Comprehension
1. Staples characterize the women he encounters in paragraph 1 as a “victim” because of the way she acts. She appears to be worried and moves to cross the street, making it clear that she feels she is a victim and finds him intimidating, even though the author is completely harmless.
2. When Staples says he has the power to “alter public space” because of his appearance. He writes this from personal experience, has noticed the way people lock their car doors and cross to the opposite side of the street. He knows he can alter just by walking through.
3. Staples walk the streets at night because he has insomnia.
4. The "making of a young thug" are those where a young man is seduced by the violence, "by the perception of themselves as tough guys." Staples also states that men are supposed to be fighters, to be hostile and have the "fighter's edge" in everything they do.
5. Staples attempts to make himself less threatening by moving with care, giving people more space, and whistling relaxing tunes while he walks places. He pays attention to how closely he is to people, makes it apparent that he is not following them, and is generally very cautious.

Purpose and Audience
1. The thesis is it was in the echo of that terrified woman's footfalls that I first began to know the unwieldy inheritance I'd come into- the ability to alter public space in ugly ways.
2. He uses personal examples throughout the essay, and throws in a few direct quotes from essays he's read that relate. His personal examples make it a strong essay because it is from his viewpoint, and he uses so many stories to back up his point that it is difficult to argue against him at all.
3. He assumes that women are always "victim" and that they all would move across the street and show fear. He also assumes everyone is scared of him.
4. He is trying to induce the fear that people feel around him, and uses that as a hook to bring people in. It works because it draws you in: you worry about what he is doing wrong from the beginning.

Style and Structure
1. Staples mentions Podhoretz because it shows that he is not the only one with the viewpoint. He uses it for a concrete example to display that others have experienced it as well.
2. The anecdote is a great strategy because most of his examples are personal. Another opening strategy would not do the essay justice.
3. If he had more concrete examples woven into his personal examples, he would make a better argument. More concrete examples would add a more brutally honest side to the essay, and make it more apparent that it is not just his perspective.
4. He uses mostly personal examples with no clear order, putting the few outside examples he has through his experiences throughout the essay.

Vocabulary Projects
1. discreet- careful and circumspect in one's speech or actions, especially in order to avoid causing offense or to gain an advantage.
2. uninflammatory- not accompanied by or associated with inflammation.
3. billowing- of fabric, fill with air and swell outward.
4. quarry- a place, typically a large, deep pit, from which stone or other materials are or have been extracted.
5. insomnia- habitual sleeplessness; inability to sleep.
6. wayfarers- a person who travels on foot.
7. constrain- severely restrict the scope, extent, or activity of.
8. bravado- a bold manner or a show of boldness intended to impress or intimidate.
9. constitutionals- a walk, typically one taken regularly to maintain or restore good health.

Journal Entry I have been in a situation like Staples “victim”. One time I was with some of my friends and we were walking on the boardwalk. A group of guys were staring at us in a weird way. We just ignored them and walked as quickly as possible. I didn’t care knowing that they probably won’t do anything to use because we were in a pretty dense part of town. After reading Staples essay, I realized that I jumped to a conclusion too quickly.