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Topics for Composing
17. Analysis. Overall, what is Alvarez suggesting about the role that language played in shaping
her own identity? What evidence from the narrative supports your interpretation?
18. Argument. Do you agree with Alvarez when she suggests that speaking the native language
/
of a country is essential to feeling at home there? Explain.
19. Connections. When have you ever felt caught between cultures like Alvarez describes? Your central text
experience might be similar to hers, based on language and geography, or it could be Julia Alvarez
subcultures in school, on sports teams, or other groups.
20. Speaking and Listening. A few times in this narrative, Alvarez expresses how difficult it is to
communicate her thoughts fully in Spanish because she has only the vocabulary of a ten-year-
old. If you have studied more than one language, try using your second language to explain a
scientific, mathematical, or historical concept you learned in another class this year to
someone who also speaks that language. If you have not studied a second language, try
explaining the concept with only the word choice of a ten-year-old in English. What did you
learn about the challenges of communication through this exercise?
21. Research. Alvarez is frustrated at times with her inability to communicate in Spanish, which
is the language used by her parents and potential boyfriend. Conduct research by interviewing
a friend or a family member who has experienced a language barrier. Explain the challenges,
frustrations, or benefits that you learned about through your research.
La Gringuita
22. Creative Writing. Write a poem about communication challenges you have experienced that
includes words in English and words in at least one other language that you know well or are
Julia Alvarez
studying in school. The words could be translations of each other, or different ideas expressed
in the different languages. Share your poem with a partner for feedback on the use of multiple
Julia Alvarez (b. 1950) was born in New York but raised in the
languages. What is communicated effectively and what is not? Revise if necessary.
Dominican Republic until she was ten, her family fleeing to the
Dominican Republic until she was ten, her family fleeing to the central text
United States after her father became involved in an unsuccessful
United States after her father became involved in an unsuccessful
plot to overthrow the dictator Rafael Trujillo. She received a BA
conversation plot to overthrow the dictator Rafael Trujillo. She received a BA Jeff Malet Photography/Newscom
from Middlebury College and an MA from Syracuse University.
from Middlebury College and an MA from Syracuse University.
Alvarez has published poetry, fiction, memoir, and children’s books.
Alvarez has published poetry, fiction, memoir, and children’s books.
3. How does the design of the graph help illustrate just how far behind other countries the United
“La Gringuita” is from a collection of autobiographical essays,
“La Gringuita” is from a collection of autobiographical essays,
5
What is the relationship between language States is? , in which the author examines identity
/
Something to Declare (1998), in which the author examines identity
4. Comparison. Based on what you read in “La Gringuita,” how might Alvarez respond to the
and power? Narrative and the art of writing.
findings in this graph?
5. Informing Your Argument. How does this graph relate to the prompt you have been thinking
Who has the most power in a classroom? In many cases, it’s the teachers because and chew on her ear. My mother gave him an
1
he inevitable, of course, has happened. I
about — What should society or individuals do to ensure that there are not significant
they have the authority to speak without having to be called on. Who has the power in indignant look, stood up, and went in search
differences in equality or power based on language?
Tnow speak my native language “with an
the media and advertising? Those who create, edit, and present the words and images. of the conductor to report this fresh man.
2
accent.” What I mean by this is that I speak
They can influence what people believe, how people vote, what they buy. Who has Decades later, hearing the story, my father, ever
They can influence what people believe, how people vote, what they buy. Who has
perfect childhood Spanish, but if I stray into
the power in a courtroom? It’s often the judge who determines who gets to speak and vigilant and jealous of his wife and daughters,
the power in a courtroom? It’s often the judge who determines who gets to speak and
a heated discussion or complex explanation,
what can be said during a trial. I have to ask, “Por favor ¿puedo decirlo en was convinced — no matter what my mother
Entering the Conversation
ingles?” Can I please say it in English?
Power can be gained and wielded through language. Sadly, the reverse is also
Power can be gained and wielded through language. Sadly, the reverse is also said about idiomatic expressions — that the
How and why did this happen?
often true: those without access to the dominant language used by institutions like
often true: those without access to the dominant language used by institutions like sailor had made an advance. He, himself, was
Throughout this Conversation, you have read a variety of texts that deal with lan-
guage and the ways that it relates to power. Now it’s time to enter the conversation by
schools, government, the justice system, and business can be left without the power
schools, government, the justice system, and business can be left without the power never comfortable in English. In fact, if there
When we emigrated to the United States in

