everyone” (p. 221).to everyone” (p. 221).

Books With Similar ThemesBooks With Similar Themes

►Bait and SwitchBait and Switch by Barbara by Barbara EherenreichEherenreich

►Scratch Beginnings: Me, $25, and the Scratch Beginnings: Me, $25, and the American DreamAmerican Dream by Adam Shepard. by Adam Shepard.

Arguing to InquireArguing to Inquire

►““The author’s goal is to open up an The author’s goal is to open up an issue for careful inquiry, to convince issue for careful inquiry, to convince readers that the issue is worth their readers that the issue is worth their attention and to encourage them to attention and to encourage them to consider the writer’s perspective on consider the writer’s perspective on the issue” (the issue” (The Informed Argument, The Informed Argument, p. p. 14).14).

Look for use of classical Look for use of classical appealsappeals

►How does the very nature of this book How does the very nature of this book establish ethos?establish ethos?

►What kinds of facts create logos?What kinds of facts create logos?►How does this book use pathos?How does this book use pathos?►What rhetorical devices does she use?What rhetorical devices does she use?

Any fallacies?Any fallacies? Consider her diction, syntax, and other Consider her diction, syntax, and other

stylistic features…stylistic features…