Shopping For Romanian Babies

-In what ways does the writer do more than simply describe what she saw and who she talked to?

The writer does more than just simply describe what the journalist saw and who she talked to by using various different techniques, such as direct speech.

The writer uses direct speech to draw out many emotions from the reader, for example "We came to collect them, we told they had gone" this makes the reader sympathise for the father who has 'lost' his children to the 'Baby Trade'. Also the reader is made to feel angry as the writer shows how easy it is to buy a baby and also to show the relentlessness the mother shows, "You can have him if you like."

The writer uses ultra short sentences such as "offerings to someone. Anyone." This ultra short sentence creates sympathy to the reader as how desperate the children are to just be shown some affection.

Also the writer describes the woman as machines and the babies as just products which can be sold or bought, a type of commodity as she says "A woman who produces for the baby shop". Whilst on the other hand she tells us of a story where a man left his children because he couldn't afford them but unfortunately he says "And when we came back to collect them, we were told him they were gone" At this point his last son is "holding on tightly to his father" this show the reader the insecurity the boy that age shows whilst holding on so tightly. Along with this the writer convey to us that "The tears roll down his cheeks" at this point the reader is thinking how often do men cry, barely, this shows us that the matter is very serious and so the reader shows further sympathy.

The writer uses her headline to grab the reader's interest as it clearly conveys "Shopping for Romanian Babies" at this point it shocks the reader and makes it almost impossible for him to believe that people can pick a baby up and place it in their trolley and head towards the cashier. Also the writer uses sub-headings to split the shocking subjects into order and in just two words summarize the whole section; examples would be "Vested interest" and "Baby trade".

The writer uses metaphors to further describe the pain the she went through whilst visiting and orphanage. Such as ...

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The writer uses metaphors to further describe the pain the she went through whilst visiting and orphanage. Such as "A sea of expectant young faces looks up to me" Here the metaphor is used to show the reader that she can't help them with their problem and this makes the reader feel sympathetic for the children. Also the writer says that the children were "dumped in state institutions" this metaphor portrays the children as if they were dumped in orphanages.

The writer uses emotive language in order for the reader to feel what the children had to go through as he uses words such as "Trauma", "Desperate" or "Neglected" These words show impact on the reader as he notices the terrible environment they've had to live in.

Alongside the use of formal language the writer also uses factual points in order for the reader to face the truth and realise the corrupted background of Romania. The writer informs us that only 1% are...genuine orphans" this brings shock to the reader as cannot believe that the rest of the children in orphanages, 99%, have parents and are left there.

The writer also emphasis to the reader the emotional trauma she felt during the assignments as she speaks of the topic as a "depressing assignment" and also when she visits the orphanage she said, "Give me a war zone any day, but spare me the emotional trauma of 100 children searching for a mother" The writer compares two scenarios and decides the war zone better than the neglected orphanage children, this show the reader that emotionally war is easier to handle.

The writer shows that he isn't the only one worried for this kind of act as he shows us that even "the head of mission holds his head in his hand"; this overwhelms the reader as to how depressed and frustrated the head of mission is. The writer also introduces some urban legend as she says that " Director is making a fortune...She has powerful friends and the police are not allowed to investigate" This phrase shows the reader the corruption that has spread in the country that not even the country itself can do anything about the 'Baby Trade'.

The writer shows the attachment the parents show to their children that are about to be sold to the 'Baby Trade'. This is conveyed as she hears from the mother, "I don't mean to keep this latest one" this show the reader that the mother is deliberately calling her newly born child as the 'Latest one' so that when she has no name for the child there will be no emotional attachment. Also the writer shows us how quickly parents are to sell their children to survive as the father says quickly, "for $11,000" This shows the reader that money there is more important.

At last the writer once more emphasis the dramatic events she saw as she says, "The seventh baby I have been offered in as many days in Romania" This shows that this is a regular occurrence as it's like there is a baby a day keeps the money flowing.

By: Abdulahad Pervez

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