Dodson - Chapters 6 & 7

Dodson’s writing in Chapters 1 through 6 of China Inside Out seems to trade off between personal experiences and statistics or citations.  He also uses subheadings in each chapter, focusing on specific examples of each chapter’s main focus. In chapter 6 Dodson talks about China’s economy and transportation with the use of subheadings, which allow him to easily transition into subtopics. These subtopics allow him to give more detail. For example, the subheading titled “The Arteries of a Nation” allows him to introduce forms of transportation such as roads, ports, and railroads.  Chapter 6 is very easy to follow, as it is broken up into sections. Without these subheadings, chapter 6 would be very difficult to read straight through. The subheadings almost give the illusion of less information. If everything were written in one very long and detailed chapter, without the “relief” of each heading, the reader may feel overwhelmed. Dodson also adds this “relief” by using his own personal anecdotes as examples for each topic. The addition of these anecdotes makes each chapter much easier to read than a constant flow of statistics or facts. They also give Dodson credibility, as he has witnessed and experienced the very issues that he discusses in each chapter. 

In Chapter 7 of China Inside Out, Dodson uses similar patterns to those used in chapters 1 through 6. While chapter 7 is a bit more factual, he still maintains the use of personal accounts. I personally did not see a large difference in the writing patterns used in chapter 7, aside from his headings. The headings are a bit more ambiguous, saying things such as “Service With a Smile” or “Dearly Beloved” (pgs. 148, 151). I find his use of personal experiences to be very useful in creating my own understanding of China. Personal accounts are much more relatable than facts and figures. Seen through the eyes of a living, breathing, feeling person, these stories allow much more understanding than studies made by "unbiased" researchers. While these studies are useful in understanding the scale or summary of an issue, they do little for connecting the reader with individual lives. Dodson’s personal story about the Xiangya Hospital in Changsha in the beginning of chapter 7 opens the chapter with an experience that is difficult for the reader, even miles and miles away, to read. Dodson describes the state of the hospitals in China, “literally overrun with patients every morning” (pg. 138). This imagery allows the reader to take a closer look at the issues; they cannot be passed off as statistics or distant lives.