“Achievement of Desire,” Richard Rodriguez
Order Description
In “Achievement of Desire,” Richard Rodriguez observes, “The Scholarship boy does not straddle, cannot reconcile, the two great opposing cultures of his life” (351). Why is Rodriguez, as a “scholarship boy,” unable to reconcile the culture of the classroom vs. the culture of his home? (Look for evidence in multiple passages of his essay.) What divisions have you experienced between the world of home and the world of the classroom? (Try to recall one of more specific episodes that highlight the differences in these two cultures that you have personally experienced.) How have you reconciled the differences? (Or you may be in the process of reconciling these differences). Drawing from your personal experiences, what advice would you offer Rodriguez in reconciling the cultural differences between the home and classroom?
Note: Obviously, not everyone has experienced the same type of division between the culture of the home and the culture of the classroom as Rodriguez experienced. You might, for example, have experienced only positive reinforcements of your intellectual pursuits at home. Regardless, show how Rodriguez’s experiences, as related in “Achievement of Desire,” enabled you to reflect upon your own experiences in the classroom vs. home.
Compose an essay (1000 word minimum) in which you analyze Rodriguez’s inability to reconcile “the two great opposing cultures of his life” and then reflect upon/analyze your experiences in the culture of the classroom versus the culture of your home. Conclude with whatever advice you would offer Rodriguez on reconciling the cultural differences between the home and the classroom.
Requirements for first draft (10%):
•Essay must be directly on above topic
•Essay must have a recognizable organization plan (beyond the freewrite stage)
•Do not use secondary sources to compose this essay
•750 word min. (about 2 ½ pages)
•Submit essay to dropbox, appropriately labeled (for example, sherrodn_Essay1_Firstdraft)
•Bring hard copy to class for peer reviews and revision workshop
Requirements for final draft (90%):
•Essay must be directly on the above topic
•Essay must have a clear central idea (stated in thesis) and follow a logical development plan with coherent paragraphing
•Do not use outside secondary sources to compose this essay
•1000 word min. (about 4 pages)
•Follow MLA style for formatting and documentation (in-text citations and works cited list)
•Submit essay to dropbox, appropriately labeled (for examples, sherrodn_Essay1_Finaldraft)
Pointers for Successful Writing:
1.Read essay topic closely; break it down; make sure that you understand all the requirements.
2.Re-read Rodriguez’s essay in its entirety, annotating passages that are related to the topic.
3.Take some time to generate material on your related personal experiences (freewrites and clusters are helpful).
4.Get organized (the structure of your essay is suggested in the topic); generate a working thesis (main idea) and outline of your essay.
5.Once you have finished your first draft, review it and be willing to re-engage as you revise it (this may mean re-reading Rodriguez, selecting different quotes, working on how you use the quotes, etc.)
6.Make sure that your thesis (main idea) is expressed clearly and actually reflects what your essay is about
7.Practice using “quotation sandwiches,” following the templates suggested in “As He Himself Puts It.”
8.Take the time to follow MLA style properly. Check the website Purdue Owl to check on anything that you are not sure about.
9.Try proofreading backwards (last sentence back to first sentence) as you edit.
10.Take advantage of the tutoring services offered by the Writing Center (Payne Hall, 201).
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