Rebecca Moran
Professor Henderson
Academic Writing
20 March 2011
The Eyes that Screamed for Help
It was a beautiful spring day on April 22, 2001. I paced up and down my wood staircase making it creak as many times as I could, hoping my mom would get annoyed and finally come down and be ready to leave. Every weekend during the springtime, my mom would have a soccer game and I would beg her to bring me. It wasn’t because I actually enjoyed watching her games, but it was the playground that I couldn’t get enough of as a 9 year old child. There was the huge tire swing that you could twist around and let it go and enjoy the best ride of your life, the challenging red monkey bars that every kid wants to conquer, the sand between my little toes that felt so good, and that big green twisty slide, which was always more fun climbing up than it was going down. The playground was my sanctuary when I was a kid. There was nothing more I would rather do than let my imagination run wild in that place. I could spend hours and hours in a single place, but my imagination took me across the globe, to places like China. I actually thought that I could reach China through that playground sand if I dug deep enough. Who knew at that time that my favorite place on Earth would be the place that I would witness the most shocking experience of my life?
I finally got my mom out of the house and we were just about to get into the car, she stopped walking around our green aerostar van and asked, “Becca where is your jacket? You need a jacket, it’s supposed to rain.” I let out one big huff, thinking about arguing with her and telling her, “I will be fine mom,” but I realized I probably would lose that battle like always, so I sprinted and grabbed my pink and purple Pocahontas rain jacket and held it on my lap for the car ride.
When we got to the soccer fields, I spotted the playground in all of its glory. My mom wouldn’t let go of my hand until we fully crossed the street, and when she did, I ran to the swings with my friend Devin. We just loved the feeling of the wind blowing through our loose hair and feeling as though we were on top of the world. My favorite aspect of the swings was the butterflies in my stomach during the descent from the highest point. Boy, it was a rush.
We were swinging for a while, and then we jumped off the swings and took a little breather. All of a sudden, out of the corner of my eye I saw an object begin to fall. I turned and looked, and to my shock it was a big chubby boy pushing down a small framed little girl, who seemed to be much younger than him. After he grabbed her and threw her down, he kicked her in the ribs and kicked sand in her face. I had never seen anything like this before in my life. It began to rain and it seemed as though time was slowing down and the rain was falling with an unchanging beat. I froze and thought to myself, “Could this really be happening? Is this real life? What is going on?” All the sounds around me started to be muffled, then it turned into complete silence and I was in a state of total disbelief. What was I, a little girl who was smaller than the big chubby boy, supposed to do?
I began to think about the parable in the bible I heard in Sunday Bible School titled “The Good Samaritan.” It is about a man who gets beat up and robbed and left at the side of the street to die. Many pass him by without even a glance, but one man, a Samaritan, takes pity on him and bandages his wounds and brings him to an inn to take care of him (The New American Bible 1047). I knew I had to be her good Samaritan. I marched over and before he could hit her again, I stood in front of him and yelled, “Stop!”
He snarled at me and said, “Who are you? I am her brother, its fine.” I could not believe he was trying to justify his actions because the little girl was his sister. I didn’t even know how to reply. I ignored him and grasped the little girl’s hand and told her she could stay and play with Devin and me.
Sibling abuse is the physical, emotional or sexual abuse of a sibling to another. Sibling physical abuse can range from milder forms of aggression between siblings, such as pushing and shoving, to very violent behavior that can cause very serious injury (Sibling Abuse par. 1). To some parents, it may be hard to distinguish between normal sibling rivalry and sibling abuse. Often parents can be blind to the abuse that is actually occurring because they do not see it as a serious problem until serious harm occurs. Research shows that sibling abuse is actually quite common. Experts estimate that 3 children in 100 are dangerously violent toward a sibling (Sibling Abuse par. 5).
That day at the playground with the little girl was the first time I had witnessed abuse. My first hand experience of abuse dealt with sibling physical abuse, but there are many more forms of abuse. I did not know that abuse existed and that the little girl was one of many in the US who has suffered from abuse. There are over 3 million child abuse cases each year. Of those 3 million cases, it is estimated that there are about 5.8 million children abused each year because each case may include multiple children. The various types of abuse include physical, neglect, sexual, psychological, and medical neglect. (National Child Abuse Statistics par 1). In these abuse cases, 17.4% are reported to be physical abuse. The National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect defines child physical abuse as: "The physical injury or maltreatment of a child under the age of eighteen by a person who is responsible for the child's welfare under circumstances which indicate that the child's health or welfare is harmed or threatened” (Physical Abuse par 1). The little girl from the park was just one of the 870,000 of the children who are physically abused each year. With such shocking numbers, how did I not know that child abuse existed? Why was this exposure to abuse such a shock to me, which I still consider a great burden on my mind today?
I am from a very large Christian family. We go to mass every Sunday and many of our family friends are people we met through our church. Due to my parent’s upbringing and all the people we surround ourselves with, I was never exposed to any type of abuse. It was never a topic my parents discussed with me. I honestly never knew it existed until that day at the park. I didn’t know what was happening and was not sure of the way I was supposed to react in that type of situation.
I waited with the little girl until my mom’s soccer game was over. I knew my mom would make it all better. I grasped the little girl’s hand and we walked in unison, tears streaming down my eyes. It was such a relief to know that my mom was there to help. I explained to my mom how the little girl was pushed, kicked, and had sand shoved in her face. She told us it would all be okay and that we would find her mother. My mom’s words were soothing to me because she was able to take some of the burden I was carrying off my shoulders. I could not wait for the little girl’s mother to find out what her son did to her daughter. I was anticipating a punishment for this boy’s actions, so I would know that this boy would never lay hands upon her ever again. That was the comfort I was anticipating and it was a comfort I would never receive. Her mother finally came over, and she asked my mom what was going on. My mom told her everything that I told my mom, not leaving out any of the horrible details. To my great shock, the mother did not care the slightest bit, and it seemed as is if his actions towards her were of the norm. The mother looked at me and saw the loads of tears just pouring out of my eyes. She asked my mom, “Why is she crying?”
My mom answered, “Because she cares”.
The mother, daughter, and brother started walking away. The mother grabbed the daughter’s arms rather aggressively and the little girl was glancing back at me with desperate eyes. I still remember those green eyes looking so pitiful and just searching for hope. My mother held me and whispered in my ear, “You did all you could do. All you can do is pray and God will take care of her.”
The reason I never knew about abuse before then was because my parents sheltered me, not because they too were unaware. My father is a detective of Nassau County in the special victims unit, which is involved in the investigation of child physical and sexual abuse. With his multiple years of experience on the job, I wondered to myself as I was writing this paper why my dad never talked about these issues with me. As a child I would always ask him, “Daddy, what exactly do you do at your job?”
Every time he would answer, “I catch bad guys.” He would make an uneasy facial expression that gave me the feeling that he did not desire to discuss his work with me, which of course made me all the more curious. When I was a young girl in the 1990s, before cell phones came into fashion, I would call my dad’s work in order to talk to him. He would answer the phone saying, “Special Victim’s Unit, Detective Moran speaking.” I wondered who these “special victims” my dad was dealing with were. And why couldn’t I know more about it?
I gave my dad a call on the phone today and asked, “Dad, why didn’t you ever tell me anything about your job and what you deal with as a detective? And why did you and mom keep me sheltered from the reality of the world?”
He responded, “Becca, I deal with some very inhumane cases that are not fit for children to know about. All you needed to know was that I catch bad people. Your mother and I would not discuss these abuse cases with you because there was no need to. We would never allow you to be surrounded by such things.” My dad attempted to justify him and my mom not talking to me about abuse because it was not fit for children and that they would never have me exposed to it because they wouldn’t allow it. But in reality, I did witness abuse and it truly frightened me.
The rate of child abuse and child abuse fatalities has increased greatly since 1985 by a shocking 39%. Child Protective Services have confirmed that there are nearly 1,400 child abuse fatalities every year. That means there are nearly 4 children killed everyday in the US due to physical abuse or neglect (National Child Abuse Statistics par. 3). Lisa B. is a survivor of child physical abuse. She recalls her most dreadful memories of her mother screaming, “Stop! Stop! Stop! You’re gonna kill her!” (Lisa B. par 3). Her father would beat her mercilessly, even at the age of 17. The program called Childhelp got her through the toughest times of Lisa’s life. They were there when she had no one to turn to and they stayed on the phone with Lisa for hours and talked her out of killing herself one night. Since Lisa’s younger years, she has mothered a child and has worked most ardently to help abused children like herself. Lisa states, “I feel that there needs to be more public awareness about what actually happens to an abused child. Please help me get the word out there. Let’s get together and help our communities become more aware of this horrible problem” (Lisa B. par 7,8). I entirely agree with Lisa that there needs to be greater awareness of child abuse. Child abuse is a very serious issue and absolutely needs to be addressed. I think a good way to acknowledge this issue is by educating the future generation, which includes young children.
I know that children should not know all the gruesome violent details that are associated with abuse, but I would argue that parents should inform and discuss with their children about the abuse that exists in the world. Looking back on the situation, I wish I knew what was happening when I saw the little girl being beaten. Maybe I could have been spared a little bit of the initial shock that swept through my body during that April day. Parents should educate their children about abuse and also teach them how to react if they are ever a witness to abuse. Doing this will help children not to freeze up like I did. They will be more apt to react and help the situation, so that no farther harm is done and maybe an abused child will get the help they so desperately need.
Works Cited
"Lisa B. in Her Own Words | Childhelp." Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse |
Childhelp. Web. 02 May 2011.
"National Child Abuse Statistics | Childhelp." Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse |
Childhelp. Web. 17 Apr. 2011.
The New American Bible. New York: P.J. Kenedy, 1970. Print.
"Physical Abuse - Child Abuse: An Overview ~ FindCounseling.com." Find a Therapist
at FindCounseling.com, The Original Therapist Finder Search Engine, Formerly
TherapistFinder.net. Web. 02 May 2011.
"Sibling Abuse: Your Child." University of Michigan Health System. Web. 04 May 2011.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Writing Center
I went to the writing center yesterday on Thursday April 28. I had a writing tutor named Jacob and he helped me a lot. I brought my rough draft to him and he read it aloud to me, so I could hear if there was anything wrong with the paper. He helped fix quite a bit of my grammar and I am now pleased with the way it sounds and flows. I realized that by fixing simple grammatical errors my paper sounded so much better. I told Jacob that I wanted to incorporate another source or maybe a quote and he thought that was a great idea, so we worked on possibilities where it would be appropriate. I am glad that I went to the writing center and definitely will go there more often.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Narrative Rough Draft 4.1
Rebecca Moran
Professor Henderson
Academic Writing
20 March 2011
My First Encounter with the Violent Crime of Abuse
It was a beautiful spring day on April 22, 2001. I paced up and down my wood staircase making it creak as many times as it could, hoping my mom would get annoyed and finally come down and be ready to leave. Every weekend during the springtime, my mom would have a soccer game and I would beg her to bring me with her. It wasn’t because I actually enjoyed watching her game, but it was the playground that I couldn’t get enough of as a 9 year old child. The huge tire swing that you could twist around and let it go and enjoy the best ride of your life, the challenging red monkey bars that every kid wants to conquer, the sand between my little toes that felt so good, and do not forget that big green twisty slide, which was always more fun climbing up than it was going down. The playground was my sanctuary when I was a kid. There was nothing more I would rather do than let my imagination run wild in that place. I could spend hours and hours in a single place, but my imagination took me across the globe, to places like China. I actually thought that I could reach China through that playground sand if I dug deep enough. Who knew at that time, that my favorite place on Earth would be the place that I would witness the most shocking experience of my life?
I finally got my mom out of the house and we were just about to get into the car, until she stopped walking around our green aerostar van and asked, “Becca where is your jacket? You need a jacket, it’s supposed to rain”. I let out one big huff, thinking about arguing with her and telling her, “I will be fine mom”, but I realized I probably would lose that battle like always, so I sprinted and grabbed my pink and purple Pocahontas rain jacket and held it on my lap for the car ride.
When we got to the soccer fields, I spotted the playground in all of its glory. My mom wouldn’t let go of my hand until we fully crossed the street, and when she did, I ran to the swings with my friend Devin. We just loved the feeling of the wind blowing through our loose hair and feeling as though we were on top of the world. My favorite aspect of the swings was the butterflies in my stomach during the descent from the highest point. Boy, it was a rush.
