Read the paragraph from a student’s literary essay comparing two different works.(1) Sandra Cisneros’s “Mericans” is about a young American girl of Mexican descent who is struggling between her cultural heritage and American identity. (2) Cisneros illustrates this through a number of images and ideas. (3) For example, the speaker, Micaela, calls her grandmother “awful,” and seems to resent the woman’s strict views and religious ideals. (4) The speaker also mentions how she and her brother emulate characters from popular American television programs when they play make-believe. (5) Lastly, she describes physically standing outside her family’s church, an act that symbolizes the fact that she feels like an outsider to Mexican culture. (6) Although Micaela is of Mexican descent, she seems to feel a stronger connection to the United States. Which best describes this paragraph?
Answer
A
the introduction to the essay
B
a body paragraph of the essay
C
the thesis of the essay
D
the conclusion of the essay
Explanation
This is a body paragraph because it develops an idea about “Mericans” with specific examples: Micaela’s reaction to her grandmother, her play-acting based on American television, and her position outside the church. Those details support the paragraph’s point that she feels more connected to the United States than to Mexican culture. An introduction would generally introduce the essay’s topic, while a thesis would state its main argument without this much supporting evidence.
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