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Persuasive Writing // JaeWan Chung

JaeWan Chung

Ms. Clarke

English 9, C Block

20 November 2015

Writing #3: Persuasive

Not everybody can live to experience the extremely gruesome hike up to the summit of Mt. Everest. However, Jon Krakauer, hiker, journalist, and author of nonfiction novel Into Thin Air has done so and lived to pour out his personal account in his book. He shares some of the most traumatizing, glorious, and tragic experiences––it’s as if you were there yourself. Also, though it is hard to decipher at times, his encounters can apply to your life and make you reflect on your lifestyle as well.

Krakauer’s mastery in diction, imagery, and ethos gives the reader an intricate perspective of the hike up the highest mountain in the world. He does not bother to spare the abhorrent details, as seen in the following passage: “By the time he arrived at the tents late that afternoon Ngawang was delirious, stumbling like a drunk, and coughing up pink, blood-laced froth ...” (113). In this passage, Ngawang, a Sherpa in Krakauer’s expedition group had been diagnosed with HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema) when the group made it to Base Camp I. His precise diction, such as “delirious” (113), exhibits the complexity of what HAPE can do to the human body. The imagery in the passage: ”stumbling like a drunk, and coughing up pink, blood-laced froth” (113) paints a vivid picture of Ngawang’s physical state at the time.

However, his language usage skills are just the tip of the iceberg of this explicit, extraordinary book. The details he provides not only gives the reader a vivid image of what’s occurring at the moment––but also cleverly teaches the reader to appreciate their simplistic daily life. Throughout the book, many key characters such as Scott Fischer and Rob Hall die due to the extreme conditions. It also shows how one person’s actions can affect the entire group in the following passage: “Of the six climbers on Hall’s expedition who reached the summit: only Mike Groom and I made it back down: four teammates whom I’d laughed and vomited and held long intimate conversations lost their lives. … And while Yasuko Namba lay dying on the South Col, I was a mere 350 yards away, huddled inside a tent, concerned only with my safety,” (283). Krakauer felt regret and despair because he didn’t help Namba, a Japanese climber who was one of his teammates in a critical condition. This perfectly exemplifies how his actions affected not only Namba but also himself––the fact that he could’ve potentially stopped a death but didn’t because for his physical well being most likely will haunt him for the rest of his life. Readers can learn from his experience to treat their peers with respect, especially naïve, arrogant teenagers that do not realize their actions may lead to consequences.

Finally, readers can learn from another character: Ian Woodall, the South African expedition guide. In Chapter Twenty-one of the novel, it is apparent that Hall’s team was in serious danger and the South African team had a very powerful radio. “‘We knew that the South Africans had a powerful radio and that it was working, … ‘Look, this is an emergency. People are dying up there. We need to be able to communicate with the survivors in Hall’s team to coordinate a rescue. Please lend your radio to Jon Krakauer.’ And Woodall said no … ” (228-229). The passage shows what type of persona Woodall possesses; inconsiderate, self-absorbent, condemnable. Woodall denied Hall’s team’s request when he could’ve made a big impact and increased the number of survivors because he didn’t want to lend others his resources, even if multiple people’s lives were at stake. Readers can learn from Woodall to be considerate and open to any situations in order to be a good teammate in any collaborative situation.

Into Thin Air is an intricately written nonfiction novel that anybody–– from outdoor fanatics to bookworms can enjoy. The additional research done by Krakauer that he has provided and inserted into it makes the understanding of the background easier for the reader. Finally, through a whirlwind of confined details, facts, and conflicts, readers can take away lessons that teach about improving oneself, especially developing, self-discovering teenagers.

Works Cited

Krakauer, Jon. Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster. New York: Villard, 1997. Print.

