Analyzing the Text: Unsolved “Vigilante” Murder in the Heartland
Reread paragraphs 1–3. Why would the author claim so early in the news article that the murder is likely to stay unsolved?
Your answer:
Review the section “Hog rustler, sweet talker,” which is about the early years of Ken McElroy’s life. Write a summary of this section; then state the main idea.
Your answer:
The author claims early in the news article that the murder is likely to stay unsolved because it was a small town crime and the residents are hesitant to provide information or cooperate with the investigation. Additionally, the murder took place in the 1980s and there have been few leads or developments in the case since then.
Summary of the section "Hog rustler, sweet talker": This section provides background information on Ken McElroy's early life, describing him as a troublemaker from a young age. He was known for stealing hogs and using his charm to avoid consequences for his actions. The section highlights various incidents where McElroy got into trouble but managed to escape punishment.
Main idea: This section portrays Ken McElroy as a cunning and elusive individual who had a history of evading justice for his criminal activities.