The Assimilation of Names in American Culture
Texts
“How to Tame A Wild Tongue” by Gloria Anzaldua
“Leave Your Name at the Border” by Manuel Munoz
“Invisibility Is An Unnatural Disaster: Reflections of An Asian-American Woman” by Mitsuye Yamada
The Outside Source
This essay requires you to find TWO outside sources. Your sources should be reliable and need to comment on some aspect of your argument. You should include at least 4 quotes or paraphrased quotes from these outside sources. You may use any of the following:
Tier 1: Peer-reviewed academic publications
Tier 2: Reports, articles, and books from credible non-academic sources
Tier 3: Short pieces from newspapers or credible websites
Format
This final essay will have an intro, a conclusion, at least 3 body paragraphs, and an outside source. Your revision should be 5-6 pages, double spaced, including an original title and works cited page.
Original Writing Task
Our textbook states in Chapter 5, “Once we’ve assessed the quality of another person's argument, there is an opportunity to take our reflection a step further.” For this midterm, you will be doing just that. Pick one text from this unit, and write a response that takes the author’s argument a step further. Some strategies for crafting a response include:
Add to the sense of urgency about the argument with our own explanation for why it matters.
Recommend ways to draw attention to the issue.
Suggest that the argument has implications even beyond what the writer discusses.
Remove limitations on the argument to make a broader claim.
Argue that the argument's claim points us toward a particular course of action.
Call for clarification, more support or inquiry, or a middle ground on the topic.
New Writing Task
Revise and expand your midterm essay, and integrate 2 outside sources for additional support. Review my comments on your midterm, and use these comments to revise and expand your midterm essay. Some improvements may include:
Improving the thesis.
Adding or correcting in-text citations.
Improving the topic sentences, conclusion, and/or introduction.
Editing for clearer grammar and eliminating spelling errors.
Tips
Since the midterm was only 2 pages and this essay is 5 pages, clearly you will need to add more body paragraphs.
Begin with revising your thesis statement.
You are encouraged to include a counterargument.
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The Assimilation of Names in American Culture
Introduction
In the journey towards societal integration, Mexican-Americans grapple with the adaptation of their names, sacrificing pronunciation authenticity to fit within American cultural norms. This struggle serves as a microcosm of the broader challenge of assimilation, where the compromise of one's cultural identity becomes an inevitable toll for acceptance. The battle over names exemplifies a larger narrative: the coercion for marginalized groups to conform, altering facets of their identity as a requisite for integration into American society. This essay will delve into Manuel Munoz's poignant exploration of name adaptation in "Leave Your Name at the Border," supplemented by insights from outside sources.
The names as markers of cultural assimilation
Names operate as potent markers of cultural identity, encapsulating heritage, familial ties, and historical roots. They serve as linguistic vessels, carrying the essence of one's origin and societal background. Manuel Munoz astutely depicts the weighty significance of names in delineating identity within the context of Mexican-Americans in the United States. Munoz vividly illustrates the immense societal pressure on individuals to conform to English iterations of their names,