Summary Of Dirty Resource: David Montgomery's View On Dirt

Dirty Resource: David Montgomery's View on Dirt

What is dirt? After reading Good Old Dirt by David Montgomery, one may ask why dirt is important. Montgomery is able to set up an uncommon topic by sharing stories, facts, and statistics. He then challenges readers to take action and learn more about dirt. In this selection, Montgomery shows the readers he is full of experience and knowledge about this topic and is very passionate about it. He introduces himself with a humorous personal story. He uses this story a hook to get the reader interested and wanting to read more. He shows how people don’t think about the dirt under our feet until it’s up to our waist, and he later makes the point, “Soil is our most underappreciated, least valued, and yet essential natural resource.” This is a good way of using pathos to connect with the

First, Montgomery tells the readers a light hearted story, then introduces statistics and examples about dirt and how it is important to civilizations. Montgomery then gives an example of a historic civilization and examples of the path we are currently on today. He then comes back to the historic example and how the erosion of valuable topsoil is a common factor and we are headed in the same direction. Then he challenges the readers to decide for themselves whether we are on the path to failure and to look for themselves. This is effective because he never forcefully pushes to his readers what he wants them to do until his thesis. Readers have to read the whole selection to get to it and in the end it leaves them with a challenge.

Good Old Dirt by David Montgomery appeals to most readers. He sets up this selection to relate to both a reader’s pathos and logos. As well as calls the reader to take action and trys to get them involved. Montgomery is able to inform and get readers interested in a topic that most don’t think about or have very little knowledge