How race affects a person’s ability to succeed
Essay 3 at a Glance _
In Essay 3, we are using the concepts presented in texts to help us formulate an argument about another concept or ideas. We will continue to work on carefully reading and understanding the texts, but this time, we’ll be choosing strong specific examples to illustrate the connections we make from a text that can help us develop and illustrate an argument.
Main Goals for Essay 3
Focus your essay with a strong thesis statement that makes a claim about the relationship between race and success and provide reasons for that claim (your “because” statement).
Provide effective and developed support for your claim by summarizing the ideas from the texts and from previous assignments) as appropriate
Critically analyze the ideas in the text to make a claim about the relationship between race and success, and explain this analysis to readers.
Create organized paragraphs that focus on one main point and divide your argument into manageable chunks for your readers
Texts for Essay 3
“Black Like Them” by Malcom Gladwell
“Horatio Alger” by Harlon L. Dalton
“The Whole United States is Southern”
“How to Tame A Wild Tounge” by Gloria Anzaldúa
You will also have to use two outside sources that I will give you; however, this time, I encourage you to find your own rather than relying on me.
Essay 3 Prompt
For this assignment, you will argue the extent to which you believe race influences one’s ability to be successful. Using the articles about race, as well as thinking about Anzaldúa’s story, construct an argument about how you think race can help or inhibit (or possibly both) someone’s ability to take the steps needed for advancement. In other words, are there additional obstacles people of different races face on their way to being successful, and do these obstacles prevent them from achieving success? You will use the information in the article we read to support your argument and point of view.