#persuasive

Analytical Writing // JaeWan Chung

Jae Wan Chung

Ms. Clarke

English 9 - C Block

13 November 2015

Writing #2: High Altitude Illnesses - Analytical

High altitude sickness is one of the many factors that make the hike up to the summit of Mt. Everest a rigorous journey. In Jon Krakauer’s personal account of the Everest, Into Thin Air, he explains about the various sicknesses as a result of exposure to the high altitude. He also expresses his anxiety that he felt towards those, specifically HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema): “HACE happened to be on my mind that afternoon because just two days earlier a client of Fischer’s named Dale Kruse ... had come down with a serious case of it right here at Camp Three. … and as the air chilled my head cleared: my anxiety about coming down with HACE proved to be unfounded, at least for the time being,” (144-145). HACE is when the brain begins to swell up due to exposure to high altitude. Unless a rapid descent is made by the affected, the illness will most likely be fatal. In the following passage, Krakauer is explaining the inexplicable, irrational anxiety he had about possibly having HACE. His diction, such as “unfounded”, precisely exhibits the complexity of his emotional state. He has this anxiety because Dale Kruse had come down with the disease, so he believes there is no reason why he wouldn’t be diagnosed either.

#analytical

Informative Writing // JaeWan Chung

2015. Web. 6 November. 2015.

JaeWan Chung

Ms. Clarke

English 9- C Block

6 November 2015

The Weather in the Everest and How It Affects the Hiking Experience

The weather on Mount Everest is certainly extreme and has pushed even the strongest of humankind to their physical limits. Many perceive the weather during the journey up on the summit as merely being bone-chilling, which is certainly true. However, there is so much more to the climate than that. When the readers read the nonfiction novel Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer, they will certainly encounter exceptionally written personal experiences relating to the weather and how it pushed Krakauer’s peers to their physical limits.

The high altitude and thick air makes it difficult to simply breathe, and the extreme weather conditions even require several days to a week of acclimatization (essentially accommodating to the weather). In a personal account by Sir Edmund P. Hillary, he claims that the hike was a “tremendous undertaking” and required lots of resources such as food, tents, clothing, and ice axes (1). However, this was not all: “Much scientific equipment had to be developed and adapted to suit our difficult conditions” (2). Sometimes, all of the equipment is not enough either, as the weather is unpredictable and rarely in favor of hikers.

Hikers may also be diagnosed with high altitude illnesses such as HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema) or HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema). HAPE affects the the lungs, whilst HACE affects the brain. These diseases can be fatal if the patient does not descend quickly. Sir Hillary has witnessed one of his fellow companions suffer, and explains that his respective companion Mulgrew had “felt a sharp pain in his chest” (3). Though this was not a case of HAPE, symptoms of HAPE are similar to Mulgrew’s condition. In addition, hikers are mentally and emotionally drained, and may also experience hallucinations. Sir Hillary claims that he had witnessed a yeti, a mythical creature native to the Himalayas, but he was in conflict with his mind, and in the end had decided that he was hallucinating.

Despite unguaranteed survival and multiple fatal threats to their health, people still spend ten thousands of dollars and spend almost a year attempting to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. Krakauer claims Rob Hall charged $65,000 per client when he was climbing in 1996 (37). Though this may seen as insanity to some, perhaps the idea of being able to say that they climbed it to some is a self-confidence boost, or a rigorous one-way ticket to bragging rights. For instance, in Chapter Seven of Into Thin Air, it is stated that Woodall also lied about his qualifications on the Everest climbing permit (101). This may be because he wanted to be able to tell people that he climbed the Everest and this accomplishment would stroke his ego.

Works Cited

Krakauer, Jon. Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster. New York:

Villard, 1997. Print. 6 November. 2015.

