Lit 275-Essay 4
Throughout the novel, we see the interconnected lives of Cuban-American women that span generations. Throughout their stories, we learn of the sociopolitical, economic, cultural, and religious influences that act upon them. At times, these forces become tools of empowerment while, at other moments, they threaten the individual agency of the women.
For this essay, you will make an argument about how Garcia’s novel illustrates the ways gender is influenced by other sociocultural factors such as race, politics, class, religion, and/or sexuality. Your thesis should give an answer to the the following: What do we learn about intersectionality through the del Pino family? How do the form, themes/motifs, and other literary features of the novel work to articulate this understanding?
To enhance your reading, you will need to rely on close reading of the novel as well as secondary critical research. You must effectively tie in at least 1 of the critical readings provided as well as 2 additional peer-reviewed outside source to meet the minimum requirements. There should be a
clear and substantiative connection between the outside material and primary text. Essays that simply draw in an outside quote but do not articulate its significance within the context of the overall argument will not score highly.
Overall, we should leave with a clear sense of the novel’s importance with respect to gender intersectionality. It is one thing to point out the ways gender is present in the novel. However, we want to go further and state why these representations of gender are significant—we should make a case for what the novel and secondary sources teach rather than show.
Requirements:
At least 1,250-1,500 words excluding the works cited page
Use and appropriate citation of at least 1 of the two journal articles provided as well as 2 peer-reviewed outside sources, for a total of at least 3 peer reviewed outside sources.
Completion and Submission of essay rough draft
Submission to Canvas by the due date listed in the course calendar
Successful essays will:
Have a clear thesis that makes an argumentative point about gender, intersectionality and Latinx identity as presented in the text(s)
Identify and elaborate upon the specific literary devices and genres used by the author
Incorporate and closely read textual evidence beyond summarizing
Effectively draw in outside research to further the textual argument
Adhere to MLA standards and have minimal spelling/grammatical errors
Less successful essays will:
Lack a clear thesis or state facts about the text
Not refer to any literary devices or terminology
Not include sufficient textual evidence to justify points
Not include outside research or merely place outside quotes without tying them to a specific point
Include many grammatical and spelling errors that disrupt the argument
