Essay 2: Writing an effective essay usmg skills of Critical Readmg a
Argument:
Responding to a primary source (Into the Beautiful North), maklng a
college-level assertion, and including meaningful 200/
secondary sources. (5-6 pages). 0?
Fundamentals of critical reading, effective analysis and relevant eVIdenCC.
Skills: identifying important structures of primary source,
Into the Beautiful North, developing a thesis, supportlng
thesis with evidence from close reading as well as secondary
source, active incorporation, essay motivation, lead-in
strategies, essay map sentence, linking thesis sentence to
each paragraph, concluding paragraph. Additional points
will be awarded for effective, meaningful use of technology in
presentation.
OneBook Presentation/ Poster Session. 10%
Wednesday November 12th.
The Magical Gap in Fences. Prepare a tri-fold that presents the abstract, thesis, and sources
for your Essay 2.
Schedule for writing:
Part One: Monday 20 October.
Minimum of three complete pages due by classtime. Final revised essay will need to be
five pages.
Bring two hard (paper) copies to class on Monday for peer response.
Peer Response workshop in class.
Part Two: Wednesday 22 October. 2 slides due by classtime. Each slide needs to
present a line from Into the Beautiful North that you then illustrate. Each student will
have two slides, and these will rotate on a digital carousel on the mid-November poster
session.
Part Three: My feedback to you. You Will be receiving that feedback from me. Unlike
Unit One, we will not be cancelling any class periods for conferences.
Part Four: The féfiifiéldfés’say’ is due one week from the time you receive feedback
from. me. Your essay is evaluated according to how effectively it satisfies the objectives
of the assignment. Your essay must go through these steps or it will receive a grade of
zero. This is a writing class, and the focus is on how you write and revise.
Part Five: Poster Session on Wednesday November 12th.
Essay Prompts

The following questions intend to stimulate your analysis of an aspect of the book.

Your essay will undoubtedly develop a focus of its own, so do not be overly anxious

about answering all the questions in a particular prompt category. Also, be aware that

as your essay develops it may move away from a strict fidelity to the prompt: ultimately,
this essay belongs to you.

Borders: Into the Beautiful North examines physical and psychological borders. Urrea
repeatedly shows that while the physical borders can be crossed, some that are
culturally defined appear unbridgeable. What are those culturally defined differences,
and do you think it’s possible to eradicate such invisible borders?

Borders: in Tijuana, Nayeli and her friends encounter the border fence-a stark
demarcation of two separate countries. Describe the various languages and groups of
language speakers they encounter in the borderland. How does the author employ
language to suggest that the border has its own unique culture?

I. Stylistics: Luis Alberto Urrea has said “I write the funniest tragedies in town.” He has
said about the novel, “[A]1though it is a painful book in many ways, I wanted to write

something that made me laugh out loud every day.” Select and write in detail about two
scenes in the novel in which Urrea combines funny and painful elements. How does the
combination of funny and painful detail affect the tone of the novel? Explain how you
consider this novel either a comedy or a tragedy.

9 Heroic Quest: In hero narratives, the protagonists must travel to an unknown place to
receive new knowledge and power before they can continue their journeys. Write about

the role of Nayeli’s “KANKAKEE” postcard, which first appears in Chapter 3. Why is this
card important to Nayeli? What impression does she have of the North from the image
on the card? How do her experiences in Kankakee differ from her expectations? Why do
you think Nayeli decides to leave Kankakee without confronting her father?

5. Character: In the media, immigrants are often portrayed with a stereotypical
sameness. How does the author use difference (gender, sexual orientation, ethnic
background, skin color) to challenge stereotype? Give examples that illustrate your
ideas.

2 essay will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

identifying important analytical points of primary source in response to
one of the prompt questions,

thesis according to formula

active incorporation of primary source

active incorporation of at least two secondary sources

lead-1n strategies and introductory paragraph

concluding paragraph