“Special Report: Journey to the Top of the World.” World Book Advanced. Word Book,

#informative

Descriptive Writing - Amy Cho

Mount Everest, the highest mountain on earth with a height of 8850m, is located in the Himalayan range, on the frontier of Nepal. This fact stimulated a sense of curiosity within people; thousands of people have attempted to summit it. However, as the name of it tells, Mt. Everest takes forever to climb and there are many obstacles that could possibly be fatal. First, the temperature of Mount Everest is harsh with winds blowing over 2000 miles per hour and temperatures that are as low as -80 Fahrenheit. As climbers ascend, air pressure declines along with the availability of oxygen. These unfavorable conditions cause various altitude sicknesses and frostbites. Additionally, clumsy medical facilities raise mortality rate. Many natural disasters are also the main cause of people’s death which cannot be disregarded lightly. For instance, in 2014 when the earthquake happened, Mount Everest was directly affected. Climbers and the guides altogether were buried under the heavy, cold glaciers and hundreds lost their lives. Despite these harsh environment, many people have made it to the summit. On May 29, 1953, Edmund Hillary and his Himalaya-native Sherpa, Tenzing, marked the starting point of all expeditions.

#descriptive

Analytical Writing - Amy Cho

“As I turned my head to the side, my ear brushed against a wet spot; tears, I realized, were running down my face and soaking the sheets. I felt a gurgling, swelling bubble of hurt and shame roll up on my spine from somewhere deep inside. Erupting out of my nose and mouth in a flood of snot, the first sob was followed by another, then another and another”(Krakauer 281-282). This excerpt from Into Thin Air portrays Jon Krakauer’s complex emotions as his teammates pass away and as he recalls the traumatizing experiences on Mount Everest. The realization of the enormity of the near-to-death climb he successfully accomplished breaks the tension in his body down. Many literary elements and effects are incorporated to immerse the readers into the situation. The imageries Jon Krakauer used helped me visualize the cringed face and hear the moaning sounds of agony, as if the readers are bystanders of the scene. Words and phrases such as “gurgling” and “shame roll up on my spine” played a big role(Krakauer 281-282). In the sentence “…the sob was followed by another, then another and another”, Jon Krakauer puts emphasis on the word “sob” by repeating “another” many times(Krakauer 281-282). By this, he creates a sorrowful mood that he hopes the readers can empathize with. He also uses symbolism to represent the feelings associated with bubbles gurgling up his throat by including “swelling bubble of hurt and shame”(Krakauer 281-282). All these techniques are collaborated well with one another to slide the readers into the situation.

#analytical

Informative Writing - Amy Cho

There’s something that outweighs the bad sides of being a guide: money. Sherpas, by putting their lives in a gamble, earn “$5,000 for the short climbing season climbing on Everest, which is eight times Nepal’s per capita income” (McCarthy 1). This has turned poor sherpas into relatively rich men which is the alluring part of being a guide (McCarthy 2). On a bigger scale, their more-than-normal salaries affect the country’s economy. Therefore, when the sherpas decided to quit the season as a result of the avalanche injuries, “it has stoked tension at camp and disarray in the government”(McCarthy 1).

How are Sherpas Affected by Being a Guide?

Mt. Everest, a notorious mountain that have taken many lives away, arouses a sense of curiosity within people. This curiosity propels the desire to climb this harsh mountain. But how are they going to climb it? They have no knowledge of the route, weather and strategies. Because of this, Sherpas who are “guides native to Central Asia’s Himalayan mountains”, are employed as instructors that introduces Mount Everest to the world (McCarthy 2). Their job ranges from preparing the route to placing ropes in locations (Adams 1). This job often embroils them in deadly accidents but fills their purses with stacks of money.

In April 18, 2014, a deadly snow avalanche erupted and claimed 16 lives (Adams 1). According to the account of a sherpa survivor, chunks of ice came after them, a terrifying rumble filled their ears and “a blast of frigid air” smashed their frail bodies (Adams 1). This traumatizing experience demolished the survivors’ courage to ever stand on the mountain again. Sherpas working out in the brutal environment affect their surrounding, too. The mother of Mingma Tenzing Sherpa, who died in the avalanche, laments that she’s currently “drinking to get over the sorrow” (McCarthy 2).

#informative

Scott Choi

Ms. Clarke

English 9- C Block

6 November 2015

Whats happens to your body or mental state in high altitude?