We were swinging for a while, and then we jumped off the swings and took a little breather. All of a sudden, out of the corner of my eye I saw an object begin to fall. I turned and looked, and to my shock it was a big chubby boy pushing down a small framed little girl, who seemed to be much younger than him. After he grabbed her and threw her down, he kicked her in the ribs and kicked sand in her face. I had never seen anything like this ever before in my life. It began to rain and it seemed as though time was slowing down and the rain was falling with an unchanging beat. I thought to myself, “Could this really be happening? Is this real life? What is going on”? All the sounds around me started to be muffled then it turned into complete silence and I was in a state of total disbelief. What was I, a little girl who was smaller than the big chubby boy, suppose to do?
I began to think about the parable in the bible I heard in Sunday Bible School named “The Good Samaritan”. It is about a man who gets beat up and robbed and left to the side of the street to die. Many pass him by even without a glance, but one man, a Samaritan, takes pity on him and bandages his wounds and brings him to an inn to take care of him (The New American Bible 1047). I knew I had to be her Samaritan. I marched over and before he could hit her again, I stood in front of him and yelled, “Stop!” He snarled at me and said, “Who are you? I am her brother, its fine.” I could not believe he was trying to justify his actions because the little girl was his sister. I didn’t even know what to say to his reply. I ignored him and grasped the little girls hand and told her she could stay and play with Devin and I until her mom came back.
This experience was the first time I had witnessed abuse. I did not know that abuse existed and that she was one of many in the US who has suffered from abuse. There are over 3 million child abuse cases each year in the US and those cases can include multiple children. Of those 3 million cases, it is estimated that there are about 5.8 million children abused each year (National Child Abuse Statistics par 1). With such shocking numbers, how did I not know that child abuse existed? Why was this exposure to abuse such a shock to me, which I still consider a great burden on my mind today?
I am from a very large Christian family. We go to mass every Sunday and many of our family friends are people we met through our church. Due to my parent’s upbringing and all the people we surround ourselves, I was never exposed to any type of abuse. It was never a topic my parents discussed with me. I honestly never knew it existed until that day at the park. I didn’t know what was happening and was not sure of the way I was suppose to react in that type of situation.
I waited with the little girl until my mom’s soccer game was over. I knew my mom would make it all better. I grasped the little girl’s hand and we walked in unison, tears were streaming down my eyes. It was such a relief to know that my mom was here to help. I explained to my mom how she was pushed, kicked, and sand shoved in her face. My mom told us it would all be okay and that we would find her mother. My mom’s words were soothing to me because she was able to take some of the burden off my shoulders I was carrying that day. I could not wait for her mother to find out what her son did to her daughter. I was anticipating a punishment for this boy’s action, so I would know that this boy would never lay hands upon her ever again. That was the comfort I was anticipating and it was a comfort I would never receive. Her mother finally came over, and she asked my mom what was going on. My mom told her everything that I told my mom, not leaving out any of the horrible details. To my great shock, the mother did not care the slightest bit, and it seemed as is if his actions towards her were of the norm. The mother looked at me and saw the loads of tears just pouring out of my eyes. She asked my mom, “Why is she crying”? My mom answered, “Because she cares”.
The mother, daughter, and brother started walking away. The mother grabbed the daughter’s arms rather aggressively and the little girl was glancing back at me with desperate eyes. I still remember those green eyes looking so pitiful and just searching for hope. My mother held me and whispered in my ear, “You did all you could do. All you can do is pray and God will take care of her”.
My father is a detective of Nassau County in the special victims unit, which is involved in the investigation of child physical and sexual abuse. With his multiple years of experience on the job, I wondered to myself as I was writing this paper why my dad never talked about these issues in the world with me. As a child I would always ask him, “Daddy what do you do exactly at your job?’ Every time he would answer, “I catch bad guys”. He would make an uneasy facial expression that gave me the feeling that he did not desire to discuss his work with me, which of course made me all the more curious. When I was a young girl in the 1990s, before cell phones came into fashion, I would call my dad’s work in order to talk to him. He would answer the phone saying, “Special Victim’s Unit, Detective Moran speaking”. Who were these “special victims” my dad was dealing with? And why couldn’t I know more about it?
I gave my dad a call on the phone today and asked, “Dad, why did you never tell me anything about your job and what you deal with as a detective? And why did you and mom keep me sheltered from the reality of the world?” He responded, “Becca, I deal with some very inhumane cases that are not fit for children to know about. All you needed to know was that I catch bad people. Your mother and I would not discuss these abuse cases with you because there was no need to. We would never allow you to be surrounded by such things.” My dad attempted to justify him and my mom not talking to me about abuse because it was not fit for children and that I would never be exposed to it because my parents wouldn’t allow it. In reality, I did witness abuse and it truly frightened me.
I know that children should not know all the gruesome violent details that are associated with abuse, but I do argue that parents should inform and discuss with their children about abuse that exists in the world. Looking back on the situation, I wish I knew what was happening when I saw the little girl being beaten. Maybe I could have been spared a little bit of the initial shock that swept through my body during that April day. Parents should tell their children about abuse and also teach them how to react if they ever a witness to abuse. By doing this, children will not just freeze up, like I did. They will be better apt to react and help the situation, so that no farther harm is done.
Works Cited
"National Child Abuse Statistics | Childhelp." Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse |Childhelp. Web. 17 Apr. 2011.
The New American Bible. New York: P.J. Kenedy, 1970. Print.
Professor Henderson
Academic Writing
20 March 2011
My First Encounter with the Violent Crime of Abuse
It was a beautiful spring day on April 22, 2001. I paced up and down my wood staircase making it creak as many times as it could, hoping my mom would get annoyed and finally come down and be ready to leave. Every weekend during the springtime, my mom would have a soccer game and I would beg her to bring me with her. It wasn’t because I actually enjoyed watching her game, but it was the playground that I couldn’t get enough of as a 9 year old child. The huge tire swing that you could twist around and let it go and enjoy the best ride of your life, the challenging red monkey bars that every kid wants to conquer, the sand between my little toes that felt so good, and do not forget that big green twisty slide, which was always more fun climbing up than it was going down. The playground was my sanctuary when I was a kid. There was nothing more I would rather do than let my imagination run wild in that place. I could spend hours and hours in a single place, but my imagination took me across the globe, to places like China. I actually thought that I could reach China through that playground sand if I dug deep enough. Who knew at that time, that my favorite place on Earth would be the place that I would witness the most shocking experience of my life?
I finally got my mom out of the house and we were just about to get into the car, until she stopped walking around our green aerostar van and asked, “Becca where is your jacket? You need a jacket, it’s supposed to rain”. I let out one big huff, thinking about arguing with her and telling her, “I will be fine mom”, but I realized I probably would lose that battle like always, so I sprinted and grabbed my pink and purple Pocahontas rain jacket and held it on my lap for the car ride.
When we got to the soccer fields, I spotted the playground in all of its glory. My mom wouldn’t let go of my hand until we fully crossed the street, and when she did, I ran to the swings with my friend Devin. We just loved the feeling of the wind blowing through our loose hair and feeling as though we were on top of the world. My favorite aspect of the swings was the butterflies in my stomach during the descent from the highest point. Boy, it was a rush.
We were swinging for a while, and then we jumped off the swings and took a little breather. All of a sudden, out of the corner of my eye I saw an object begin to fall. I turned and looked, and to my shock it was a big chubby boy pushing down a small framed little girl, who seemed to be much younger than him. After he grabbed her and threw her down, he kicked her in the ribs and kicked sand in her face. I had never seen anything like this ever before in my life. It began to rain and it seemed as though time was slowing down and the rain was falling with an unchanging beat. I thought to myself, “Could this really be happening? Is this real life? What is going on”? All the sounds around me started to be muffled then it turned into complete silence and I was in a state of total disbelief. What was I, a little girl who was smaller than the big chubby boy, suppose to do?
I began to think about the parable in the bible I heard in Sunday Bible School named “The Good Samaritan”. It is about a man who gets beat up and robbed and left to the side of the street to die. Many pass him by even without a glance, but one man, a Samaritan, takes pity on him and bandages his wounds and brings him to an inn to take care of him (The New American Bible 1047). I knew I had to be her Samaritan. I marched over and before he could hit her again, I stood in front of him and yelled, “Stop!” He snarled at me and said, “Who are you? I am her brother, its fine.” I could not believe he was trying to justify his actions because the little girl was his sister. I didn’t even know what to say to his reply. I ignored him and grasped the little girls hand and told her she could stay and play with Devin and I until her mom came back.
This experience was the first time I had witnessed abuse. I did not know that abuse existed and that she was one of many in the US who has suffered from abuse. There are over 3 million child abuse cases each year in the US and those cases can include multiple children. Of those 3 million cases, it is estimated that there are about 5.8 million children abused each year (National Child Abuse Statistics par 1). With such shocking numbers, how did I not know that child abuse existed? Why was this exposure to abuse such a shock to me, which I still consider a great burden on my mind today?
I am from a very large Christian family. We go to mass every Sunday and many of our family friends are people we met through our church. Due to my parent’s upbringing and all the people we surround ourselves, I was never exposed to any type of abuse. It was never a topic my parents discussed with me. I honestly never knew it existed until that day at the park. I didn’t know what was happening and was not sure of the way I was suppose to react in that type of situation.
I waited with the little girl until my mom’s soccer game was over. I knew my mom would make it all better. I grasped the little girl’s hand and we walked in unison, tears were streaming down my eyes. It was such a relief to know that my mom was here to help. I explained to my mom how she was pushed, kicked, and sand shoved in her face. My mom told us it would all be okay and that we would find her mother. My mom’s words were soothing to me because she was able to take some of the burden off my shoulders I was carrying that day. I could not wait for her mother to find out what her son did to her daughter. I was anticipating a punishment for this boy’s action, so I would know that this boy would never lay hands upon her ever again. That was the comfort I was anticipating and it was a comfort I would never receive. Her mother finally came over, and she asked my mom what was going on. My mom told her everything that I told my mom, not leaving out any of the horrible details. To my great shock, the mother did not care the slightest bit, and it seemed as is if his actions towards her were of the norm. The mother looked at me and saw the loads of tears just pouring out of my eyes. She asked my mom, “Why is she crying”? My mom answered, “Because she cares”.
The mother, daughter, and brother started walking away. The mother grabbed the daughter’s arms rather aggressively and the little girl was glancing back at me with desperate eyes. I still remember those green eyes looking so pitiful and just searching for hope. My mother held me and whispered in my ear, “You did all you could do. All you can do is pray and God will take care of her”.
My father is a detective of Nassau County in the special victims unit, which is involved in the investigation of child physical and sexual abuse. With his multiple years of experience on the job, I wondered to myself as I was writing this paper why my dad never talked about these issues in the world with me. As a child I would always ask him, “Daddy what do you do exactly at your job?’ Every time he would answer, “I catch bad guys”. He would make an uneasy facial expression that gave me the feeling that he did not desire to discuss his work with me, which of course made me all the more curious. When I was a young girl in the 1990s, before cell phones came into fashion, I would call my dad’s work in order to talk to him. He would answer the phone saying, “Special Victim’s Unit, Detective Moran speaking”. Who were these “special victims” my dad was dealing with? And why couldn’t I know more about it?
I gave my dad a call on the phone today and asked, “Dad, why did you never tell me anything about your job and what you deal with as a detective? And why did you and mom keep me sheltered from the reality of the world?” He responded, “Becca, I deal with some very inhumane cases that are not fit for children to know about. All you needed to know was that I catch bad people. Your mother and I would not discuss these abuse cases with you because there was no need to. We would never allow you to be surrounded by such things.” My dad attempted to justify him and my mom not talking to me about abuse because it was not fit for children and that I would never be exposed to it because my parents wouldn’t allow it. In reality, I did witness abuse and it truly frightened me.
I know that children should not know all the gruesome violent details that are associated with abuse, but I do argue that parents should inform and discuss with their children about abuse that exists in the world. Looking back on the situation, I wish I knew what was happening when I saw the little girl being beaten. Maybe I could have been spared a little bit of the initial shock that swept through my body during that April day. Parents should tell their children about abuse and also teach them how to react if they ever a witness to abuse. By doing this, children will not just freeze up, like I did. They will be better apt to react and help the situation, so that no farther harm is done.
Works Cited
"National Child Abuse Statistics | Childhelp." Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse |Childhelp. Web. 17 Apr. 2011.
