Mori's purpose in writing this essay is for American citizens to realize that learning and receiving an education is a gift that not everyone is afforded. Mori wants to prove this point to make Americans understand that they take advantage and think nothing of such a serious issue. He develops his thesis using his knowledge and experience in both Japanese and American education to form the compare and contrast format and divide his essay into eight sections. In conveying his perspective, Mori incorporates an appeal to ethics to strengthen the validity of his essay. “Many Americans in their thirties and forties return to college to train for a different type of job or to pursue a lifelong interest that they couldn't afford to study before. Until they need these second chances, most Americans take college for granted because they are always there: almost all adults can get into some college at any age. This shows how Americans do not truly understand how crucial and fortunate the opportunity for education is when it is offered to us. With that, Mori delves more into the "ie" education system in Japan by referencing his cousin, Kazumi's circumstance of being jeopardized from succeeding in school due to an earthquake. "Even though the letter said that we didn't necessarily have to have a nice kimono if our family had suffered such great damage that we had no money, the tone was very condescending and it was obvious that they were really saying that we should rent one, whatever the cost. From this reference, it was evident that Kazuma and her family were having an incredibly difficult time recovering from the traumatizing experience; furthermore, the teachers did not show much sympathy for her when they told her that she had to wear a kimono for the annual ceremony certified knowing that he had