Phantom phalluses
Published: Monday | January 17, 2011
Garth A. Rattray, Contributor
I. Background information to help your readers understand the nature of the work
A. Information about the work ( 4 marks)
1. Title
2. Author
3. Publication information
4. Author’s topic and purpose: TOPIC becomes obvious from the second paragraph - “Our society (especially in the lower-income bracket) is filled with phantom phalluses that only give the illusion of having some substance, until they get what they want and then disappear into thin air the first chance they get.”
PURPOSE is explicitly stated in the final two paragraphs to warn women about these Phantom phalluses and to advise them of their ‘tricks’ and subsequently entreat them to protect themselves – “I take every opportunity to warn young women that phantom phalluses don't see them as sentient beings with personal needs and a future life. Phantom phalluses are completely self-indulgent and will say and do anything to get to their goal.
For the sake of their psychological and physical health, for the sake of their future, for the sake of their children, for the sake of our country, it's time that women treat these phantom phalluses like what they truly are - nothing, nothing but trouble that is.
5. Identifying/discussing author’s thesis statement
Abandoned women, abandoned children, abandoned families, abandoned communities, abandoned morals, horrific crime, murder and mayhem all stem from the actions of phantom phalluses, yet women cling to the same self-destructive practices that play out over and over again and ruin our society from within its core.
B. Summary of the work in 70 words (2marks)
Rattray acknowledges that our society (especially in the lower-income bracket) is filled with phantom phalluses. He asserts that women fall prey to them easily and “birth youths for one phantom phallus after another in the utterly vain hope that one will remain and