The New American Bible. New York: P.J. Kenedy, 1970. Print.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Reflection 3.2
I really enjoyed writing this paper. I found that the research process was much better for this paper, with a lot of very useful information. I wrote my first draft and I met with professor Henderson to discuss it. She made very useful comments and critiques. I realized that I need to add some things and condense other parts. I think it was good that I added more acknowledgment to the fact that not all immigrants are carrying diseases and criminals, it helped my paper sound more Rogerian. Professor Henderson also said that an outside voice in my conclusion would help and so I picked a quote from President Obama and I believe that it strengthened my paper and made it seem much more relevant to today.
Rogerian Argument 3.2
Rebecca Moran
Professor Henderson
Academic Writing
30 March 2011
Should America Keep Allowing Illegal Mexican Immigrants into the US?
Mexico and the United States have had a long history together in terms of economics, politics, and social interactions. This should be no surprise to anyone since Mexico shares a 2000 mile border with the US. Immigration is currently the most conflict-ridden issue in the U.S.-Mexican relationship. Many illegal Mexican immigrants come to America every day in search for a better life for them and their families. Some argue that the Mexican immigrants are in search for the “American Dream”, which a Yale graduate American writer and historian, James Truslow Adams brilliantly defined in his book, The Epic of America, as: “life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement" (America Eulogy par 5). One may claim that illegal Mexican immigrants are in search for their very own American Dream. They are looking for an answer to their prayers to break the bonds of poverty and to improve the lives of their loved ones.
For many generations, Mexicans have illegally crossed the border into the United States due to its close proximity and the undeniable difference of the quality of life between the two countries. The growth of the Mexican population in the U.S. has been exponential in recent years. In 1970, about 800,000 Mexican citizens lived in the United States. About thirty years later, there are ten million, and about half are in undocumented status (Davidow par 10).
The drastic increase in number of Mexican immigrants to the US in the early 1990’s was due to the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994, or NAFTA. NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. Due to the promising vision of NAFTA, Mexico received a large increase in foreign investment. However, after the assassination of the Mexican presidential candidate, Luis Donalso Colosio, there were signs that Mexico’s economy was not as profoundly strong as it had once appeared (Villarreal 3). By December 1994, there was a desperate plunge in Mexico’s currency to about 50% (Villarreal 4). This dismal plunge sent Mexico into a terrible recession.
Mexico’s economic recession has led to a dramatic increase in its poverty levels each proceeding year since 1994. In 2008, the extreme poverty rate was 18% and those living in moderate poverty were at a shocking 47% (Villarreal 5). The Mexican government defines extreme poverty as those living on less than $1.50 a day in rural areas and less $2.00 a day in urban areas. Moderate poverty is defined as living on less than $2.70 a day in rural areas and $4.00 a day in urban areas (Villarreal 6). With these facts and statistics, it is no wonder why so many Mexicans want to come to the US.
Many individuals are from poverty-stricken towns in Mexico, and come to the US with the desire to create a better life. In the scholarly journal article, “It is the Only Way I Can Survive” by Phyllis L. Baker, she interviewed an illegal Mexican immigrant, Amelia, and Amelia stated, “I know that I’m doing something wrong, that it’s illegal with the government, but it is the only way that I can survive here. I have to work and take care of my children” (Baker 393). The pressure of being a good parent and providing a better life for their children is a weight that almost every parent bears. They are looking for any possible way to survive in this harsh world.
Even though there are illegal immigrants who come to the US with honorable intentions, one should not overlook the risks that the illegal Mexican immigrants place upon the lives of American citizens. Illegal immigrants, unlike those who are legally admitted for permanent residence, do not undergo medical screening to assure that they are not carrying contagious diseases (FAIR par 2). According to the director of the El Paso heath district, Dr. Laurence Nickey, there are many diseases that are evident along the US-Mexico border, which in the past have been controlled. Incidences in El Paso of serious disease such as leprosy and tuberculosis are twice that of the normal US rate. Dr. Lawrence Nickey states: “People have come to the boarder for economic opportunities, but the necessary sewage treatment facilities, public water systems, environmental enforcement, and medical care have not been made available to them causing a severe risk to the health and well-being of people on both sides of the border” (FAIR par 3). Dr. Lawrence Nickey acknowledges that these diseases are putting people’s health at a very high risk along the border.
Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report titled "Trends in Tuberculosis Incidence - United States" stating that the number of tuberculosis cases among foreign-born persons in the US increased in 2006, and approximately half came from five countries, and Mexico was the leader in the number of reported cases (FAIR par 4). Tuberculosis is a contagious disease caused by mycobacteria, which can spread through the air. Tuberculosis can often lead to death. Now I know that not all Mexicans are carrying these very harmful diseases. Only a small number of the immigrants do carry disease, but it just takes a few sick people to cause a pandemic, which is the spread of infectious disease through the human population across a vast area. Immigrants who come to the US unchecked are placing Americans at a great risk of very harmful diseases, such as Tuberculosis. When they do not abide by the law and come to the US legally, they risk the lives of American citizens.
The US is a nation that was built upon laws, and the laws are put into place for the well-being of its citizens. When the illegal Mexican immigrants enter the US unchecked, then police and government officials have no way of keeping track of them, and this can be very dangerous for the well-being of Americans. There have been many cases where illegal Mexican immigrants who have come to the US have committed very serious crimes. For example, the rape and murder of a 15 year old American girl from Texas named Dani Countryman was traced back to 2 illegal Mexican immigrants, Alejandro Emeterio Rivera Gamboa and Gilberto Javier Arellano Gamboa (Illegal par 1,2). William Gheen from Americans for Legal Immigration Political Action Committee, or ALIPAC, stated:
"Dani Countryman is dead because our government failed to secure our borders and enforce our existing immigration laws. The suspects in this case were shown, by our state and federal governments, that they could break many American laws without any serious penalties. It is no wonder that many illegal aliens escalate their crimes into the realms of rape and murder. How many more Americans must suffer or die before our nation takes action" (Illegal par 4)?
This was a very sad case for every person to hear about. Once again, a very small percentage of immigrants actually cause crime, but such tragic cases as this do happen and are preventable. Imagine if your daughter, sister, friend, or cousin was raped and murdered by two illegal immigrant men. You would go through great lengths to make sure something as tragic as this would never happen again. You would make sure that no man or woman got into America illegally, so crimes as foul as rape and murder are prevented.
The idea of the American Dream is rooted in pursuit of happiness by abiding by the law of the Constitution. America was built on the idea of assimilation and integration of various cultures. Americans want foreign people to come here and be a part of the American tradition, as long as it is done through legal means. The legality of immigration is very important to the health and safety of the American people. Mexicans are crossing the border everyday illegally, with about 300,000-400,000 increase of illegal immigrants each year (Davidow par 10), some come with good intentions to create a better life for their families, but some Mexicans do bring deadly disease and serious crime into the US. President of the United States, Barack Obama, once responded to an interview question about immigration stating: “I think it’s possible for us to be a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants. That’s what we’ve always been and that’s what we have to continue to be. We need to make sure that boarder security is orderly, that we don’t have thousands of people pouring over our borders or overstaying our visas” (Barack par 26). Barack Obama is correct in stating that the US should do a better job at patrolling the boarders and making sure that no one enters with potential health problems or any criminal background. Mexicans should try to come to America legally and want to become American citizens and assimilate into this great “melting pot”, where people from everywhere around the world, with different cultures, customs, and backgrounds come and consider themselves one nation under that star-spangled banner.
Works Cited
"American Eulogy (Featured Article)." The Burning Platform. 30 Jan. 2011. Web. 29 Mar. 2011.
Baker, Phyllis L.. ""It's the Only Way I Can Survive": Gender Paradox Among Recent Mexicana
Immigrants to Iowa." University of California Press 47.4 (2004): 393. Print.
"Barack Obama on Immigration." OnTheIssues.org - Candidates on the Issues. Web. 16 Apr.
Davidow, Ambassador Jeffrey. "Immigration, the United States and Mexico." Mexico news and
opinion. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2011.
"FAIR: Illegal Immigration and Public Health." FAIR: Federation for American Immigration
Reform. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2011.
"Illegal Aliens with Prior Charges Murder 15 year old Texas Girl." Public Records Research and
Title Abstracting. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2011.
Villarreal, M. Angeles . "NAFTA and the Mexican Economy." Congressional Research Service
1 (2010): 3-6. Print.
Professor Henderson
Academic Writing
30 March 2011
Should America Keep Allowing Illegal Mexican Immigrants into the US?
Mexico and the United States have had a long history together in terms of economics, politics, and social interactions. This should be no surprise to anyone since Mexico shares a 2000 mile border with the US. Immigration is currently the most conflict-ridden issue in the U.S.-Mexican relationship. Many illegal Mexican immigrants come to America every day in search for a better life for them and their families. Some argue that the Mexican immigrants are in search for the “American Dream”, which a Yale graduate American writer and historian, James Truslow Adams brilliantly defined in his book, The Epic of America, as: “life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement" (America Eulogy par 5). One may claim that illegal Mexican immigrants are in search for their very own American Dream. They are looking for an answer to their prayers to break the bonds of poverty and to improve the lives of their loved ones.
For many generations, Mexicans have illegally crossed the border into the United States due to its close proximity and the undeniable difference of the quality of life between the two countries. The growth of the Mexican population in the U.S. has been exponential in recent years. In 1970, about 800,000 Mexican citizens lived in the United States. About thirty years later, there are ten million, and about half are in undocumented status (Davidow par 10).
The drastic increase in number of Mexican immigrants to the US in the early 1990’s was due to the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994, or NAFTA. NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. Due to the promising vision of NAFTA, Mexico received a large increase in foreign investment. However, after the assassination of the Mexican presidential candidate, Luis Donalso Colosio, there were signs that Mexico’s economy was not as profoundly strong as it had once appeared (Villarreal 3). By December 1994, there was a desperate plunge in Mexico’s currency to about 50% (Villarreal 4). This dismal plunge sent Mexico into a terrible recession.
Mexico’s economic recession has led to a dramatic increase in its poverty levels each proceeding year since 1994. In 2008, the extreme poverty rate was 18% and those living in moderate poverty were at a shocking 47% (Villarreal 5). The Mexican government defines extreme poverty as those living on less than $1.50 a day in rural areas and less $2.00 a day in urban areas. Moderate poverty is defined as living on less than $2.70 a day in rural areas and $4.00 a day in urban areas (Villarreal 6). With these facts and statistics, it is no wonder why so many Mexicans want to come to the US.
Many individuals are from poverty-stricken towns in Mexico, and come to the US with the desire to create a better life. In the scholarly journal article, “It is the Only Way I Can Survive” by Phyllis L. Baker, she interviewed an illegal Mexican immigrant, Amelia, and Amelia stated, “I know that I’m doing something wrong, that it’s illegal with the government, but it is the only way that I can survive here. I have to work and take care of my children” (Baker 393). The pressure of being a good parent and providing a better life for their children is a weight that almost every parent bears. They are looking for any possible way to survive in this harsh world.
Even though there are illegal immigrants who come to the US with honorable intentions, one should not overlook the risks that the illegal Mexican immigrants place upon the lives of American citizens. Illegal immigrants, unlike those who are legally admitted for permanent residence, do not undergo medical screening to assure that they are not carrying contagious diseases (FAIR par 2). According to the director of the El Paso heath district, Dr. Laurence Nickey, there are many diseases that are evident along the US-Mexico border, which in the past have been controlled. Incidences in El Paso of serious disease such as leprosy and tuberculosis are twice that of the normal US rate. Dr. Lawrence Nickey states: “People have come to the boarder for economic opportunities, but the necessary sewage treatment facilities, public water systems, environmental enforcement, and medical care have not been made available to them causing a severe risk to the health and well-being of people on both sides of the border” (FAIR par 3). Dr. Lawrence Nickey acknowledges that these diseases are putting people’s health at a very high risk along the border.
Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report titled "Trends in Tuberculosis Incidence - United States" stating that the number of tuberculosis cases among foreign-born persons in the US increased in 2006, and approximately half came from five countries, and Mexico was the leader in the number of reported cases (FAIR par 4). Tuberculosis is a contagious disease caused by mycobacteria, which can spread through the air. Tuberculosis can often lead to death. Now I know that not all Mexicans are carrying these very harmful diseases. Only a small number of the immigrants do carry disease, but it just takes a few sick people to cause a pandemic, which is the spread of infectious disease through the human population across a vast area. Immigrants who come to the US unchecked are placing Americans at a great risk of very harmful diseases, such as Tuberculosis. When they do not abide by the law and come to the US legally, they risk the lives of American citizens.
