6. Damage From California Quake Could Top $1 Billion

Recently, an earthquake of magnitude 6.0 hit Napa Valley in California. The earthquake caused huge and costly damages in the state of California. Over 120 patients were admitted into hospitals due to the earthquake, and three of them are in critical condition. Fortunately, no deaths have been confirmed. Though the people who experienced the earthquake say it was a huge earthquake, geologists say it was a small one compared with the ones recorded in California's history. Over 600 homes had no electricity or water all Sunday. Many people whose houses and stores were destroyed did not have earthquake insurance due to its high price, leading them into severe financial problems in the future.

The author, Ian Lovett, uses words and descriptions in his article that develops an empathetic connection with the readers. The reader can feel what the residents of California are going through- not physically, but emotionally. Lovett does a good job making the article sound like an urgent cause and a serious problem. He makes readers pity the California residents and makes them somehow mad at their government. When reading that people were not able to have earthquake insurance due to the high price, the reader can see how corrupt and unfair the government is. If it were not for the required earthquake insurance, those that had their homes and stores destroyed in the earthquake would be able to recover and go on with their lives. The author wrote his article in the third person point of view, and also used the words of the residents of California who went through  the earthquake. An example of the author using powerful words to connect the reader to the conflict is: 

"At Mr. Oehler’s home, a skylight shattered and stone sculptures flew into the air. The swimming pool cracked open, flooding his steep hillside. “There was noise everywhere from the earthquake and the walls cracking,” he said. From the terrace he said he saw flames rising in the valley below."

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/25/us/strong-earthquake-shakes-bay-area-in-california.html?hpw&rref=us&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&version=HpHedThumbWell&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well&_r=0