Question

Dear Editor,

I have never taken the time to write a letter to the editor, but something happened that lit a fire in me. Last week, as my best friend Areliss and I headed to class, a group of college protesters blocked our path. Their signs read “GO HOME” and “ILLEGALS LEAVE.” They shouted, “Send them home!” These protesters couldn’t have known what Areliss felt as they shouted and waved pamphlets in our faces like tattered flags. But, I know their words were bullets to Areliss’s heart. I wanted to fire back to the protestors: Where are your ancestors from?

Areliss came to the United States illegally, but she didn’t do it intentionally. She was a baby. Her parents, seeking a better life, failed to follow the established immigration procedure, and they slipped into our country undetected. Once here, they raised Areliss, who would grow up never knowing any other home but America.

Under DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), Areliss has been granted the temporary opportunity to remain here while she completes her college education. DACA ensures, at least for a while, that she will not be deported to a country she has never visited in her entire life.

The term “DREAMers” refers to an act that would have protected these immigrant children if they attended college or served in the military. The DREAM Act did not pass, but its name has remained. DACA recipients have a dream: they dream that their lifelong contribution to the United States will one day be recognized, and they will be permitted to stay in the country they have always called home.

Now, DACA is ending. Those who oppose DACA say it encourages illegal activity, weakens our borders, and goes against the Constitution. I understand their concerns. In an era of heightened security, we must do our utmost to keep this great nation safe. That includes establishing a healthy monitoring system for immigration.

But, those who oppose DACA, who wield protest signs and who want to build walls, have never felt the dreaded doom of deportation. They forget that our long and colorful history has been built by many immigrants—including the immigrants who fought for and founded our country. They forget that Lady Liberty stands as a beacon, asking for the tired, the poor, and the huddled masses yearning to breathe free. We have a responsibility to them.

To send DREAMers away is to deny that responsibility. Programs like DACA exist to keep the American dream alive.

Yes, Areliss is a DREAMer. But I, too, have a dream. My dream is that DACA will be reinstated. My dream is that Areliss will be invited to stay in the country she has known as home since she was a baby and live out her dreams in the country she loves.

Sincerely,

Brittany Taylor

Writing Prompt: Read the letter to the editor “I, Too, Have a Dream.” How does the writer use structure and language to persuade her readers and support her feelings about immigration? Write an essay using evidence from the letter to answer the question.
Thesis Statement:

Part 1 – Organizing Your Ideas
Directions: Write a topic sentence for each body paragraph. (One body paragraph should focus on the author’s use of structure and one body paragraph should focus on the author’s use of language.) Use a mixture of paraphrased examples and direct quotations for your evidence. Write your examples and explanations in complete sentences.
Body Paragraph 1
Topic Sentence:
•  Example from text to support topic sentence:

•  Explanation of how the example serves purpose:

•  Example from text to support topic sentence:

•  Explanation of how the example serves purpose:

Body Paragraph 2
Topic Sentence:
•  Example from text to support topic sentence:

•  Explanation of how the example serves purpose:

•  Example from text to support topic sentence:

•  Explanation of how the example serves purpose:

Answer 1

Thesis Statement: In her letter to the editor, "I, Too, Have a Dream," Brittany Taylor effectively uses structure and language to persuade her readers and support her feelings about immigration.

Body Paragraph 1:

Topic Sentence: The author uses structure to create a personal and emotional connection with her readers.

Example from text to support topic sentence: "Last week, as my best friend Areliss and I headed to class, a group of college protesters blocked our path."

Explanation of how the example serves purpose: By starting her letter with a personal experience, the author immediately draws the reader in and creates a sense of empathy and understanding. This allows her to effectively argue her point by using personal anecdotes and emotions.

Example from text to support topic sentence: "But, I know their words were bullets to Areliss’s heart."

Explanation of how the example serves purpose: This statement emphasizes the personal impact that the issue of immigration has on the author and her friend, making it more relatable to the reader and increasing the emotional weight of her argument.

Body Paragraph 2:

Topic Sentence: The author uses language to appeal to the reader's sense of morality and patriotism.

Example from text to support topic sentence: "They forget that our long and colorful history has been built by many immigrants—including the immigrants who fought for and founded our country."

Explanation of how the example serves purpose: By highlighting the contributions of immigrants to American society and history, the author appeals to the reader's sense of morality and patriotism, making it more difficult to argue against her position.

Example from text to support topic sentence: "We have a responsibility to them."

Explanation of how the example serves purpose: This statement shifts the focus from the individual immigrants to the responsibility of the American society and government towards them, making it more difficult for the reader to argue against her position, as it could be seen as an act of unpatriotic or inhumane.