The US is a nation that was built upon laws, and the laws are put into place for the well-being of its citizens. When the illegal Mexican immigrants enter the US unchecked, then police and government officials have no way of keeping track of them, and this can be very dangerous for the well-being of Americans. There have been many cases where illegal Mexican immigrants who have come to the US have committed very serious crimes. For example, the rape and murder of a 15 year old American girl from Texas named Dani Countryman was traced back to 2 illegal Mexican immigrants, Alejandro Emeterio Rivera Gamboa and Gilberto Javier Arellano Gamboa (Illegal par 1,2). William Gheen from Americans for Legal Immigration Political Action Committee, or ALIPAC, stated:
"Dani Countryman is dead because our government failed to secure our borders and enforce our existing immigration laws. The suspects in this case were shown, by our state and federal governments, that they could break many American laws without any serious penalties. It is no wonder that many illegal aliens escalate their crimes into the realms of rape and murder. How many more Americans must suffer or die before our nation takes action" (Illegal par 4)?
This was a very sad case for every person to hear about. Once again, a very small percentage of immigrants actually cause crime, but such tragic cases as this do happen and are preventable. Imagine if your daughter, sister, friend, or cousin was raped and murdered by two illegal immigrant men. You would go through great lengths to make sure something as tragic as this would never happen again. You would make sure that no man or woman got into America illegally, so crimes as foul as rape and murder are prevented.
The idea of the American Dream is rooted in pursuit of happiness by abiding by the law of the Constitution. America was built on the idea of assimilation and integration of various cultures. Americans want foreign people to come here and be a part of the American tradition, as long as it is done through legal means. The legality of immigration is very important to the health and safety of the American people. Mexicans are crossing the border everyday illegally, with about 300,000-400,000 increase of illegal immigrants each year (Davidow par 10), some come with good intentions to create a better life for their families, but some Mexicans do bring deadly disease and serious crime into the US. President of the United States, Barack Obama, once responded to an interview question about immigration stating: “I think it’s possible for us to be a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants. That’s what we’ve always been and that’s what we have to continue to be. We need to make sure that boarder security is orderly, that we don’t have thousands of people pouring over our borders or overstaying our visas” (Barack par 26). Barack Obama is correct in stating that the US should do a better job at patrolling the boarders and making sure that no one enters with potential health problems or any criminal background. Mexicans should try to come to America legally and want to become American citizens and assimilate into this great “melting pot”, where people from everywhere around the world, with different cultures, customs, and backgrounds come and consider themselves one nation under that star-spangled banner.
Works Cited
"American Eulogy (Featured Article)." The Burning Platform. 30 Jan. 2011. Web. 29 Mar. 2011.
Baker, Phyllis L.. ""It's the Only Way I Can Survive": Gender Paradox Among Recent Mexicana
Immigrants to Iowa." University of California Press 47.4 (2004): 393. Print.
"Barack Obama on Immigration." OnTheIssues.org - Candidates on the Issues. Web. 16 Apr.
Davidow, Ambassador Jeffrey. "Immigration, the United States and Mexico." Mexico news and
opinion. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2011.
"FAIR: Illegal Immigration and Public Health." FAIR: Federation for American Immigration
Reform. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2011.
"Illegal Aliens with Prior Charges Murder 15 year old Texas Girl." Public Records Research and
Title Abstracting. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2011.
Villarreal, M. Angeles . "NAFTA and the Mexican Economy." Congressional Research Service
1 (2010): 3-6. Print.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Prewriting 4.2
The Climax for the Narrative
I think for my story the climax would be the part when my mother and I confront the little girl's mother about the situation. I thought maybe at first, the climax would be the part when the little girl is getting beat up, but I think the mother's reaction in this experience is more of the climax. You are anticipating a certain reaction. You don't know what her reaction will be, and the reader might be shocked to learn about her reaction, I know I was.
Scene:
I told my mother what happened to the little girl with tears streaming down my face. I grabbed her hand and brought her to my mother. My mother was very calming to this young child and told her we would find her mother and that it would all be alright. I couldn't wait to tell her mother, because then I thought to myself that she would make she this boy (the little girl's brother)would never lay hands on her again. That was the comfort I was anticipating, but this comfort I never received. This experience still haunts me and I still get all choked up even when I think about it.
I think for my story the climax would be the part when my mother and I confront the little girl's mother about the situation. I thought maybe at first, the climax would be the part when the little girl is getting beat up, but I think the mother's reaction in this experience is more of the climax. You are anticipating a certain reaction. You don't know what her reaction will be, and the reader might be shocked to learn about her reaction, I know I was.
Scene:
I told my mother what happened to the little girl with tears streaming down my face. I grabbed her hand and brought her to my mother. My mother was very calming to this young child and told her we would find her mother and that it would all be alright. I couldn't wait to tell her mother, because then I thought to myself that she would make she this boy (the little girl's brother)would never lay hands on her again. That was the comfort I was anticipating, but this comfort I never received. This experience still haunts me and I still get all choked up even when I think about it.
Prewriting for Paper 4
I still keep a journal and I write in it every once in a while. I have kept this journal since I was 9 years old. The other day I read some of my past journal entries from when I was much younger. I read this one entry,(I remember this day very vividly), when I was playing in a playground at a soccer field while my mother was playing soccer. I remember seeing this little girl, a few years younger than me, and she was getting pushed down and kicked by an older boy. He threw her down and repeatedly kicked sand in her face. I immediately ran over and yelled for him to stop. He wouldn't, so I took the little girl and told her she could stay with me until her mother came.
I want to write about my first experience of seeing abuse in the world. Before this incident, I had no idea that it existed and was horrified that anyone could do this to another person. I have never experienced any abuse in my life, and my parents never even explained it to me until I witnessed it first hand. I think that abuse is an issue that should be raised and not be taken lightly.
My father is a detective of the special victims squad in Nassau County on Long Island. He deals with child abuse cases all the time, and I would like to talk to him and incorporate what he thinks about the abuse cases why he never educated me about the topic of abuse. In my paper I want to incorporate some opinions on abuse that my dad has and why he never revealed this part of the world to me. I think that people and even children should be more educated about the topic so that they will know what to do when they encounter it.
I want to write about my first experience of seeing abuse in the world. Before this incident, I had no idea that it existed and was horrified that anyone could do this to another person. I have never experienced any abuse in my life, and my parents never even explained it to me until I witnessed it first hand. I think that abuse is an issue that should be raised and not be taken lightly.
My father is a detective of the special victims squad in Nassau County on Long Island. He deals with child abuse cases all the time, and I would like to talk to him and incorporate what he thinks about the abuse cases why he never educated me about the topic of abuse. In my paper I want to incorporate some opinions on abuse that my dad has and why he never revealed this part of the world to me. I think that people and even children should be more educated about the topic so that they will know what to do when they encounter it.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Reflection 3.1
I wrote my Rogerian Argument about illegal Mexican immigrants. I liked how I had to research both sides of the argument. I presented a very pathos driven beginning presenting the other side's argument of: why we should allow illegal immigrants to stay. The research I did for this paper was very strong and I was able to gather a lot of credible information and statistics. I was able to support my argument against illegal Mexican immigrants coming to America because they can bring disease and crime here if they come illegally. I don't know if I presented the compromise clearly or if I should add to the compromise or not.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Rogerian Argument Rough Draft 3.1
Rebecca Moran
Professor Henderson
Academic Writing
30 March 2011
Should America Keep Allowing Illegal Mexican Immigrants into the US?
Mexico and the United States have had a long history together in terms of economics, politics, and social interactions. This should be no surprise since Mexico shares a 2000 mile border with the US. Immigration is currently the most conflict-ridden issue in the U.S.-Mexican relationship. Many illegal Mexican immigrants come to America in search for a better life for them and their families. Some argue that the Mexican immigrants are in search for the “American Dream”, which a Yale graduate American writer and historian, James Truslow Adams brilliantly defined in his book, The Epic of America, as: “life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement". One may claim that illegal Mexican immigrants are in search for an answer to their prayers to break the bonds of poverty and to improve the lives of their loved ones.
For many generations, Mexicans have illegally crossed the border into the United States due to its close proximity and the undeniable difference of the quality of life between the two countries. The growth of the Mexican population in the U.S. has been exponential in recent years. In 1970, about 800,000 Mexican citizens lived in the United States. Thirty-plus years later, there are ten million, about half in undocumented status. The surge in the 1990’s, was particularly astonishing, increasing by an estimated 300-400,000 per year (Davidow par 10).
The drastic increase in number of Mexican immigrants to the US in the early 1990’s was due to the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994, or NAFTA. NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. Mexico received a large increase in foreign investment due to the promising vision of NAFTA. However, after the assassination of the Mexican presidential candidate, Luis Donalso Colosio, there were signs that Mexico’s economy was not as profoundly strong as it had once appeared (Villarreal 3). By December 1994, there was a desperate plunge in Mexico’s currency to about 50% (Villarreal 4). This dismal plunge sent Mexico into a terrible succession.
Mexico’s economic succession of 1994 has led to a great increase in its poverty levels. In 2008, the extreme poverty rate was 18% and those living in moderate poverty were at a shocking 47% (Villarreal 5). The Mexican government defines extreme poverty as those living on less than $1.50 a day in rural areas and less $2.00 a day in urban areas. Moderate poverty is defined as living on less than $2.70 a day in rural areas and $4.00 a day in urban areas (Villarreal 6). With these facts and statistics it is no wonder why so many Mexicans want to come to the US.
Many individuals come from poverty-stricken towns in Mexico and come to the US with the desire to create a better life. In the scholarly journal, “It is the Only Way I Can Survive” by Phyllis L. Baker, she interviewed an illegal Mexican immigrant, Amelia, and Amelia stated, “I know that I’m doing something wrong, that it’s illegal with the government, but it is the only way that I can survive here. I have to work and take care of my children” (Baker 393). The pressure of being a good parent and providing a better life for their children is a weight that almost every parent bears. They are looking to survive in this harsh world.
Even though there are illegal immigrants who come to the US with cordial intentions, one should not overlook the risks that the illegal Mexican immigrants place upon the lives of American citizens. Illegal immigrants, unlike those who are legally admitted for permanent residence, do not undergo medical screening to assure that they are not carrying contagious diseases (FAIR par 2). According to Dr. Laurence Nickey, director of the El Paso heath district:
“Contagious diseases that are generally considered to have been controlled in the United States are readily evident along the border ... The incidence of tuberculosis in El Paso County is twice that of the U.S. rate. Leprosy is readily evident along the U.S.-Mexico border and that dysentery is several times the U.S. rate ... People have come to the border for economic opportunities, but the necessary sewage treatment facilities, public water systems, environmental enforcement, and medical care have not been made available to them, causing a severe risk to health and well-being of people on both sides of the border” (FAIR par 3).
Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report titled "Trends in Tuberculosis Incidence - United States" stating that the number of tuberculosis cases among foreign-born persons in the US increased in 2006, and approximately half came from five countries, and Mexico was the leader with 1,912 reported cases (FAIR par 4). Tuberculosis is a contagious disease caused by mycobacteria, which can spread through the air. Tuberculosis can often lead to death. Immigrants who come to the US unchecked are placing Americans at a great risk of very harmful diseases, such as Tuberculosis. When they do not abide by the law and come to the US legally, they risk the lives of American citizens.
The US is a nation that was built upon laws, and the laws are put into place for the well-being of its citizens. When the illegal Mexican immigrants enter the US unchecked, then police and government officials have no way of keeping track of them, and this can be very dangerous for the well-being of Americans. There have been many cases where illegal Mexican immigrants who have come to the US and committed serious crimes. For example, the rape and murder of a 15 year old American girl from Texas named Dani Countryman was traced back to 2 illegal Mexican immigrants, Alejandro Emeterio Rivera Gamboa and Gilberto Javier Arellano Gamboa (Illegal par 1,2). William Gheen from Americans for Legal Immigration Political Action Committee, or ALIPAC, stated:
"Dani Countryman is dead because our government failed to secure our borders and enforce our existing immigration laws. The suspects in this case were shown, by our state and federal governments, that they could break many American laws without any serious penalties. It is no wonder that many illegal aliens escalate their crimes into the realms of rape and murder. How many more Americans must suffer or die before our nation takes action" (Illegal par 4)?
