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273 QUESTIONS Understanding and Interpreting 1. What does Karla Cornejo Villavicencio consider to be the pact between immigrants and their children? What does she mean by %u201chow much of our flesh will pay off the debt%u201d (par. 1)? 2. Villavicencio identifies herself in several different ways in this essay. What are some of those identities? Which one do you think she is most attached to? Which one causes her the greatest struggle? Explain your answer. 3. Paragraph 13 begins, %u201cOur problem appeared to be poverty . . . %u201d but goes on to provide a different explanation for Villavicencio%u2019s family%u2019s difficulties. What is that problem and how does it affect both the family and Villavicencio%u2019s image of herself? 4. What is the DREAM Act? Who are the Dreamers? How does Villavicencio feel about this group? How does the fate of that legislation matter to her family? How does it not matter? 5. In paragraph 32, Villavicencio contrasts the caretaking responsibilities of the children of immigrants to those of nonimmigrants. How does she counter the argument that, for immigrants, taking care of one%u2019s elders is cultural? QUESTIONS Analyzing Language, Style, and Structure 6. Vocabulary in Context. %u201cWaking Up from the American Dream%u201d begins, %u201cIf you are an undocumented person anywhere in America, some of the things you do to make a dignified life for you and your loved ones are illegal.%u201d What does the word %u201cundocumented%u201d mean in this context? What connotations does it carry, compared to other words like %u201cunauthorized%u201d or %u201cillegal%u201d? 7. Describe Villavicencio%u2019s persona in this essay. What is her %u201cbrand,%u201d as she calls her reaction to the DREAM Act in paragraph 14? How is that persona reflected in her voice? 8. Most of the essay is concrete and straightforward, but sometimes Villavicencio uses figurative language. Find one or two examples of the use of figurative language, such as metaphors, imagery, or literary allusions, and explain how they develop or clarify a point she is making. 9. Villavicencio argues that %u201cthe undocumented face a unique burden, due to scorn and a lack of support from the government%u201d (par. 32). What is the %u201cunique burden%u201d? How might that burden be lifted from undocumented people, according to Villavicencio? Do you think she uses the problem-solution method of development effectively? Explain. QUESTIONS Topics for Composing 10. Analysis. %u201cWaking Up from the American Dream%u201d argues that immigrants who lack documentation cannot participate in the American Dream. Write an essay in which you analyze the strategies that Villavicencio uses to develop that argument. 11. Analysis. Write an essay in which you analyze the last two paragraphs of %u201cWaking Up from the American Dream.%u201d How does the crystal heart Villavicencio%u2019s father found in his taxi represent an aspect of the undocumented immigrant%u2019s experience? Why is the fate of the crystal ultimately %u201cnone of our business%u201d (par. 36)? 12. Research. Research the DREAM Act of 2023 as well as the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2023. They both offer paths to citizenship for undocumented immigrants; as of this writing, neither has passed. Do you think these acts, if passed, would effectively address the issues raised in Villavicencio%u2019s essay? 13. Creative Writing. For all who are not indigenous to the Americas, the United States is a nation of immigrants. Try your hand at writing a personal account similar to Villavicencio%u2019s %u201cWaking Up from the American Dream%u201d about your family%u2019s immigration experience. QUESTIONS Understanding and Interpreting QUESTIONS Analyzing Language, Style, and Structure QUESTIONS Topics for Composing 5 Karla Cornejo VillavicencioCopyright %u00a9 Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Distributed by Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. For review purposes only. Not for redistribution.