Two distinguished authors, Richard Rodriguez and Lucille P. McCarthy, discuss important aspects of reading and writing throughout their essays. Rodriguez’s “The Achievement of Desire” and McCarthy’s “A Stranger in Strange Lands: A College Student Writing Across the Curriculum” emphasize lessons and teachings related to reading and writing. With this being said, both similar and different ideas are discussed by Rodriguez and McCarthy. First, one main similarity includes the idea that one must conform in order to succeed in education. In addition, both Rodriguez and McCarthy explain how social aspects effect success in school. These two elements are absolutely essential in order to be successful in academics and as a writer. Richard Rodriguez
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As explained, Rodriguez and the rest of his family are not familiar with the idea of education. Expectedly, Rodriguez finds it difficult to make the transition into schooling as he grew up in a working class family. In order to succeed, Rodriguez learned that me must learn the rules of the game if he was going to have a chance at success. With this, he decided to dump every little bit of his focus towards school. Rodriguez states, “My teacher was so soft-spoken and her words were edged sharp and clean. I admired her” (53). This quote shows that Rodriguez is in awe with his teacher. This is important as it shows the momentum that Rodriguez is carrying towards his obsession with school. Next, he states, “I tried to move my parents away” (Rodriguez 53). This shows Rodriguez is trying to become completely isolated from his family and instead become engulfed with school. The importance of this is magnificent as this is one way Rodriguez is playing the game. In order to be successful, Rodriguez feels he must adapt by placing all his concentration into school. Another way Rodriguez plays the game is his manipulation of others’ ideas. As stated, Rodriguez never came up with his own ideas, instead he called himself a “collector of thoughts” (Rodriguez 67). Basically, Rodriguez just vacuums up everyone else’s ideas and spits them out. Rodriguez does this because it is his way of …show more content…
The rules are essentially the expectations and requirements that teachers require. McCarthy explains Dave’s success can be credited to Dave’s ability to adapt and conform to the expectations set by the teacher. Dr. Kelly, the cell biology instructor, states, “Students need to get a feeling for the journals” (McCarthy 244). Kelly’s statement explains that the journals might be something that students are not familiar with, therefore, it will take time and experience for students to become comfortable with them. As students dissect the journals more and more, they will quickly learn the expectations they are faced with that deal with the journals. Ultimately, what is at stake here is the whole main idea of McCarthy’s essay. McCarthy is showing us that students must adapt to the different expectations between classes in order to be successful. For example, Dave realized that he must put emphasis on facts and pure substance when writing papers for cell biology (McCarthy 244). While in poetry or composition, Dave’s teacher required more fluent, structured writing that displays highly complex writing (McCarthy 244). McCarthy explains how knowing the different expectations set by different teachers, weather formal or informal, are crucial to be aware of in order to ensure writing is completed with quality. McCarthy writes, “Dr. Forson disagreed with Dave’s
As explained, Rodriguez and the rest of his family are not familiar with the idea of education. Expectedly, Rodriguez finds it difficult to make the transition into schooling as he grew up in a working class family. In order to succeed, Rodriguez learned that me must learn the rules of the game if he was going to have a chance at success. With this, he decided to dump every little bit of his focus towards school. Rodriguez states, “My teacher was so soft-spoken and her words were edged sharp and clean. I admired her” (53). This quote shows that Rodriguez is in awe with his teacher. This is important as it shows the momentum that Rodriguez is carrying towards his obsession with school. Next, he states, “I tried to move my parents away” (Rodriguez 53). This shows Rodriguez is trying to become completely isolated from his family and instead become engulfed with school. The importance of this is magnificent as this is one way Rodriguez is playing the game. In order to be successful, Rodriguez feels he must adapt by placing all his concentration into school. Another way Rodriguez plays the game is his manipulation of others’ ideas. As stated, Rodriguez never came up with his own ideas, instead he called himself a “collector of thoughts” (Rodriguez 67). Basically, Rodriguez just vacuums up everyone else’s ideas and spits them out. Rodriguez does this because it is his way of …show more content…
The rules are essentially the expectations and requirements that teachers require. McCarthy explains Dave’s success can be credited to Dave’s ability to adapt and conform to the expectations set by the teacher. Dr. Kelly, the cell biology instructor, states, “Students need to get a feeling for the journals” (McCarthy 244). Kelly’s statement explains that the journals might be something that students are not familiar with, therefore, it will take time and experience for students to become comfortable with them. As students dissect the journals more and more, they will quickly learn the expectations they are faced with that deal with the journals. Ultimately, what is at stake here is the whole main idea of McCarthy’s essay. McCarthy is showing us that students must adapt to the different expectations between classes in order to be successful. For example, Dave realized that he must put emphasis on facts and pure substance when writing papers for cell biology (McCarthy 244). While in poetry or composition, Dave’s teacher required more fluent, structured writing that displays highly complex writing (McCarthy 244). McCarthy explains how knowing the different expectations set by different teachers, weather formal or informal, are crucial to be aware of in order to ensure writing is completed with quality. McCarthy writes, “Dr. Forson disagreed with Dave’s