This crime was very serious and could have been prevented. Imagine if your daughter, sister, friend, or cousin was raped and murdered by two illegal immigrant men. You would go through great lengths to make sure something as tragic as this would never happen again. You would make sure that no man or woman got into America illegally, so crimes as foul as rape and murder are prevented.
The idea of the American Dream is rooted in pursuit of happiness by abiding by the law of the Constitution. America was built on the idea of assimilation and integration of various cultures. Americans want foreign people to come here and be a part of the American tradition, as long as it is done through legal means. The legality of immigration is very important to the health and safety of the American people. Mexicans are crossing the border everyday illegally, some come with good intentions to create a better life for their families, but some Mexicans do bring deadly disease and serious crime into the US. The US should do a better job at patrolling the boarders and making sure that no one enters with potential health problems or any criminal background. Mexicans should try to come to America legally and want to become an American citizen and assimilate into this great “melting pot”, where people from everywhere around the world, with different cultures, customs, and backgrounds come and consider themselves one nation under that star-spangled banner.
Works Cited
Baker, Phyllis L.. ""It's the Only Way I Can Survive": Gender Paradox Among Recent Mexicana Immigrants to Iowa." University of California Press 47.4 (2004): 393. Print.
Davidow, Ambassador Jeffrey. "Immigration, the United States and Mexico." Mexico news and opinion. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2011.
"FAIR: Illegal Immigration and Public Health." FAIR: Federation for American Immigration Reform. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2011.
"Illegal Aliens with Prior Charges Murder 15 year old Texas Girl." Public Records Research and Title Abstracting. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2011.
Villarreal, M. Angeles . "NAFTA and the Mexican Economy." Congressional Research Service 1 (2010): 3-6. Print.
Professor Henderson
Academic Writing
30 March 2011
Should America Keep Allowing Illegal Mexican Immigrants into the US?
Mexico and the United States have had a long history together in terms of economics, politics, and social interactions. This should be no surprise since Mexico shares a 2000 mile border with the US. Immigration is currently the most conflict-ridden issue in the U.S.-Mexican relationship. Many illegal Mexican immigrants come to America in search for a better life for them and their families. Some argue that the Mexican immigrants are in search for the “American Dream”, which a Yale graduate American writer and historian, James Truslow Adams brilliantly defined in his book, The Epic of America, as: “life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement". One may claim that illegal Mexican immigrants are in search for an answer to their prayers to break the bonds of poverty and to improve the lives of their loved ones.
For many generations, Mexicans have illegally crossed the border into the United States due to its close proximity and the undeniable difference of the quality of life between the two countries. The growth of the Mexican population in the U.S. has been exponential in recent years. In 1970, about 800,000 Mexican citizens lived in the United States. Thirty-plus years later, there are ten million, about half in undocumented status. The surge in the 1990’s, was particularly astonishing, increasing by an estimated 300-400,000 per year (Davidow par 10).
The drastic increase in number of Mexican immigrants to the US in the early 1990’s was due to the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994, or NAFTA. NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. Mexico received a large increase in foreign investment due to the promising vision of NAFTA. However, after the assassination of the Mexican presidential candidate, Luis Donalso Colosio, there were signs that Mexico’s economy was not as profoundly strong as it had once appeared (Villarreal 3). By December 1994, there was a desperate plunge in Mexico’s currency to about 50% (Villarreal 4). This dismal plunge sent Mexico into a terrible succession.
Mexico’s economic succession of 1994 has led to a great increase in its poverty levels. In 2008, the extreme poverty rate was 18% and those living in moderate poverty were at a shocking 47% (Villarreal 5). The Mexican government defines extreme poverty as those living on less than $1.50 a day in rural areas and less $2.00 a day in urban areas. Moderate poverty is defined as living on less than $2.70 a day in rural areas and $4.00 a day in urban areas (Villarreal 6). With these facts and statistics it is no wonder why so many Mexicans want to come to the US.
Many individuals come from poverty-stricken towns in Mexico and come to the US with the desire to create a better life. In the scholarly journal, “It is the Only Way I Can Survive” by Phyllis L. Baker, she interviewed an illegal Mexican immigrant, Amelia, and Amelia stated, “I know that I’m doing something wrong, that it’s illegal with the government, but it is the only way that I can survive here. I have to work and take care of my children” (Baker 393). The pressure of being a good parent and providing a better life for their children is a weight that almost every parent bears. They are looking to survive in this harsh world.
Even though there are illegal immigrants who come to the US with cordial intentions, one should not overlook the risks that the illegal Mexican immigrants place upon the lives of American citizens. Illegal immigrants, unlike those who are legally admitted for permanent residence, do not undergo medical screening to assure that they are not carrying contagious diseases (FAIR par 2). According to Dr. Laurence Nickey, director of the El Paso heath district:
“Contagious diseases that are generally considered to have been controlled in the United States are readily evident along the border ... The incidence of tuberculosis in El Paso County is twice that of the U.S. rate. Leprosy is readily evident along the U.S.-Mexico border and that dysentery is several times the U.S. rate ... People have come to the border for economic opportunities, but the necessary sewage treatment facilities, public water systems, environmental enforcement, and medical care have not been made available to them, causing a severe risk to health and well-being of people on both sides of the border” (FAIR par 3).
Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report titled "Trends in Tuberculosis Incidence - United States" stating that the number of tuberculosis cases among foreign-born persons in the US increased in 2006, and approximately half came from five countries, and Mexico was the leader with 1,912 reported cases (FAIR par 4). Tuberculosis is a contagious disease caused by mycobacteria, which can spread through the air. Tuberculosis can often lead to death. Immigrants who come to the US unchecked are placing Americans at a great risk of very harmful diseases, such as Tuberculosis. When they do not abide by the law and come to the US legally, they risk the lives of American citizens.
The US is a nation that was built upon laws, and the laws are put into place for the well-being of its citizens. When the illegal Mexican immigrants enter the US unchecked, then police and government officials have no way of keeping track of them, and this can be very dangerous for the well-being of Americans. There have been many cases where illegal Mexican immigrants who have come to the US and committed serious crimes. For example, the rape and murder of a 15 year old American girl from Texas named Dani Countryman was traced back to 2 illegal Mexican immigrants, Alejandro Emeterio Rivera Gamboa and Gilberto Javier Arellano Gamboa (Illegal par 1,2). William Gheen from Americans for Legal Immigration Political Action Committee, or ALIPAC, stated:
"Dani Countryman is dead because our government failed to secure our borders and enforce our existing immigration laws. The suspects in this case were shown, by our state and federal governments, that they could break many American laws without any serious penalties. It is no wonder that many illegal aliens escalate their crimes into the realms of rape and murder. How many more Americans must suffer or die before our nation takes action" (Illegal par 4)?
This crime was very serious and could have been prevented. Imagine if your daughter, sister, friend, or cousin was raped and murdered by two illegal immigrant men. You would go through great lengths to make sure something as tragic as this would never happen again. You would make sure that no man or woman got into America illegally, so crimes as foul as rape and murder are prevented.
The idea of the American Dream is rooted in pursuit of happiness by abiding by the law of the Constitution. America was built on the idea of assimilation and integration of various cultures. Americans want foreign people to come here and be a part of the American tradition, as long as it is done through legal means. The legality of immigration is very important to the health and safety of the American people. Mexicans are crossing the border everyday illegally, some come with good intentions to create a better life for their families, but some Mexicans do bring deadly disease and serious crime into the US. The US should do a better job at patrolling the boarders and making sure that no one enters with potential health problems or any criminal background. Mexicans should try to come to America legally and want to become an American citizen and assimilate into this great “melting pot”, where people from everywhere around the world, with different cultures, customs, and backgrounds come and consider themselves one nation under that star-spangled banner.
Works Cited
Baker, Phyllis L.. ""It's the Only Way I Can Survive": Gender Paradox Among Recent Mexicana Immigrants to Iowa." University of California Press 47.4 (2004): 393. Print.
Davidow, Ambassador Jeffrey. "Immigration, the United States and Mexico." Mexico news and opinion. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2011.
"FAIR: Illegal Immigration and Public Health." FAIR: Federation for American Immigration Reform. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2011.
"Illegal Aliens with Prior Charges Murder 15 year old Texas Girl." Public Records Research and Title Abstracting. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2011.
Villarreal, M. Angeles . "NAFTA and the Mexican Economy." Congressional Research Service 1 (2010): 3-6. Print.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Reflection 2.2
I was very pleased with my final product of my paper. I was able to incorporate a scholarly source well. I added more reliable sources to my paper, which I believe made it a lot stronger and more persuasive. I was very pleased with my classmates comments on the paper and I made some changes to my paper and it made my paper flow nicely. An important aspect that I added to the paper were transition sentences. Once I added these, I was able to see what a difference they made and how much better the paper sounded. I liked getting my paper work shopped. The comments made me see my strengths and improve on some weaknesses.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Prewriting for Essay 3
I am not completely sure what I want to write about yet. I am thinking about writing about illegal Mexicans in the US. I could include information on the AZ bill. I might like to start off nicely and state some stories or claims of those who think that illegal Mexicans should be able to stay in the US, and then ease my way into the bad effects it has on the US and then state my delayed claim.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Rebuttal 2.2
Rebecca Moran
Professor Henderson
Academic Writing
2 March 2011
Censorship of the American Classic, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Is
Absolutely Not the Answer
Should any person change Michelangelo’s painting in the Sistine Chapel, or Rodin’s world famous sculpture, The Thinking Man, or even Leonardo Divinci’s masterpiece, The Mona Lisa? The answer would be absolutely not. The censorship of the American classic novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, is comparable and is completely wrong. This American classic should be considered a work of art that should never be altered, but the argument of its censorship is a hot topic of debate today. The Lufkin Daily News published an editorial on January 6, 2011 titled: “Huck Fin: Censorship? Sure, it is, but Changes to ‘Huckleberry Finn’ Are Warranted. In this editorial, the authors claim that the word “nigger” should be replaced with the word “slave”, so that younger children are able to read it. The Lufkin Daily News is correct that the language in this novel is not appropriate for younger children, but the book was not written for that particular audience. Mark Twain is an amazing and gifted author who is able to take the reader on a journey back in time and see the reality of the American culture in the 1800s. By altering Twain’s writing, one would be robbing the reader of a potentially life-changing experience.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain was published in 1884, only 19 years after the Civil War ended (Twain par.4). Since the novel’s publication the novel is one of the most frequently read pieces of literature in America, second in frequency to Shakespeare (Carey-Webb 22). It is the most taught book and is required in 70% of public high schools. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is considered to be a “staple form junior high to graduate school” (Carey-Webb 22). This novel is a key source of American literature, but even at the beginning of the novel’s publication, it stirred up much controversy. A month after its publication many libraries banned the book, calling it "tawdry" and its narrative voice "coarse" and "ignorant" (Twain par. 4). In the 1950s, the novel had strong criticism due to its racial content. In Arizona in 1988, a parent sued her school district, claiming: “that making Twain's novel required high school reading made already existing racial tensions even worse” (Twain par. 4) . Even through all this fiery debate, the novel has remained unchanged, and for good reason. There are many who realize the importance and significance of the novel’s content. Twain was not writing in a disrespectful way by any means, but rather he was displaying the cruel cold reality of America back in the days of slavery. Twain was able to display most perfectly the intolerance, injustice, suppression, and the ignorance that was demonstrated by many white people against people of color. It is through his descriptions that the reader is able to get a taste of the harsh reality during this troubled time period. By eliminating word ”nigger”, which in retrospect was used quite often, the reader does not get the full experience Twain was trying convey to his audience.
Since The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn depicted most vividly the grim life of a slave, it was not previously or presently intended for a young audience. The authors of the Lufkin Daily News editorial stated: “The Twain books are too important to be shelved, which is what’s happening. The new versions, for those readers who prefer them, or for lower level grades in our schools, are appropriate” (Huck par.3). This statement does not acknowledge that the Mark Twain’s audience includes adults who are able to understand and interpret Twain’s message in an appropriate fashion. The books are only being shelved from those who are not fit to read it, but older children and adults continue to read the American classic. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is inarguably an advanced text. How many children are actually reading and fully understanding the content of Mark Twain novels? This literary masterpiece was not written with the intent of young children reading it. Upon the novel’s first publication, a librarian wrote to Mark Twain asking him to defend his books. Twain responded to her with confidence:
"I am greatly troubled by what you say. I wrote 'Tom Sawyer' & 'Huck Finn' for adults exclusively, & it always distressed me when I find that boys and girls have been allowed access to them. The mind that becomes soiled in youth can never again be washed clean. I know this by my own experience, and to this day I cherish an unappeased bitterness against the unfaithful guardians of my young life, who not only permitted but compelled me to read an unexpurgated Bible through before I was 15 years old. None can do that and ever draw a clean sweet breath again on this side of the grave” (Paine 813).
