You probably know John Grisham better from his novels (The Firm, A Time to Kill) than from his journalistic essays. His essay presents an empathetic view of homeless people he meets in an effort to shed light on a social issue that is often dismissed or swept under the rug. What reaction did you have to his essay? What is his intent, and what does he do effectively in accomplishing it? Did it change your view of the issue in any way or cause you to reconsider your feelings in any way?

Refer directly to the literature and include at least one direct quote from one of the literary selections in order to support and illustrate your points