Response to Joel Stein's Article on the Common Core State Standards

I completely agree with Stein's notion that fictional work has a much greater value than what the common core awards it. I understand the benefits, as Stein has pointed out, of reading nonfiction and its practical use in society. However as a student, I could never have learned how to use words to move or captivate an audience had we not analyzed Faulkner's As I Lay Dying or Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath. Nonfiction is commonly straight to the point and requires no real analysis while Fiction forces one to think beyond the scope of words given but rather the meanings and themes it's trying to convey. Without this focus on analysis,  it would be difficult to maneuver society's double meanings and unspoken rules. Nonfiction updates us on historical or social events while Fiction captures the hearts of readers which causes true concern. This ability is truly an essential to life, especially for those who want to make a difference in the world. I do believe that Nonfiction should have a greater focus, but Fiction should never be pushed to the side.