Twain states clearly that he did not write this story for children and did not have any intent of “soiling” the minds of children. He wrote this novel for the adult audience; if Twain wished for children to read the novel then he would have made the text much simpler with less vulgar language. It is not the right of others to change Twain’s words in his story.
Although The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was not written for children, it can still be considered a very important source of knowledge for young adults today. The book should not be censored to older students who are able to discuss it in a sophisticated, understanding, and respectful way. Marcus Tullius Cicero, a well-respected Roman writer, speaker, philosopher and politician (106-43BC), once brilliantly stated, “Not to know what happened before you were born is to remain forever a child” (Thorp par.4). Here, Cicero meant that if one does not learn from the past then they are considered to be ignorant, just like a child. By censoring The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, we are depriving young adults of a very valuable lesson. We must allow them to read this book and allow them to get swept off into a world full of ignorance and injustice. It is when the reader is able to feel these emotions that they are able to learn from the failures of America’s past and strive for a brighter future. Through this novel, they learn that the language and treatment of the people of color was undeniably wrong. By observing the wrongs of past American society, people can learn how to make things right here and now and in the future.
This novel has played a key role in teaching our American society about its past social injustices. The Lufkin Daily News distressfully stated: "The problem with keeping the text of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer intact in schools, instead of banning the book because that creates an outrage of its own are simply not assigning it to students anymore. And that's a shame” (Huck par.2). If we have children read it when they are younger with or without the word “nigger”, it would be a waste of time. The thrill in reading this American classic is the exposure of the dark chapters of America during the time of slavery. If the novel is censored, then it would take Twain’s intended experience away and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn would just be another book lost in history. And that would be the ultimate shame.
Works Cited
Carey-Webb, Allen. "Racism and "Huckleberry Finn": Censorship, Dialogue, and Change." The
English Journal 82 (1993): 22. Print.
"Huck Finn: Censorship? Sure, it is, but changes to 'Huckleberry Finn' are warrented." Lufkin
Daily News 6 Jan. 2011: Print.
Paine, Albert Bigelow. Mark Twain, a Biography the Personal and Literary Life of Samuel Langhorne
Clemen,. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1912. Print.
Thorp, Katie. "Censorship of a classic promotes revisionist history." The Smith College Sophian
10 Mar. 2011: Print.
"Twain Publishes The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn — History.com This Day in History —
2/18/1885." History.com — History Made Every Day — American & World History. 18
Feb. 2011. Web. 28 Feb. 2011.
Professor Henderson
Academic Writing
2 March 2011
Censorship of the American Classic, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Is
Absolutely Not the Answer
Should any person change Michelangelo’s painting in the Sistine Chapel, or Rodin’s world famous sculpture, The Thinking Man, or even Leonardo Divinci’s masterpiece, The Mona Lisa? The answer would be absolutely not. The censorship of the American classic novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, is comparable and is completely wrong. This American classic should be considered a work of art that should never be altered, but the argument of its censorship is a hot topic of debate today. The Lufkin Daily News published an editorial on January 6, 2011 titled: “Huck Fin: Censorship? Sure, it is, but Changes to ‘Huckleberry Finn’ Are Warranted. In this editorial, the authors claim that the word “nigger” should be replaced with the word “slave”, so that younger children are able to read it. The Lufkin Daily News is correct that the language in this novel is not appropriate for younger children, but the book was not written for that particular audience. Mark Twain is an amazing and gifted author who is able to take the reader on a journey back in time and see the reality of the American culture in the 1800s. By altering Twain’s writing, one would be robbing the reader of a potentially life-changing experience.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain was published in 1884, only 19 years after the Civil War ended (Twain par.4). Since the novel’s publication the novel is one of the most frequently read pieces of literature in America, second in frequency to Shakespeare (Carey-Webb 22). It is the most taught book and is required in 70% of public high schools. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is considered to be a “staple form junior high to graduate school” (Carey-Webb 22). This novel is a key source of American literature, but even at the beginning of the novel’s publication, it stirred up much controversy. A month after its publication many libraries banned the book, calling it "tawdry" and its narrative voice "coarse" and "ignorant" (Twain par. 4). In the 1950s, the novel had strong criticism due to its racial content. In Arizona in 1988, a parent sued her school district, claiming: “that making Twain's novel required high school reading made already existing racial tensions even worse” (Twain par. 4) . Even through all this fiery debate, the novel has remained unchanged, and for good reason. There are many who realize the importance and significance of the novel’s content. Twain was not writing in a disrespectful way by any means, but rather he was displaying the cruel cold reality of America back in the days of slavery. Twain was able to display most perfectly the intolerance, injustice, suppression, and the ignorance that was demonstrated by many white people against people of color. It is through his descriptions that the reader is able to get a taste of the harsh reality during this troubled time period. By eliminating word ”nigger”, which in retrospect was used quite often, the reader does not get the full experience Twain was trying convey to his audience.
Since The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn depicted most vividly the grim life of a slave, it was not previously or presently intended for a young audience. The authors of the Lufkin Daily News editorial stated: “The Twain books are too important to be shelved, which is what’s happening. The new versions, for those readers who prefer them, or for lower level grades in our schools, are appropriate” (Huck par.3). This statement does not acknowledge that the Mark Twain’s audience includes adults who are able to understand and interpret Twain’s message in an appropriate fashion. The books are only being shelved from those who are not fit to read it, but older children and adults continue to read the American classic. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is inarguably an advanced text. How many children are actually reading and fully understanding the content of Mark Twain novels? This literary masterpiece was not written with the intent of young children reading it. Upon the novel’s first publication, a librarian wrote to Mark Twain asking him to defend his books. Twain responded to her with confidence:
"I am greatly troubled by what you say. I wrote 'Tom Sawyer' & 'Huck Finn' for adults exclusively, & it always distressed me when I find that boys and girls have been allowed access to them. The mind that becomes soiled in youth can never again be washed clean. I know this by my own experience, and to this day I cherish an unappeased bitterness against the unfaithful guardians of my young life, who not only permitted but compelled me to read an unexpurgated Bible through before I was 15 years old. None can do that and ever draw a clean sweet breath again on this side of the grave” (Paine 813).
Twain states clearly that he did not write this story for children and did not have any intent of “soiling” the minds of children. He wrote this novel for the adult audience; if Twain wished for children to read the novel then he would have made the text much simpler with less vulgar language. It is not the right of others to change Twain’s words in his story.
Although The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was not written for children, it can still be considered a very important source of knowledge for young adults today. The book should not be censored to older students who are able to discuss it in a sophisticated, understanding, and respectful way. Marcus Tullius Cicero, a well-respected Roman writer, speaker, philosopher and politician (106-43BC), once brilliantly stated, “Not to know what happened before you were born is to remain forever a child” (Thorp par.4). Here, Cicero meant that if one does not learn from the past then they are considered to be ignorant, just like a child. By censoring The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, we are depriving young adults of a very valuable lesson. We must allow them to read this book and allow them to get swept off into a world full of ignorance and injustice. It is when the reader is able to feel these emotions that they are able to learn from the failures of America’s past and strive for a brighter future. Through this novel, they learn that the language and treatment of the people of color was undeniably wrong. By observing the wrongs of past American society, people can learn how to make things right here and now and in the future.
This novel has played a key role in teaching our American society about its past social injustices. The Lufkin Daily News distressfully stated: "The problem with keeping the text of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer intact in schools, instead of banning the book because that creates an outrage of its own are simply not assigning it to students anymore. And that's a shame” (Huck par.2). If we have children read it when they are younger with or without the word “nigger”, it would be a waste of time. The thrill in reading this American classic is the exposure of the dark chapters of America during the time of slavery. If the novel is censored, then it would take Twain’s intended experience away and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn would just be another book lost in history. And that would be the ultimate shame.
Works Cited
Carey-Webb, Allen. "Racism and "Huckleberry Finn": Censorship, Dialogue, and Change." The
English Journal 82 (1993): 22. Print.
"Huck Finn: Censorship? Sure, it is, but changes to 'Huckleberry Finn' are warrented." Lufkin
Daily News 6 Jan. 2011: Print.
Paine, Albert Bigelow. Mark Twain, a Biography the Personal and Literary Life of Samuel Langhorne
Clemen,. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1912. Print.
Thorp, Katie. "Censorship of a classic promotes revisionist history." The Smith College Sophian
10 Mar. 2011: Print.
"Twain Publishes The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn — History.com This Day in History —
2/18/1885." History.com — History Made Every Day — American & World History. 18
Feb. 2011. Web. 28 Feb. 2011.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Reflection 2.1
The research was very difficult for this paper. I have some good quotes from people that I found on the web that worked well in my paper, but I didn't not find much more than that on the computer. I hope to find a good source, such as a book from the library, that I can use that will provide strong evidence. Most of my paper is my own words, but I may need more supporting sources that back up my claim. I believe I took a firm stance and the reader will clearly recognize my opinion on the subject matter and hopefully I will be able to sway their opinion with the points I make in my paper
Rebuttle Rough Draft
Rebecca Moran
Professor Henderson
Academic Writing
2 March 2011
Censorship of the American Classic, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Is Absolutely Not the Answer
Should any person change Michelangelo’s painting in the Sisitine chapel, or Rodin’s world famous sculpture, The Thinking Man, or even Leonardo Divinci’s masterpiece, The Mona Lisa? The answer would be absolutely not. The censorship of the great American classic novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, is comparable and is completely wrong. This great American classic should be considered a work of art that should never be altered. The argument of censorship of Huckleberry fin is a hot topic of debate today. The Lufkin Daily News published an editorial on January 6, 2011 titled: “Huck Fin: Censorship? Sure, it is, but Changes to ‘Huckleberry Finn’ Are Warranted. In this editorial, the authors claim that the word “nigger” should be replaced with the word “slave”. The editor’s purpose is to gain support for the censorship of this book instead of banning it, so that younger children are able to read it. The Lufkin Daily News is correct that the language in this novel is not appropriate for younger children, but it should not be banned to older students who would be able to discuss it in a sophisticated, understanding, and respectful way. Mark Twain is an amazing and gifted author who is able to take the reader on a journey back in time and see the reality of the American culture in the 1800s. It is through his use of certain words and descriptions, that the reader is able to get a taste of the harsh reality during this troubled time period. By altering Twain’s writing, one would be robbing the reader of a potentially life-changing experience.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Fin by Mark Twain was published in 1884, only 19 years after the Civil War ended. Even at the beginning of the novel’s publication, it stirred up much controversy. A month after its publication many libraries banned the book, calling it "tawdry" and its narrative voice "coarse" and "ignorant." In the 1950s, the novel had strong criticism due to its racial content. In Arizona in 1988, a parent sued her school district, claiming: “that making Twain's novel required high school reading made already existing racial tensions even worse” (History 4) . Even through all this fiery debate, the novel has remained unchanged, and for good reason. There are many who realize the importance and significance of the novel’s content. Twain was not writing in a disrespectful way by any means, but rather he was displaying the cruel cold reality of America back in the days of slavery. Twain was able to display most perfectly the intolerance, injustice, suppression, and the ignorance that was demonstrated by many white people against people of color. By eliminating the N-word, which in retrospective was used quite often, the reader does not get the full experience Twain was trying convey to his audience.
The authors of the Lufkin editorial stated: “Twain books are too important to be shelved, which is what’s happening. The new versions, for those readers who prefer them, or for lower level grades in our schools, are appropriate” (Lufkin Daily News 3). This statement does not acknowledge that the Mark Twain’s audience includes adults who are able to understand and interpret Twain’s message in an appropriate fashion. The books are only being shelved from those who are not fit to read it, but older children and adults continue to read the American classic. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is inarguably an advanced text. How many children are actually reading and fully understanding the content of Mark Twain novels? This literary masterpiece was not written with the intent of young children reading it. Upon the novel’s first publication, a librarian wrote to Mark Twain asking him to defend his books. Twain stated with confidence:
"I am greatly troubled by what you say. I wrote 'Tom Sawyer' & 'Huck Finn' for adults exclusively, & it always distressed me when I find that boys and girls have been allowed access to them. The mind that becomes soiled in youth can never again be washed clean. I know this by my own experience, and to this day I cherish an unappeased bitterness against the unfaithful guardians of my young life, who not only permitted but compelled me to read an unexpurgated Bible through before I was 15 years old. None can do that and ever draw a clean sweet breath again on this side of the grave” (able2know.org).
