But that issue aside, this piece says a lot of interesting things about writing in general, and not just about writing essays. Cynthia Ozick's vies on poetry and novels, and the ways in which these intersect with and diverge from the writing that takes place in essays, are clearly laid out. These descriptions that Ozick gives of other forms of writing really help to make her definition of an essay stand out clearly. In addition, her use of examples from famous essayists of the past and the imagery she manages to incorporate make her meaning quite clear despite the obfuscation created by her dedication to an academic tone and over-use of unnecessarily large words. A Letter from the Clergy

This letter is written in a very even tone, which given the timing of its writing...

The authors' intent was, of course, not to stir up anyone on any side of the issue. But though this might seem like a good thing on the surface (and is certainly a testament to these gentlemen's skill in articulation), such a letter during the midst of such a struggle can actually be quite detrimental. The overall tone of the letter is one of appeasement, and such appeasement has not ever led to the social changes of the type that were being sought by the Civil Rights movement. The bishops repeatedly urge the "Negro community" to fight their battle in the courts instead of the streets, but the courts never come around until enough of the population has -- history has shown this, but these men ignored it.