You may remember Henry Haggard from an earlier lesson. He's the eighth grader who wanted to get a head start on his high-school community service hours, so he spent part of the summer volunteering as a camp counselor for immigrant children. Henry documented his experience in a reflective essay that described what he did and how he felt. Then he spent some time writing informally about the opinions he developed as a result of his experience, including his belief that all Americans should do what they can to help immigrants.
Henry decided to think of his informal writing as the rough draft of a persuasive essay. He realized that he needed to add a few important elements, though. Read Henry's second draft, and look for devices that make his attempts at persuasion effective.
Let's take a closer look at some of the specific paragraphs in Henry's essay. Click each section of the essay, and answer the questions that follow.
Last summer I was a camp counselor at the Sacred Heart Center, a nonprofit organization focused on helping the Latino community in Richmond, Virginia. During that eventful month, I caught a brief glimpse of an issue dividing the nation: immigration. The kids at the camp came there to play and learn and have new experiences. And they were so happy, it sometimes seemed as if the world was in their favor—as though racism was perhaps a thing of the past. I was naïve to think this, even for a moment, but I wasn't blind. After my time at the Sacred Heart Center was finished, I decided to do some research about the issues facing those same children and their families, to gain a more complete understanding of America's immigrant situation. Eventually, one thing became clear: We don't always treat Latino immigrants with the respect they deserve, on both a personal and institutional level. To ensure that immigrants gain the respect of more Americans, more of us must be prepared to do active, tangible good for and within their communities.
Question
Which sentences reveal Henry's claim?
In her essay "Tell Me How It Ends," Valeria Luiselli depicts the horrors that drive migrants out of their home countries. After years of interviewing people seeking asylum, Luiselli vividly recalls some of the many hardships they faced. Children as young as 10 live in hiding—afraid to go to school or even to leave their houses, fearing attacks by local gangs. One boy named Manu described an exceptionally horrific scenario. There were two gangs in his Honduras town—one was trying to recruit him, the other to kill him. Things escalated, and before he knew it, Manu was literally running for his life. His best friend, fleeing alongside him, was shot after a few blocks, but Manu didn't have time to falter or mourn. Thus began his treacherous journey, one that spanned thousands of miles. Nonetheless, Manu was one of the lucky ones—he lived to tell Luiselli his story.
Question
What kind of evidence does Henry provide in this paragraph?
In a just society, people like Manu would be treated with the same kind of respect and concern as those fleeing war-torn countries. Yet many Americans seem to be asking "Why do we have to be the ones helping?" To that I say, hospitality is a core American value. The inscription on the Statue of Liberty doesn't leave much up for interpretation: Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. We haven't been perfect at upholding it. The U.S. Latino community has been forced to hide in the shadows due to years of brutal intolerance, just as other waves of immigrants before them.
Question
What reference in this paragraph helps readers connect to Henry's topic?
Ultimately, supporting Latino communities and the immigrants in them helps everyone involved. However, many of our politicians and government leaders choose to ignore the situation, or they try to solve it the wrong way. As a country, we need to face the vast and complicated roots of the problems facing immigrant communities. Only then will we begin to see new and expanding horizons—for us and for them.
Question
Which sentence in the last paragraph clarifies Henry's claim?
