Blog Response Due 10/27

In "Past Present," Jimmy Santiago Baca does a phenomenal job blending two forms of writing, narrative and persuasive.  At first you are given the impression that the passage will be strictly narrative, but he implements his opinions into the story and effectively persuades the reader.  The narrative part of the passage is Baca explaining how he returns to the prison that he was held in previously to shoot a film he was creating.  Going back to that dreadful place made Baca remember the horrible aspects of prison life.  While explaining this, he effectively expresses his belief that prisoners are treated unfairly and are not given a shot to live a free life.  He expresses his opinion by saying "that these cons should tear the fucking walls down and allow no one to dehumanize them in this way."  I believe that this implementation of persuasive thoughts produce a very effective essay.  I honestly do not believe that any part of the story has any ineffective attempts to persuade.  His personal experience gives the reader a unique view on prison life and its poor qualities.  He negatively portrays the cells in the prison as "so small that a man cannot bend or stretch without bruising himself against some obstacle."  Overall, Jimmy Santiago Baca put together an easy to read short story that effectively shows the true nature of prison life and the parts of their lives that the general public does not see.