responding the prompt you’ve been thinking about — What should society or individ-
they should have otherwise. the early sixties, the climate was not favorable were phone calls to be made to billing offices,
uals do to ensure that there are not significant differences in equality or power
for retaining our Spanish. I remember one scene medical supply stores, Workman’s Compen-

based on language? Follow the steps below to write your argument.
in a grocery store soon after we arrived. An sation, my father would put my mother on the
elderly shopper, overhearing my mother speak- 185 phone. She would get better results than he
1. | Building on the Conversation. Locate one additional text on this topic that you
think adds an interesting perspective to this Conversation. This text can be of any type:
ing Spanish to her daughters, muttered that if we would with his heavy, almost incomprehensi-
an argument, a narrative, a poem, a painting, or even a film clip. Before you decide on
wanted to be in this country, we should learn the ble accent.
adding this text to the Conversation, be sure that it is a credible and relevant source,
language. “I do know the language,” my mother At school, there were several incidents of 5
which you can determine by evaluating it with the skills you practiced in Chapter 4
said in her boarding-school English, putting name-calling and stone-throwing, which our
(p. 99). Read and annotate the text carefully, making connections to other texts in the
the woman in her place. She knew the value of teachers claimed would stop if my sisters and I
Conversation and “La Gringuita” (p. 177).

speaking perfect English. She had studied for joined in with the other kids and quit congre-

2. | Making a Claim. Look back through the table you created and your notes on

several years at Abbot Academy, flying up from gating together at recess and jabbering away in
the texts in the conversation and write a statement that reflects your overall position
the Island to New York City, and then taking the Spanish. Those were the days before bilingual
about what steps society or individuals should take to ensure there are not significant
train up to Boston. It was during the war, and education or multicultural studies, when kids
differences in power based on language. This statement will be your thesis or claim
the train would sometimes fill with servicemen,
every seat taken. that you will try to prove in the rest of your argument.
1 Chew on her ear: the idiom “chew someone’s ear off” means to talk
3. | Organizing the Ideas.
One time, a young sailor asked my mother The texts in this Conversation offer a number of
to someone for a long time and in a boring manner. —Eds.
if he could sit in the empty seat beside her 2 Fresh: lewd, disrespectful. —Eds.
explanations of how language and power are related. Review the table you have been
Guided Tour of Foundations of Language & Literature, Second Edition
keeping throughout this Conversation and identify the texts and quotations that either
Conversation
Central Text directly support or oppose the claim that you wrote in the earlier step.
4. | Writing the Argument. Now that you have a claim that reflects your informed 177
5 Narrative Julia Alvarez, La Gringuita stance, it is time to write your argument. Be sure that your writing stays focused on
What is the relationship between

your position on the issue . Refer to at least two Conversation texts, which could
language and power?

include the additional text you found to support your position. Review Chapter 4
(p. 119) to remind yourself of how to use sources in your own writing and refer to
the Writing an Argument Workshop in Chapter 7 (p. 466) for additional help with
constructing and supporting your argument.
6 Fiction Amy Tan, Two Kinds 5. | Presenting the Argument (Optional). Once you have written your argument, you
How are our interests and passions

might want to present it to the class or a small group. Review how to write and deliver
shaped?
a presentation in Chapter 3 (p. 90) and Chapter 7 (p. 479).
194
7 Argument Steve Almond, Is It Immoral to Is fandom a positive or negative force in

Watch the Super Bowl ? our lives?
8 Poetry Langston Hughes, Let America Be How do we find common ground?

America Again
9 Exposition Jon Ronson, How One Stupid To what extent can we influence social,

Tweet Blew Up Justine Sacco’s Life cultural, or political change online?
10 Drama William Shakespeare, The Tragedy Do we make better decisions with our

of Romeo and Juliet “gut” or with our rational brain?
11 Mythology Homer, from The Odyssey What defines a hero?

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