Many climbers from all over the world challenge Mt. Everest every year during spring—mostly in April and May—even though they are aware of the high altitude sickness and the dangers associated with it. In May 2011, Andrew Lock, the first Australian who had climbed to the summit of all of the world’s mountains above 8,000m, except Mt. Everest challenged ascending Everest without oxygen tank for the third time. He had minor implications of high altitude sickness, mainly nausea, vomiting, vision deterioration, at first until about 8,600m. However, soon he was having trouble perceiving distances, experiencing tunnel vision and hallucinating giant bats flying towards him. Andrew had no choice but to turne around and come back down to Everest Base Camp at 5,100m. Had he pushed on instead of descending, Andrew could have had serious health problem, including sudden death. Here are some physical symptoms and treatments to the different types of high altitude sickness.

High altitude sickness generally categorised into three types: AMS(acute mountain sickness), HAPE(high altitude pulmonary oedema), and HACE(high altitude cerebral oedema).

AMS generally affects people at altitudes above about 2,500m and can cause an experience similar to a hangover. Some of its more severe symptoms are headaches, nausea, a loss of appetite, dizziness and fatigue. About one third of climbers experience AMS by the time they reach 3650m in altitude and more than half show symptoms around 4,500m. Ams occurs when people ascend to higher elevations without giving their bodies time to be acclimatise. The safest treatment for AMS is to ascend gradually. Even with a gradual climb, symptoms still can occur.

HAPE and HACE are more severe forms of high altitude sickness and they generally occur in climbers who go above 8,000m also known as ‘death zone’ due to its sparsity of oxygen. HAPE is characterised by fluid build up in the lungs. If untreated, it can quickly become deadly. Some of the symptoms of HAPE include shortness of breath, coughing and chest tightness. Also, a person with HAPE may experience tachycardia central cyanosis, and severe wheezing and can lead to death in about 12 hours. The more severe sickness is HACE. It happens because of lack of oxygen to the brain. This damages the membranes lining it and allows fluids to leak in from the blood, causing the brain to swell. HACE can result in irrational behaviour, confusion or withdrawal and the inability to coordinate movements. According to Andrew Lock, “close monitoring” of the body is needed when climbing in the death zone. The best way to treat HAPE and HACE is to come down to lower altitude. However, in emergency situations a portable altitude chamber(PAC) can be used to create a higher air pressure environment of lower altitudes.

Works Cited

See MLA format-

Any 2nd line of source is indented.

#informative

Scott Choi

Teacher Name

English 9 C Block

13 November 2015

Writing #2: Sherpa Type Persuasive

Sherpas carry the heaviest loads and pay the highest prices. Sherpa can make out $2,000 to $5,000 per season, while western guide can make about $50,000 per season. That's about 25 times more than what Sherpas make but whats worse Sherpas have it the hard way while western guides have it the easy way. Sherpas risk their lives everyday from crevasse falls, avalanches, and altitude sickness. The worse part is that their is unknown to the world while when 1 causality happens to the western guide the world falls into depression. 40 percent of all everest deaths over the century is all Sherpas and Nepali mountain workers.

Not only Sherpas looked down upon, they are almost mostly used as a slave, carry their stuff with no equipment or any safety stuff. Not only do they to have carry their own body without any supplementary oxygen containers or any safety equipment, they also have to carry the equipment of their contractors, and sometimes even have to support them too, like literally push them or carry them. Even tho they are the key to reaching the top of the mountain they are still looked down, people have no respect for them, even after their deaths.

A example of Sherpa’s sad truth is when DaSona’s son in law, DaRita died while guiding adventures up Mt Everest. He died at the early age of 37 even tho he has kids and wife. That left the family in chaos, kids were too young to know about death, everybody had a hole in their heart.

The reason for them climbing are very sad, compared to normal people in Nepal Sherpa earn about 10 times more than them. Sherpa’s do everything to get job so that they can feed their family, even tho they are sick or injured they still will do anything do get a job. An example from a book called into thin air is when a Sherpa had HAPE which is a type of altitude sickness he would not admit it until it cost him his life. They risk every moment on the mountain but still they don’t get any respect from the world is, which is just terrible and cruel.

