(1) Sandra Cisneros's "Mericans" is about a young American girl of Mexican descent who is struggling to find her own
cultural 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 deseribes 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 al
stronger connection to the United States
Which is the best thesis statement for the entire essay?
While the speaker of Okita's poem feels strongly about her identity as an American citizen, the speaker of Cisneros's short
story identifies more closely with her Mexican family
Though the speakers in Okita's poem and Cisneros's short story have strong roots in foreign cultures, both of them feel more
connected to their American identities
The family members in Cisneros's and Okita's works play a significant role in the lives of both narrators as they contemplate
their place in hostile environments.
Cisneros and Olita rely on imagery to convey their ideas about American identity

Though the speakers in both Okita's poem and Cisneros's short story have strong roots in foreign cultures, both of them feel more connected to their American identities.

1. read the following excerpt from franklin d. roosevelt's "fireside chat 19":

on the other side of the picture, we must learn also to know that guerilla warfare against the germans in, let us say serbia or norway, us; that a successful russian offensive against the germans us; and that british successes on land or sea in any part of the world strengthen our hands.

remember always that germany and italy, regardless of any formal declaration of war, consider themselves at war with the united states at this moment just as much as they consider themselves at war with britain or russia. and germany puts all the other republics of the americas into the same category of enemies. the people of our sister republics of this hemisphere can be honored by that fact.  

the true goal we seek is far above and beyond the ugly field of battle. when we resort to force, as now we must, we are determined that this force shall be directed toward ultimate good as well as against immediate evil. we americans are not destroyers — we are builders.

analyze the effectiveness of this excerpt. how does it function within the speech as a whole? how does the structure of the excerpt to convey the speech's purpose and key points? support your argument with evidence from the speech. (10 points)

when alex falls for the charming new boy at school, cole -- a handsome, funny, sports star who adores her - she can't believe she's finally found her soul who truly loves and understands her.  

at first, alex is blissfully happy. sure, cole seems a little jealous of her relationship with her close friend zack, but what guy would want his girlfriend spending all her time with another boy? as the months pass, though, alex can no longer ignore cole's small put-downs, pinches, or increasingly violent threats.  

as alex struggles to come to terms with the sweet boyfriend she fell in love with and the boyfriend whose "love" she no longer recognizes, she is forced to choose -- between her "true love" and herself.

explanation: