Day 8 Chapter 11-12

My understanding of these two chapters

In chapter 11, the author used the radio talk to discussed how did nonfiction become acceptable and its importance. Like the host, he did not realize nonfiction as a literature and only focused on the giants while the other three ladies had done a satisfied work on nonfiction. Also, it was not just about the "nonfiction" form, but the changes of people's realizations of "literature". Novel had been popular for a long time then after World War II the situation shifted. Magazines were on the tide and that was the beginning of a golden era of nonfiction.

"Good writing is good writing, whatever form it takes and whatever we call it."

"For most people learning to write,that path is nonfiction."

In chapter 12, the author provided detailed information about interview including how to start an interview, the way to record what interviewer's words and change them or not, and the quotations. In the beginning, he illustrated people's typical locked thinking pattern. Later he shared the valuable approach to tuning-in interview.

"Take heart" to describe the real world.

思维简图 Chapter 12

Vocabulary 

allot verb

解释：to give something, especially a share of something available, for a particular purpose

用法：allot sth to sb, 被动语态的时候介词可以是for

举例：They allotted a separate desk to everyone.

Three hours have been allotted to/for this task.

drab adj. 比较级需要双写b，drabber，drabbest. （我一直以为是动词）

解释：boring, especially in appearance; having little colour and excitement

举例：She walked through the city centre with its drab, grey buildings and felt depressed.

flock noun. 

解释：a large group of people

举例：A noisy flock of tourists came into the building.

Hearty adjective （我猜成了用心的，真心的，有心的）

解释：enthusiastic, energetic, and often loudly expressed

举例：a hearty welcome，a hearty laugh

Sentences

Somewhere behind every storm sewer is a politician whose future hangs on getting it installed and a widow who has always lived on the block and is outraged that some damn-fool legislator thinks it will wash away.

个人感觉作者这句话，很自然地连接了2个定语从句，读起来工整，最后半句的对比也恰到好处。