Writing Homework Help

Write a free-response essay addressing the following question:
In the Contemporary Era, America is experiencing cultural upheaval as members of groups
that haven’t had a voice begin to assert their presence. As women and ethnic minorities
raise their voices, so to speak, American culture becomes increasingly diverse. Many works
of literature offer a glimpse into the struggles that women and ethnic minorities face as they
attempt to influence the dominant culture.

Each of the short stories listed below has a main character who is either a woman
or an ethnic minority.

Choose one of the short stories from the list, and in a well-organized essay show how a character’s response to the events in the story
illustrates the experience of a being either a woman or an ethnic minority in
American culture.

Choose from:
“Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin

“I Stand Here Ironing” by Tillie Olsen

“The House on Mango Street” or “The Monkey Garden” by Sandra Cisneros

“Two Kinds” by Amy Tan

INSTRUCTIONS:

What You Turn In
Your essay should be approximately one to two pages in length. Use one-inch margins
and a 12-point font.
The first paragraph should contain a thesis statement in which you clearly present the
argument you want to make in your essay.
Each body paragraph should begin with a topic sentence in which you clearly state the
argument for that paragraph.
Be sure to support your arguments with brief, relevant examples. Each body paragraph
should include at least three pieces of supporting evidence and should be clearly linked
together with intelligent commentary.
When using direct quotations from the text, document your citation using standard
conventions (for example, use line numbers when quoting poems, act and scene