Assignment 6: Choices

"As soon as the 2003 World Taxidermy Championships opened, the heads came rolling in the door."

Susan Orlean wrote "Lifelike", an article about her interpretation on how taxidermists perceive their job. Her readers should appreciate the way she introduces the article as I did because it doesn't get up slow; it gets straight to what the entire article will be about. It seems that Orlean does so to snag the readers' attention immediately rather than allowing them to read a boring introduction that in turn gives readers more of a reason to not want to continue reading. The introducing is so important because that determines the rest of a read. If it does not reflect what the rest of the writing will be about, and very quickly, readers are already confused at the start which leads to further frustration as the reading continues.

Throughout the article, Orlean uses an inconsistency of paragraph styles which adds interest to the reader's eyes. The very first paragraph seems to be the perfect size-not too long, not too short. After that, there is another good sized paragraph, then a few quotes listed in separated lines followed by heftier paragraphs. This way, the reader does not get overwhelmed with several large paragraphs back to back. Instead they are surprised with quotes here and there singled out to stand out in their minds as to what they could mean to the people saying them, in this case, taxidermy. This was a good writerly choice Orlean used rather than allowing important quotes to get lost in the more beefy paragraphs:


"Acetone rubbed on a squirrel tail will fluff it right back up."

"My feeling is that it's quite tough to do a good tongue."

"The toes on a real competitive piece are very important. I think Bondo works nicely, and so does Super Glue."

"I knew a fellow with cattle, and I told him,'If you ever have one stillborn, I'd really like to have it.' I thought it would make a really nice mount."