Freshman Accelerated English

Argument CFA #1

Argument Essay – The House on Mango Street

Directions:
After thinking about a variety of topics and themes within the text, our focus has
landed on what it means to belong and how one moves from childhood to
adulthood.

For your essay, develop a position that answers the question below:

Based on Esperanza's experiences, what is Sandra Cisneros suggesting

about what it means to ‘come of age’?

Your essay should meet the following criteria:

● Have a clear and complex claim
● Clear subclaims that further develop the idea presented in your claim
● Supporting textual evidence and analysis that connects back to your claim
● An introduction and conclusion paragraph
● Three body paragraphs
● Proper MLA citations (Author’s Last Name, Page #).
● MLA Header and a title

You should use evidence from multiple vignettes to support your argument. You may
include any ideas or topics discussed in class when crafting your argument.
Use the outline below to plan out your essay and begin organizing your ideas.
Below your outline is where you will write your essay. The argumentative writing
checklist is at the end of this document for your reference.

You must write your essay in this assigned document and submit it to Google
Classroom AND Turnitin.com before Wednesday, October 25th @ 11:59 PM.
 Mango Street Essay Outline

Introduction Paragraph:

1. Hook: Coming of age is a physically and emotionally complex event.

2. Background / Context: what it means to come of age

3. Claim: Esperanza's experiences suggest that coming of age involves a loss of

innocence, the development of a sense of identity, and the realization of the harsh
realities of the world.

Paragraph 1:

1. Subclaim: In the novel, Esperanza's loss of innocence is evident in her growing

awareness of the sexual violence and gender inequality that exist in her community.

2. Evidence #1: For example, in the chapter "The Monkey Garden," Esperanza
witnesses Sally being sexually assaulted by a group of boys.

a. Ideas for Analysis:

3. Evidence #2: This realization is further emphasized in the chapter "Red Clowns,"
where Esperanza witnesses the death of a homeless man and is forced to confront
the fragility of life.

a. Ideas for Analysis:

Paragraph 2:

1. Subclaim:

2. Evidence #1:

a. Ideas for Analysis:

3. Evidence #2:

a. Ideas for Analysis:

Paragraph 3:

1. Subclaim:

2. Evidence #1:
 a. Ideas for Analysis:

3. Evidence #2:

b. Ideas for Analysis:

Conclusion:

1. Rephrase Claim:

2. Summarize Main Point:

3. Larger Context:

Begin writing your essay below. Don't forget your MLA header and a title!
Ariel Gidalevitz

9AC English

Mr. Dixon

10/26/23

Forced to Mature

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros is an example of what constitutes the

process of growing up. Through growing up, Esperanza loses innocence, finds herself and

discovers the world’s mysteries. As Esperanza passes time, she learns that life is really a

struggle. More so, in the place where she was living. Aside from her upbringing, she did not

conform to the normative standards that other people applied to her.

The symbolic meaning of the understanding that Esperanza’s society has violence, sexual

and gender inequality, represents the time Esperanza loses her virginity. This could be

exemplified in the “Monkey garden,” an area where Esperanza comes across Sally being
subjected to sexual harassment by some boys or men. It was during this time when for the

first time in Esperanza’s life she realized that the world is not necessarily good. Another

important scene where Esperanza meets the homeless man. She thinks of him as her first

teacher about living in a world filled with pain. As Esperanza progresses through her life,

she discovers more meaning about what growing up really means.

Esperanza growing up implies that she also develops awareness of herself and who she

actually is. Nevertheless, the whole novel is a search of herself and her identity out in the

world. In the chapter “My Name”, Esperanza outlines the significance of her name and how

she feels it should reflect who she actually is. This chapter indicates that the maturity of

someone requires personal self-discovery followed by self-acceptance. She leads herself to

self acceptance because she can not change anything else to make her accept herself more.

According to the author, the chapter “Hips” marks a stage at which Esperanza starts

discovering her femininity and hence views herself as a girl.

Moreover, Esperanza’s story of growing up means that becoming an adult involves

recognizing the bitter realities of living . Esperanza becomes friends with a girl named

Alicia who is trying to study and manage household work. This makes Esperanza develop a

friendship with Alicia and discover some of the challenges of being a woman. She gets

closer to learning about the world around her and what her fellow women undergo.
 In conclusion, Sandra Cisneros reminds us that growing up means losing ignorance and

learning that life can be sometimes brutal. Some of these are the lessons that Esperanza

goes through in The House on Mango Street revealing that growing up can either be difficult

or manageable. She has found herself to believe that there is no doubt about it. During this

journey of self-discovering herself and the truth embedded in her view of this “cruel”

planet, she gains life experience that helps her grow into a mature woman.

Exceeding- 4
I am able to consistently write
effective, insightful, logical
arguments to support claims in
an analysis of substantive
topics or texts, using valid
reasoning and relevant and
sufficient evidence.
ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING
Meeting Standard- 3
I can consistently write
arguments to support claims
in an analysis of substantive
topics or texts, using valid
reasoning and relevant and
sufficient evidence.
Approaching- 2
I am able to partially or
inconsistently write
arguments to support claims
in an analysis of substantive
topics or texts, using valid
reasoning and relevant and
sufficient evidence.
Developing- 1
My written arguments are
incomplete, illogical, or
not supported with
relevant and sufficient
evidence.

Success Exceeding/Meeting Approaching/Developing

Criteria

Focus and Takes a complex and debatable position in the Does not take a complex and debatable position
Claim activity with a clear rationale in the activity with a clear rationale
Focus/claims respond to the demands of the Focus/claims inconsistently responds to the
task demands of the task.
 Evidence draws the audience’s attention to
the task at all times and is grounded in a
well-composed, accurate claim statement
Organization Establishes a clear progression of ideas to
maintain continuity of thought.
Uses transitions and groups consistent
ideas and phrases to maintain unity.
Guides the reader/audience with
purposeful introductory elements,
effective transitions, and an impactful
conclusion.
Development Supports the position through establishing
a pattern of reasonable, convincing
evidence.
Uses accurately-chosen passages
throughout the sources displaying
independent thinking and reading.
All written quotations are appropriately
integrated and correctly use MLA citation
Language Demonstrates a command of language,
using a style as appropriate to the
assignment
Uses appropriate word choice and varied
sentence structure, and rhetorical
techniques
Writing shows command of conventions of
punctuation, spelling, capitalization and
grammar, and speaking demonstrates
ability to communicate clearly, formally
and insightfully
Evidence inconsistently draws audience’s
attention to the task and is not always grounded
in a well-composed, accurate claim statement
Inconsistently establishes a clear progression
of ideas to maintain continuity of thought.
Inconsistently uses transitions and groups
consistent ideas and phrases to maintain
unity.
Inconsistently guides the reader/audience
with purposeful introductory elements,
effective transitions, and an impactful
conclusion.
Inconsistently supports the position through
establishing a pattern of reasonable,
convincing evidence.
Inconsistently uses accurately-chosen
passages throughout the sources displaying
independent thinking and reading.
Some written quotations are appropriately
integrated and correctly use MLA citation
Does not demonstrate a command of
language, using a style as appropriate to the
assignment
Inconsistently uses appropriate word choice
and varied sentence structure
Writing does not show command of
conventions of punctuation, spelling,
capitalization and grammar, and speaking
demonstrates ability to communicate clearly,
formally and insightfully