Joan Didion in the article, “On Keeping a Notebook,” explains that keeping a notebook is very different than keeping a journal. Didion supports her explanation by giving examples of what she wrote in her notebook, and explaining why she wrote those things. The author’s purpose is to inform, in order to let her audience know that keeping a notebook is important. The author writes in an informal tone for the audience. Joan Didion writes using pathos, ethos, and rhetorical devices. Throughout her article, Didion uses many rhetorical devices that help strengthen her article; some of these devices are rhetorical questions, flashbacks, appositives and even symbols. An example of a flashback in the article, is when Didion was describing how she was