Twain states clearly that he did not write this story for children and did not have any intent of “soiling” the minds of children. He wrote this novel for the adult audience; if Twain wished for children to read the novel then he would have made the text much simpler with less vulgar language. It is not the right of others to change Twain’s words in his story.
Marcus Tullius Cicero, a well-respected Roman writer, speaker, philosopher and politician (106-43BC), once brilliantly stated, “Not to know what happened before you were born is to remain forever a child” (Cicero Quotes 6). Here, Cicero meant that if one does not learn from the past then they are considered to be ignorant, just like a child. By banning the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, we are depriving young adults of a very valuable lesson. We must allow them to read this book and allow them to get swept off into a world full of ignorance, hatred, and injustice. It is when the reader is able to feel these emotions; they are able to learn from the failures of America’s past and strive for a brighter future. Through this novel, they learn that the language and treatment of the people of color was undeniably wrong. By observing the wrongs of past American society, people can learn how to make things right here and now and in the future.
The Lufkin Daily News distressfully stated: "The problem with keeping the text of Huck Fin and Tom Sawyer intact in schools, instead of banning the book-because that creates an outrage of its own-are simply not assigning it to students anymore. And that's a shame” (Lufkin Daily News). If we have children read it when they are younger with or without the N-word, it would be a waste of time. The thrill in reading this American classic is the exposure of the dark chapters of America during the time of slavery. It is through this experience that the novel has survived and is considered to be an American classic. If the novel is banned from all schools or censored, then it would take Twain’s intended experience away and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn would just be another book lost in history. And that would be the ultimate shame.
Works Cited
"When Censorship Goes Monkey-Fighting Bad...." Ask an Expert at Able2know - Ask Questions, Share Answers. 5 Jan. 2011. Web. 28 Feb. 2011.
"Twain Publishes The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn — History.com This Day in History — 2/18/1885." History.com — History Made Every Day — American & World History. 18 Feb. 2011. Web. 28 Feb. 2011.
"Marcus Tullius Cicero Quotes." Share Book Recommendations With Your Friends, Join Book Clubs, Answer Trivia. Web. 28 Feb. 2011.
Professor Henderson
Academic Writing
2 March 2011
Censorship of the American Classic, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Is Absolutely Not the Answer
Should any person change Michelangelo’s painting in the Sisitine chapel, or Rodin’s world famous sculpture, The Thinking Man, or even Leonardo Divinci’s masterpiece, The Mona Lisa? The answer would be absolutely not. The censorship of the great American classic novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, is comparable and is completely wrong. This great American classic should be considered a work of art that should never be altered. The argument of censorship of Huckleberry fin is a hot topic of debate today. The Lufkin Daily News published an editorial on January 6, 2011 titled: “Huck Fin: Censorship? Sure, it is, but Changes to ‘Huckleberry Finn’ Are Warranted. In this editorial, the authors claim that the word “nigger” should be replaced with the word “slave”. The editor’s purpose is to gain support for the censorship of this book instead of banning it, so that younger children are able to read it. The Lufkin Daily News is correct that the language in this novel is not appropriate for younger children, but it should not be banned to older students who would be able to discuss it in a sophisticated, understanding, and respectful way. Mark Twain is an amazing and gifted author who is able to take the reader on a journey back in time and see the reality of the American culture in the 1800s. It is through his use of certain words and descriptions, that the reader is able to get a taste of the harsh reality during this troubled time period. By altering Twain’s writing, one would be robbing the reader of a potentially life-changing experience.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Fin by Mark Twain was published in 1884, only 19 years after the Civil War ended. Even at the beginning of the novel’s publication, it stirred up much controversy. A month after its publication many libraries banned the book, calling it "tawdry" and its narrative voice "coarse" and "ignorant." In the 1950s, the novel had strong criticism due to its racial content. In Arizona in 1988, a parent sued her school district, claiming: “that making Twain's novel required high school reading made already existing racial tensions even worse” (History 4) . Even through all this fiery debate, the novel has remained unchanged, and for good reason. There are many who realize the importance and significance of the novel’s content. Twain was not writing in a disrespectful way by any means, but rather he was displaying the cruel cold reality of America back in the days of slavery. Twain was able to display most perfectly the intolerance, injustice, suppression, and the ignorance that was demonstrated by many white people against people of color. By eliminating the N-word, which in retrospective was used quite often, the reader does not get the full experience Twain was trying convey to his audience.
The authors of the Lufkin editorial stated: “Twain books are too important to be shelved, which is what’s happening. The new versions, for those readers who prefer them, or for lower level grades in our schools, are appropriate” (Lufkin Daily News 3). This statement does not acknowledge that the Mark Twain’s audience includes adults who are able to understand and interpret Twain’s message in an appropriate fashion. The books are only being shelved from those who are not fit to read it, but older children and adults continue to read the American classic. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is inarguably an advanced text. How many children are actually reading and fully understanding the content of Mark Twain novels? This literary masterpiece was not written with the intent of young children reading it. Upon the novel’s first publication, a librarian wrote to Mark Twain asking him to defend his books. Twain stated with confidence:
"I am greatly troubled by what you say. I wrote 'Tom Sawyer' & 'Huck Finn' for adults exclusively, & it always distressed me when I find that boys and girls have been allowed access to them. The mind that becomes soiled in youth can never again be washed clean. I know this by my own experience, and to this day I cherish an unappeased bitterness against the unfaithful guardians of my young life, who not only permitted but compelled me to read an unexpurgated Bible through before I was 15 years old. None can do that and ever draw a clean sweet breath again on this side of the grave” (able2know.org).
Twain states clearly that he did not write this story for children and did not have any intent of “soiling” the minds of children. He wrote this novel for the adult audience; if Twain wished for children to read the novel then he would have made the text much simpler with less vulgar language. It is not the right of others to change Twain’s words in his story.
Marcus Tullius Cicero, a well-respected Roman writer, speaker, philosopher and politician (106-43BC), once brilliantly stated, “Not to know what happened before you were born is to remain forever a child” (Cicero Quotes 6). Here, Cicero meant that if one does not learn from the past then they are considered to be ignorant, just like a child. By banning the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, we are depriving young adults of a very valuable lesson. We must allow them to read this book and allow them to get swept off into a world full of ignorance, hatred, and injustice. It is when the reader is able to feel these emotions; they are able to learn from the failures of America’s past and strive for a brighter future. Through this novel, they learn that the language and treatment of the people of color was undeniably wrong. By observing the wrongs of past American society, people can learn how to make things right here and now and in the future.
The Lufkin Daily News distressfully stated: "The problem with keeping the text of Huck Fin and Tom Sawyer intact in schools, instead of banning the book-because that creates an outrage of its own-are simply not assigning it to students anymore. And that's a shame” (Lufkin Daily News). If we have children read it when they are younger with or without the N-word, it would be a waste of time. The thrill in reading this American classic is the exposure of the dark chapters of America during the time of slavery. It is through this experience that the novel has survived and is considered to be an American classic. If the novel is banned from all schools or censored, then it would take Twain’s intended experience away and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn would just be another book lost in history. And that would be the ultimate shame.
Works Cited
"When Censorship Goes Monkey-Fighting Bad...." Ask an Expert at Able2know - Ask Questions, Share Answers. 5 Jan. 2011. Web. 28 Feb. 2011.
"Twain Publishes The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn — History.com This Day in History — 2/18/1885." History.com — History Made Every Day — American & World History. 18 Feb. 2011. Web. 28 Feb. 2011.
"Marcus Tullius Cicero Quotes." Share Book Recommendations With Your Friends, Join Book Clubs, Answer Trivia. Web. 28 Feb. 2011.
Monday, February 28, 2011
More notes for rubuttle paper
Cicero said "not to know what happened before you were born is to remain forever a child."
If we don't teach our children the dark chapters of American history, they will only know of a past colored by revisionist thinking. We mature through experience but also - and critically - memory. It is tempting to want to erase the history of slavery from America's past and the "n" word from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but doing so will not help us move forward by learning the past.
http://media.www.smithsophian.com/media/storage/paper587/news/2011/02/17/Opinions/Censorship.Of.A.Classic.Promotes.Revisionist.History-3977993.shtml
Twain responded: "I am greatly troubled by what you say. I wrote 'Tom Sawyer' & 'Huck Finn' for adults exclusively, & it always distressed me when I find that boys and girls have been allowed access to them. The mind that becomes soiled in youth can never again be washed clean. I know this by my own experience, & to this day I cherish an unappeased bitterness against the unfaithful guardians of my young life, who not only permitted but compelled me to read an unexpurgated Bible through before I was 15 years old. None can do that and ever draw a clean sweet breath again on this side of the grave."
http://able2know.org/topic/163570-1
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/twain-publishes-the-adventures-of-huckleberry-finn (history of it)
Huckleberry Finn -- T. S. Eliot says:
"It is Huck who gives the book style. The River gives the book its form. But for the River, the book might be only a sequence of adventures with a happy ending. A river, a very big and powerful river, is the only natural force that can wholly determine the course of human peregrination.... Thus the River makes the book a great book... Mark Twain is a native, and the River God is his God."
Huckleberry Finn -- F. Scott Fitzgerald (1935) says:
"Huckleberry Finn took the first journey back. He was the first to look back at the republic from the perspective of the west. His eyes were the first eyes that ever looked at us objectively that were not eyes from overseas. There were mountains at the frontier but he wanted more than mountains to look at with his restive eyes--he wanted to find out about men and how they lived together. And because he turned back we have him forever."
Huckleberry Finn -- Ernest Hemingway says:
"The good writers are Henry James, Stephen Crane, and Mark Twain. That's not the order they're good in. There is no order for good writers.... All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called 'Huckleberry Finn.' If you read it you must stop where the Nigger Jim is stolen from the boys. That is the real end. The rest is just cheating. But it's the best book we've had. All American writing comes from that. There was nothing before. There has been nothing as good since." -- from Ernest Hemingway, "The Green Hills of Africa" (1934) http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/45645-upcoming-newsouth-huck-finn-eliminates-the-n-word.html AUTHOR:Esther Lombardi
| (Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BCE) was a Roman writer, speaker, philosopher and politician) |
If we don't teach our children the dark chapters of American history, they will only know of a past colored by revisionist thinking. We mature through experience but also - and critically - memory. It is tempting to want to erase the history of slavery from America's past and the "n" word from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but doing so will not help us move forward by learning the past.
http://media.www.smithsophian.com/media/storage/paper587/news/2011/02/17/Opinions/Censorship.Of.A.Classic.Promotes.Revisionist.History-3977993.shtml
Twain responded: "I am greatly troubled by what you say. I wrote 'Tom Sawyer' & 'Huck Finn' for adults exclusively, & it always distressed me when I find that boys and girls have been allowed access to them. The mind that becomes soiled in youth can never again be washed clean. I know this by my own experience, & to this day I cherish an unappeased bitterness against the unfaithful guardians of my young life, who not only permitted but compelled me to read an unexpurgated Bible through before I was 15 years old. None can do that and ever draw a clean sweet breath again on this side of the grave."
http://able2know.org/topic/163570-1
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/twain-publishes-the-adventures-of-huckleberry-finn (history of it)
Huckleberry Finn -- T. S. Eliot says:
"It is Huck who gives the book style. The River gives the book its form. But for the River, the book might be only a sequence of adventures with a happy ending. A river, a very big and powerful river, is the only natural force that can wholly determine the course of human peregrination.... Thus the River makes the book a great book... Mark Twain is a native, and the River God is his God."
Huckleberry Finn -- F. Scott Fitzgerald (1935) says:
"Huckleberry Finn took the first journey back. He was the first to look back at the republic from the perspective of the west. His eyes were the first eyes that ever looked at us objectively that were not eyes from overseas. There were mountains at the frontier but he wanted more than mountains to look at with his restive eyes--he wanted to find out about men and how they lived together. And because he turned back we have him forever."
