In the non-fiction text The Soloist, Steve Lopez describes the plight of one homeless man that he met on the streets of Los Angeles. For your next essay choose one of the questions below. Write an essay that not only describes the book but that presents your thoughts and opinions on what you have learned.

1. In his attempts to help Nathaniel Ayers what does Steve Lopez learn about the homeless population in and around Los Angeles? What surprises him? Track Lopez' discoveries throughout the book, as he still learns right up to the end. What did you learn about the homeless from this book, and what surprised you? If you could do one thing to help, what would it be and why?

 

2. In trying to help Nathaniel Ayers, Steve Lopez discovers that the violinist has a long history of mental illness. Lopez learns there are two schools of thought on what should be done to help the mentally-ill homeless: intervention that emphasizes "psychiatric counseling and medication" (88) and establishing trust so the person can voluntarily "learn to manage the disease" (57). We learn that Ayers has participated in both. Trace the success and failures of both methods through the book and describe which method works the best with Ayers and why.

 

3. Music plays an important part in Nathaniel Ayers' life. Lopez' articles and the donated musical instruments greatly complicate Ayers' life and take him to places he had previously avoided (like LAMP). Trace music through the important episodes in the book to demonstrate how Lopez employs it to develop Ayers' character—to show us many different sides of him. Use specific examples. Through these examples show us how music helps or hurts Nathaniel Ayers in the long run.

    

4. In The Soloist both Steve Lopez and Nathaniel Ayers change. Trace those changes throughout the book. Look at each of their attitudes and expectations as they meet, then note how these change as their friendship develops. What causes the changes? What effects do the changes have on their relationship? In reading about these very different people and how they affect each other, what lessons can we apply to our own lives?

• Four to five full pages
• Double-spaced, typed, with one-inch margins, 12 point font
• Three quotes from the book in MLA format (See handout and class notes)

• Bring four copies to workshop with your group. Turn in one to me.

• Bring four copies to workshop with your group. Turn in one to me.

• Submit clean, revised copy in a two-pocket folder, right-side pocket.
• Put all drafts (workshop sheets, freewriting, LRC forms, etc.) in left-side pocket.

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