Dave Barry

Dave Barry

            Subject- The subject of Dave Barry’s Batting Clean-up and Striking Out is that there are certain behaviors, cleaning and sports, that woman and men claim. Each gender has different things they notice or do, and it can anger a member of another sex. The differences between men and women are illustrated through women’s obsession with cleaning, and men being drawn to sports. According to him, women can always notice dirt more than men, so men just do an awful job at cleaning. Although, women don’t have the pull towards sports games like men do. These are the primary differences in genders.

Occasion- Batting Clean-Up and Striking Out was written in 1988. The essays time creation is shown in the intro paragraph where the year is stated. It is from Dave Barry’s Greatest Hits, and it was written 1988.

Audience- Dave Barry’s specific audience for Batting Clean-UP and Striking Out is adult or young adult men and women. The author’s target audience is revealed by the address to men and women, with a humor that children might not understand. The whole essay is talking about both genders, so men and women would enjoy reading this.

Purpose- Dave Barry’s purpose in this essay is to explain that there are real attributes that apply to just women, or just men. He wants to make you laugh, but also to notice and look for daily differences that you see in men and women in your everyday life. This purpose is illustrated by his examples of real, actual difference in genders.

Speaker- Dave Barry, the funniest man in America according to New York Times, believes that there are genetic changes from women to men. He thinks certain attributes belong to women and certain to men.

Tone- Dave Barry shows an funny, condescending, and sarcastic tone and attitude throughout the essay. These Attitudes are expressed through word choices like: extremely, representative, brilliant, “ he used their baby”, and prattled.  These words show that this paper is humorous and not very serious, but that he actually believes it to be true.