42 pages • 1 hour read
David K. ShiplerThe Working Poor: Invisible in America
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2004A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
Shipler states that no dichotomy exists between “societal help and self-help” (290). In his view, what are the responsibilities of society and the individual in helping oneself to rise out of poverty?
Why, according to Shipler, does poverty disproportionately affect women?
How and why does Shipler think that the findings of his study will be controversial for many Americans?
How does Shipler describe the relationship between the working poor and politicians, and why is this detrimental to improving the conditions of poor people’s lives?
According to Shipler, how and why are the working poor “invisible in America”?
What, according to Shipler, are the preconditions for emerging from poverty? With reference to three of his case studies, analyze why it is so difficult to do so.
With reference to three of Shipler’s case studies, discuss how his of descriptions of physicality, demeanor, and life circumstances work to magnify the reader’s empathy.
Why, according to Shipler’s report, does poverty perpetuate from one generation to the next? Refer to at least two case studies in your response.
According to Shipler, what are the flaws in the current schooling system, and how might it be adapted to benefit students from poor and disadvantaged backgrounds?
According to Shipler, what are the barriers faced by the low-skilled poor in the workplace, and to what extent can employers succeed in addressing these?