Huckleberry Finn -- Ernest Hemingway says:
"The good writers are Henry James, Stephen Crane, and Mark Twain. That's not the order they're good in. There is no order for good writers.... All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called 'Huckleberry Finn.' If you read it you must stop where the Nigger Jim is stolen from the boys. That is the real end. The rest is just cheating. But it's the best book we've had. All American writing comes from that. There was nothing before. There has been nothing as good since." -- from Ernest Hemingway, "The Green Hills of Africa" (1934) http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/45645-upcoming-newsouth-huck-finn-eliminates-the-n-word.html AUTHOR:Esther Lombardi
Documentation Quiz
1) MLA format
2) Works Cited page
3) Author, title of web page, name of site, date of posting and revision, name of institution/organization, affiliated with the site, date of access the site
2) Works Cited page
3) Author, title of web page, name of site, date of posting and revision, name of institution/organization, affiliated with the site, date of access the site
Monday, February 21, 2011
Prewriting Essay 2
Claim: Censorship of Mark Twain's American classic, The Adventures Of Huckleberry Fin, is not the answer.
-This is a novel that young children should not read due to its content, but as one gets older he/she will be able to read it in a more sophisticated light and analyze it in a proper way.
-Literature is a work of art, and shouldn't change that which is beautiful.
-Wouldn't change Leonardo Divinci's paintings, why would Mark Twain's masterpiece be any different.
-Young children should not be reading this until they have an understanding, appreciation, and respect for the novel's content.
-The language presents the reality of that time period, should not hide that which is true. It is like lying about what really happened during the holocaust. By not presenting the reality of the language used back in that era with people of color, it is like saying that the Nazis during the WWII were not that cruel to the Jewish people.
-Huck Fin is an advanced text, how many children are reading Mark Twain?
-Author states, "But Twain books are too important as literary works, to be shelved, which is what's happening." The author is not addressing the full audience, which includes adults.
-"The problem with keeping the text of Huck Fin and Tom Sawyer intact in schools, instead of banning the book-because that creates an outrage of its own-are simply not assigning it to students anymore. And that's a shame." Dont agree with this, because I think it is a good thing to not assign this book to younger children because they would not be able to appreciate this great work. If we have children read it when they are younger with or without the N-word, it would be a waste of time. The best part in this book is that Twain is able to take the reader on a journey back in time and see the reality of the world. It is through this experience that the novel has survived to be considered an American classic, and if you take that away then it would just be another book lost in history. And that would be a shame.
-This is a novel that young children should not read due to its content, but as one gets older he/she will be able to read it in a more sophisticated light and analyze it in a proper way.
-Literature is a work of art, and shouldn't change that which is beautiful.
-Wouldn't change Leonardo Divinci's paintings, why would Mark Twain's masterpiece be any different.
-Young children should not be reading this until they have an understanding, appreciation, and respect for the novel's content.
-The language presents the reality of that time period, should not hide that which is true. It is like lying about what really happened during the holocaust. By not presenting the reality of the language used back in that era with people of color, it is like saying that the Nazis during the WWII were not that cruel to the Jewish people.
-Huck Fin is an advanced text, how many children are reading Mark Twain?
-Author states, "But Twain books are too important as literary works, to be shelved, which is what's happening." The author is not addressing the full audience, which includes adults.
-"The problem with keeping the text of Huck Fin and Tom Sawyer intact in schools, instead of banning the book-because that creates an outrage of its own-are simply not assigning it to students anymore. And that's a shame." Dont agree with this, because I think it is a good thing to not assign this book to younger children because they would not be able to appreciate this great work. If we have children read it when they are younger with or without the N-word, it would be a waste of time. The best part in this book is that Twain is able to take the reader on a journey back in time and see the reality of the world. It is through this experience that the novel has survived to be considered an American classic, and if you take that away then it would just be another book lost in history. And that would be a shame.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Reflection 1.2
I am happy with the changes I made to the paper and the parts I added. I think by adding logos as another paragraph made the paper stronger. I included internal citations and quoted, which strengthened the analysis. This paper has helped me to not only read information given to me, but rather analyze the information in front of me. I hope for the next paper I am able to be creative in my thinking and provide new fresh ideas that are well-worded. I want to have each new idea flow smoothly into the next.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Rhetorical Analysis
Rebecca Moran
Professor Henderson
Academic Writing
2011 February 8
A Dream and a Vision for the Passage of the DREAM Act: A Rhetorical Analysis of “Act Would Give Education to Undocumented Youths"
Jessica Perez is a young gifted writer who attends Cornell University and writes news articles for The Ithacan. The Ithacan is a student-run newspaper of Ithaca College. The newspaper is produced weekly and is considered one of the premier newspapers in the country. Recently, Jessica Perez wrote an article about the DREAM Act, which is an act that requires undocumented youths to uphold good moral character and either serve in the military or attend college in order to qualify for citizenship. She states her claim clearly and concisely and presents her reasons and evidence in a proper manner that is able to influence her target audience, which is the typical college student. Through the creative use of pathos, ethos, and logos, which are rhetorical appeals of emotion, credibility, and logic, Perez is able to create an article that is informative and provides strong arguments for the passage of the DREAM Act.
The text’s appeals to pathos, or emotion, are the strongest and most persuasive in this article. There is something captivating about Perez’s article in the way she is able to sway the reader’s opinion about the subject matter. She succeeds in delving deep into the reader’s emotions, enabling the reader to sympathize with those that the act would affect if passed. She writes about the thousands of undocumented college graduates who cannot legally work in their studied fields after graduation, but if the act was passed the graduates would be able to work and contribute greatness to America (par.2). The audience for the article would most likely sympathize with the undocumented college graduates that the DREAM Act would affect. The audience is well aware of how long and difficult the college years are. They realize that it would be a shame to work so hard to graduate and not be able to put all your knowledge into practice to better the world. Perez works most ardently to arouse the reader with powerful influential words when she states, “This week there is hope that politicians will remember the stories of the talented and bright youth who want to contribute to this country. There is hope that this country will embrace and welcome a new generation of American leadership” (par. 5). Perez shows the light at the end of the tunnel if the DREAM Act is passed with her effective approach to optimism; she is most confident that the DREAM Act will secure a better future for all Americans. She states that there is a promise of hope for America if it would embrace this new generation who would work to elevate the United States’ current economic status. Her words of passion towards this subject matter evoke passion in the reader and succeed in her goal of gaining awareness and support for the passage of the act.
The text’s appeal to emotion makes Perez’s article strong, but the credibility of this article makes it even stronger. It appeals to one of the most important aspects of an article, its ethos, which is its credibility. The background of the author helps the reader trust that he or she is taking in credible information from a reliable source. The fact that Perez is a student of government and psychology at Cornell University makes her claim about the DREAM Act even more reliable. If the reader does not know that much about the subject matter, then the reader gets the sense that the author is more well-informed about it. When most people hear the words, “Cornell University,” thoughts such as smart, intelligent, well-learned individuals come to mind. The ethos in the article gives it more authority and helps Perez support the claim that if the DREAM Act is passed then America will benefit from it in numerous ways.
Perez’s occasion for writing is an informative and influential article with the sole purpose to gain support for the passage of the DREAM Act. Perez has lured her audience by evoking emotion and has gained trust in her reader due to her credibility, but Perez is able to bring the article to the next level through the use of logos, which the rhetorical appeal of logic. She provides valid reasons for her support of the act and produces strong evidence to support her claim. Perez writes, that according to CBO, “enacting the bill would reduce deficits by about $1.4 billion over 2011-2020 period” (par.3). She also includes evidence from the UCLA North American Integration and Development Center who, “estimates that the total earnings from the beneficiaries of the DREAM Act would be anything between $1.4 trillion and $3.6 trillion” (par.3). By providing these facts and figures, the reader recognizes that it almost seems like it is common sense or most logical to pass the DREAM Act. Perez not only gives reasons and evidence, but also acknowledges that there are those who do not agree with her and would not want the act passed. Perez could have done a better job at establishing common ground with her opponents, but she does prepare for opposition when she states, “If they are ready to say no to the DREAM Act, then they should have a plan for the thousands of immigrant youths” (par.2). She believes that if this act is not passed then her adversaries are obligated to provide a respectable alternative. By providing solid evidence that supports her claim and using the technique of acknowledgement and response, Perez has created an article that is not only influential, but has the potential to make people rally into action to help pass this act.
Jessica Perez’s occasion for writing, “Act Would Give Education to Undocumented Youths”, was to present an informative and influential article to her target audience, which were her fellow college students. Her ultimate purpose for writing the article was to achieve support for the passage of the DREAM Act that would give undocumented youths the right to citizenship if they achieved a certain criterion. Through the careful use of the three rhetorical appeals of pathos, ethos, and logos, she was able to present her purpose, claim, and solid evidence for the subject matter. Perez lured her audience in by speaking with such passion and diction. She evoked emotion in her readers, was able to gain the trust she needed in her audience, and presented good solid evidence that was strong enough to make a lasting impact them.
Works Cited
Perez, Jessica. "Act Would Give Education to Undocumented Youths." The Ithacan. 8 Dec. 2010 http://theithacan.org1605. 7 Feb. 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
College Free Write
I thought that Rick Perlstein's essay was a little difficult to understand some of the points he was trying to make. He believes that college is not as good as it use to be. It was difficult to relate to any of his points because I currently am a college student and love it and find that the college experience is amazing. I liked Weinger's essay more because he made very good points and counterarguments. I agree that college is different than what it use to be, but not in a negative way. I agree with Weingner's statement when he states, "It is simply the signs of a new reality he does not understand and therefore rejects."
Friday, February 11, 2011
Reflection 1.1
I think my first draft went pretty well. I was able to get the main points incorporated into my paper, but I know I need to add more of the author's evidence and reasons for her strong opinion. I need to add internal citations, direct quotes, and more about logos. I believe this will strengthen my essay tremendously. I was comfortable writing this essay, and I believe the meeting with Professor Henderson helped a great deal and her critiques will make my paper stronger.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Rough Draft
Rebecca Moran
Professor Henderson
Academic Writing
2011 February 8
Rhetorical Analysis
Jessica Perez is a young gifted writer who attends Cornel University and writes news articles for the Ithacan. The Ithacan is a student-run newspaper of Ithaca College. The newspaper is produced weekly and is considered one of the premier newspapers in the country. Jessica Perez wrote an article about the DREAM Act, which is an act that requires undocumented youths to uphold good moral character and either serve in the military or attend college in order to qualify for citizenship. She provides her claim clearly and presents her reasons and evidence in a proper manor that is able to influence her target audience, which is the typical college student. Through the creative use of pathos and ethos, which are rhetorical appeals of emotion and credibility, Perez is able to create an article that is informative, and provides strong arguments for the passage of the DREAM Act.
The text’s appeals to logos, or emotion, are the strongest and most persuasive in this article. There is something captivating about Perez’s article in the way she is able to sway the reader’s opinion about the subject matter. She succeeds in delving deep into the reader’s emotions, enabling the reader to sympathize for those that the act would affect if passed. She writes about the thousands of undocumented college graduates who cannot legally work in their studied fields after graduation, but if the act was passed this would give the country more opportunities for greatness. The audience for the article would most likely sympathize for the undocumented college graduates that the DREAM Act would affect. They are well aware of how long and difficult the college years are. They realize that it would be a shame to work so hard to graduate and not be able to put all your knowledge into practice to better the world. Perez works most ardently to arouse the reader with powerful words about hope and a brighter future for America if the DREAM Act is passed. She discusses the promise of hope for America if it would welcome and embrace this new generation of American leadership. Her words of passion towards this subject matter evoke passion in the reader and succeed in her goal of gaining awareness and support for the passage of the act.
The text itself makes strong appeals to the reader, but the contextual aspect of this article makes it even stronger. It appeals to one of the most important aspects of an article, its ethos, which is its credibility. The background of the author helps the reader trust that he or she is taking in credible information from a reliable source. The fact that Perez is a student of government and psychology at Cornel University makes her claim about the DREAM Act even more reliable. If the reader does not know that much about the subject matter, then the reader gets the sense that the author is more well-informed about it. When most people hear the words, “Cornel University”, things such as smart, intelligent, well-learned individuals comes into their minds. The context of the article gives it more authority and helps Perez support the claim that if the DREAM Act is passed then America will benefit from it in numerous ways.
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