– does Hunger of Memory portray Richard Rodriguez’s “academic success” as more the result of advantage or adversity?

3-4 page minimum (not including bibliography page)
• Double space throughout (except for the single spacing of name, course, and due date
located in upper right or left corner of page 1 only) Page numbering strongly recommended (except on page 1)
• 1 inch margins all around (top; bottom; left; right – but do not center or justify right
margin)
• 12 point font in Times or Times New Roman preferred
• Italicize text title
o Hunger of Memory
• Place article or section titles within quotes
o “Self and Culture: Autobiography as Cultural Narrative”
• Use appropriate in-text citation for paraphrases and quotations
o Without author name in the signal phrase (author last name + page)
• (Rodriguez 188)
o With author name in the signal phrase (page only)
• (188)Introduction Paragraph
• Reflect on the importance of “academic success” – perhaps include a brief
anecdote (personal observation)
• Introduce Hunger of Memory and Richard Rodriguez as relevant to the topic of
“academic success”
• Introduce the dilemma / question – that Hunger of Memory portrays Rodriguez’s
“academic success” as resulting from both advantage or adversity
• Consider briefly identifying the 3 key terms (“academic success;” advantage;
adversity) – this can be performed here or elsewhere in the essay
• Provide thesis statement – re-identify Hunger of Memory and Richard Rodriguez;
assert your argumentative position on whether, in your opinion, Hunger of
Memory portrays Rodriguez’s “academic success” as more the result of advantage
or adversity
• Summary Paragraph (of Hunger of Memory)
• In this paragraph exhibit your comprehension of Rodriguez’s entire
autobiography
• Identify key details and events from throughout Rodriguez’s autobiography
• Identify key aspects of the autobiography’s main characters (i.e. Richard
Rodriguez; Rodriguez’s family; Rodriguez’s teachers)
• Refrain from critique and/or interpretation of the autobiography
• At once, in this paragraph, you are wanting to prove to the reader (of your essay)
that you have read the entire autobiography as well as highlight those details and
events that in your informed opinion are particularly significant
• Evidence Paragraphs (3-4 significant examples from Hunger of Memory)
• Reiterate your argument (on whether the autobiography portrays Rodriguez’s
“academic success” as more the result of advantage or adversity)
• Devote at least one paragraph to each significant example – keep in mind that an
example may not occur in only one place in the text, but may occur instead
throughout the text, in different places, and/or as part of a pattern
• Use personal observation of “academic success,” advantage, and adversity in
general to enhance your interpretation of what each example from Hunger of
Memory is proving – that Rodriguez’s “academic success” is portrayed as more
the result of advantage or adversity
• Make sure your examples are, together, representative of the entire text (rather
than just one part of it)
• Cite Hunger of Memory often, but be cautious of excessive quoting
• Conclusion Paragraph
• Provide a summary of your essay (i.e. thesis; examples)
• Consider reiterating your personal observations about “academic success,”
advantage, and adversity in general
• Acknowledge counterarguments to your argument
• Bibliography:
• Receives its own page (and is not counted towards the minimum 3-4 pages)
• Should have at least 3 entries (Hunger of Memory + 2 required scholarly sources)
• Entries should appear in alphabetical order and indented when necessary
• Pay close attention to the order of the information in each entry
• Consult Rules for Writers (418-463) and Envision in Depth (276-286) for other
bibliography examples