#persuasive

Reading Response // Scott Choi

Scott Choi

Ms. Clarke

English 9 C Block

20 November 2015

Writing #3:Weather Type: Reading response

When I first started reading Into thin air by Jon Krakauer, I thought it was going to be another boring Everest story, where everybody chases after their dream of climbing the world’s tallest mountain and become famous. However, the end of the book was quite different than what I had first expected. Many of the climbers die during the expedition and lose their lives on the mountain. Some of the bodies could not be even brought back down the mountain.

I thought this was a bad story at first because in the beginning of the book, the author

literally told the ending. I thought that he had spoiled the entire story because the very first part of the story started from the top of the Mount Everest, where the expedition was ending. Also, the author described who died while on the adventure and usually when this happens, readers already know what is going to happen, ruining the curiosity of the story.

However, Jon Krakauer does a great job at creating imagery. While reading the book, the texts were so descriptive that I could imagine the entire scene happening before my eyes.

“The ink-black wedge of the summit pyramid stood out in the stark relief, towering over the surrounding ridges. Thrust high into the jet stream, the mountain ripped a visible gash in the 120-knot hurricane, sending forth a plume of ice crystals that trailed to the east like a long silk scarf.”(Page 30).

The words depicts the tops of the mountain under a blue sky, yet words such as “jet stream” and “plume of ice crystals” bring a chill to the readers, enabling them to not only see but also feel the cold atmosphere of the scene.

I kept reading because, in addition to imagery, Jon Krakauer was not like the other writers I had read. He was different. He used real words such as “fu**,” and “sh**” that people would use in real life situations. This allowed me to feel the emotions the characters were going through and become involved personally in the story.

He also wrote about the history of the Everest, like when it was open, people who climbed it, conflict because of the Everest, etc… Which helped me a lot because I could understand the story and the history of Mt. Everest easier.

I didn’t really expect much from the book, because I read a lot Mt. Everest books and they always end up the same, but the style the author used for the story was very inspiring, it made wish that I could write as good as him.

#reader-response

Glossary - Amy Cho

#extrafeatures

Timeline - Amy Cho

#extrafeatures

Character Profiles // JaeWan Chung

Image Citation: "Jon Krakauer." Widercontexts. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2015.

1. Jon Krakauer: He is the main character and author of the novel Into Thin Air. The entire book (excluding the additional research done by him) is written his point of view. He seems to be very modest, practical, and smart. At first, he is sent to the Everest to do an article for Time Magazine, and he had the option to stay at Base Camp and receive updates through the radio, however, he chooses to climb the rigorous mountain and is faced with many obstacles.

Image Citation: "Scott Fischer." Mountain Madness Founder. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2015.

2. Scott Fischer: He is an acquaintance of Jon’s as they live in the same area in Seattle. He has done the extreme to be qualified, including throwing up multiples times a day due to overworking himself. When he finds out that Jon is climbing the Everest as well, he thinks that it’s only right that Jon joins his expedition group as they aren’t complete strangers.

Image Citation: Price, Mark. "No Frills 'Everest' Screening." No Frills 'Everest' Screening. Otago Daily Times, 4 Sept. 2015. Web. 23 Nov. 2015.

3. Rob Hall: He is Jon’s expedition guide. Jon chose to join Rob’s group instead of Scott’s because of Rob’s reputation of being a skilled, logistical guide. Though Scott felt some betrayal, he had no hard feelings against Rob or Jon and Rob remained friends with Scott.

#extrafeatures

Image Analysis // JaeWan Chung

The following are images from the nonfiction novel Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. I chose these images because I though they were most relevant to the plot and/or they were the most compelling.

Image 1: Chapter Two

A middle-aged man, possibly a Sherpa, wearing a mask showing an expression of agony and looking down from climbing a hill.

Image 2: Chapter Four

A black and white canvas photo of the view of the summit of the Everest from Phakding, a Nepali village.

Image 3: Chapter Fifteen

A group of men with axes wearing thick coats and other climbing tools hiking up a hill.

#extrafeatures

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