Summer Case

What is the author's responsibility to his/her audience when writing nonfiction? What is our responsibility as readers when approaching a work of nonfiction?

The author's responsibility to his/her audience when writing nonfiction is to provide their accurate research and knowledge. The author should really go in depth with their research and study into what happened. They could interview people involved, as well as bystanders to get information and different perspectives of the story. The author could also visit all the places where the scenes occurred to get further information. The writing of nonfiction should always be as diligent and accurate as possible. Our responsibility as readers when approaching a work of non-fiction is to approach the book with some beforehand knowledge and even use the KWL reading method. As a reader I should establish what I know about the topic. As the book progresses, I should establish what I want to know. After reading the book, I should determine what I have learned.

Having read the book, what is your opinion of Chris McCandless? Do you view him as courageous and noble or reckless and arrogant, or some combination of both? Why? Support your response with specific details from the text.

I find that Chris McCandless was both courageous and noble as well as reckless and arrogant. McCandless enters the wild, brave and completely okay with living in solitude. For instance, McCandless affirms, "I won't run into anything I can't deal with on my own" (Krakauer 6). He is confident that he will not run into danger and that he is able to overcome any hardship that falls through his path.