The purpose of a journal article is to inform the reader about a topic, but it also attempts to provoke a response or thought of some kind . “Housing, Baseball, and Creeping Socialism: The Battle of Chavez Ravine, Los Angeles, 1949-1959” by Thomas S. Hines provokes a reaction from the start by failing to include a summary to aid the reader. Had I not had experience at Chavez Ravine, this would have been a crucial oversight. Once the essay begins, Hines looks directly at Chavez Ravine, the architects behind the housing project there, and the socialist controversy that doomed the project, provoking a number of responses from me ranging from frustration to sympathy. From the first sentence, Hines dives into the article as if the reader already has background information about Chavez Ravine. He mentions "a 315-acre parcel of rolling, wooded, and picturesquely 'rural' land very close to the center of downtown Los Angeles," but he neglects to include why (Hines 123). Since the article does not include an abstract, I had to guess the purpose of Hines' article. After continuing to describe how the area should be cleared for new public housing, Hines starts to annoy me. Since reading other articles about Chavez Ravine, I know his information is correct and not difficult to understand; however, without purpose, his writings seem pointless. It simply presents the information in chronological order, without any direction. His technique does not create suspense or anticipation by leaving the goal aside, but rather it seems that Hines is rambling by failing to guide his audience. In giving biographies of architects Richard Neutra and Robert Alexander, Hines does nothing to remedy his aimless writing. He writes that Neutra had varied experience as an archivist...who had "poignantly publicized earlier expulsions [...] [but] remained silent during later expulsions" (Hines 141). ). They should have shown enough pride to admit the effects of their smear campaign. Hines' article, while not having a clear focus, provides a comprehensive history of the entire Elysian Park Heights project. It summarizes Chavez Ravine, the architects and their vision, as well as the downfall of the project due to fears of socialism and the desire for baseball. Hines' writings do trigger a number of emotions, primarily anger and shock at the situation. Although he provides no introduction to the reader, by the conclusion Hines certainly provides a reason to respond. Works Cited Hines, Thomas S. “Housing, Baseball, and Creeping Socialism The Battle of Chavez Ravine, Los Angeles, 1949-1959.” Journal of Urban History, 8.2 (1982): 123-143. Print.