DOLAN - Sotomayor Essay
Sonia Sotomayor was already climbing the legal ladder when she delivered her speech in 2001, as she was in a public position to share that the American Dream is very achievable for people of all backgrounds. Throughout her speech, she has an optimistic tone and shares her beloved childhood memories that helped shape her Latina Identity and nourish her "Latina soul," (Sotomayor, line 32, paragraph 3). She used repetition to say that being Latina means growing up eating your family's food that represents your culture and playing with your cousins to shape relationships.
However, while Sonia does focus on the things she loves about being Latina in paragraphs 1 and 3, she chooses to share that there is not an objective reason why "individuals born into a different American culture sill identify with communities in which their parents were raised in, (Sotomayor, lines 63-66, paragraph 5). She identifies the tension between America's "melting pot" versus the "salad bowl". She calls out America for saying it takes pride in ethnic diversity and the importance of including uniqueness, yet still consistently white-washes ethnic communities, and encourages assimilation. This shows Sotomayor's emotional diction of America's mediocre attempts to embrace cultural diversity.
Furthermore, Sotomayor was a court appeals Judge when she delivered the speech in 2001 and she was on her way to becoming a Supreme Court Judge in 2009. Sonia was in a public position at an accredited institution (UC Berkeley). She used this to her advantage to project the message that you can be successful without conforming to society's outdated cultural norms. In the final paragraph, she shares how she embraced her identity because her parents demonstrated their love for it and the beauty of being able to call herself a Latina. She ends by stating that great things can be achieved through hard work, not one's ethnic background, or where they were born, but through grit, and a zest for life, anyone can sit at the "American Dream" table.
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Sonia Sotomayor was already climbing the legal ladder when she delivered her speech in 2001, as she was in a public position to share that the American Dream is very achievable for people of all backgrounds. Throughout her speech, she has an optimistic tone and shares her beloved childhood memories that helped shape her Latina Identity and nourish her "Latina soul," (Sotomayor, line 32, paragraph 3). While she loves her Latina identity, she explains the struggles of being so ecstatic about her culture in a society where she is expected to conform to a melted-down version of her Latina identity. She used repetition to say that being Latina means growing up eating your family's food that represents your culture and playing with your cousins to shape relationships.
Reason: This change adds foreshadowing to my supporting evidence and helps demonstrate the character she has built around her Latina Identity even when society wants her to conform to white-washed standards.
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However, while Sonia does focus on the things she loves about being Latina in paragraphs 1 and 3, she chooses to share that there is not an objective reason why "individuals born into a different American culture sill identify with communities in which their parents were raised in, (Sotomayor, lines 63-66, paragraph 5). She identifies the tension between America's "melting pot" versus the "salad bowl". America's "melting pot" refers to an accumulation of diverse cultures coming together to form a common culture. This does not allow individuals to feel confident enough to retain their individual identities in addition to finding commonalities within our communities. However, America's "salad bowl" reference allows individuals to keep their identities while residing together with other cultures. She calls out America for saying it takes pride in ethnic diversity and the importance of including uniqueness, yet still consistently white-washes ethnic communities, and encourages assimilation. This shows Sotomayor's emotional diction of America's mediocre attempts to embrace cultural diversity.
Reason: This change should be made because it strengthens my argument of my analysis of the "melting pot" vs. "salad bowl" metaphor.
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Furthermore, Sotomayor was a court appeals Judge when she delivered the speech in 2001 and she was on her way to becoming a Supreme Court Judge in 2009. Sonia was in a public position at an accredited institution (UC Berkeley). She used this to her advantage to project the message that you can be successful without conforming to society's outdated cultural norms like the "melting pot" metaphor. In the final paragraph, she shares how she embraced her identity because her parents demonstrated their love for it and the beauty of being able to call herself a Latina. She explains how it can be hard being yourself, especially as a minority, but if people do not protect their peace, their culture will be lost. America will not have the diversity that it should accumulate from those seeking the American Dream. She ends by stating that great things can be achieved through hard work, not one's ethnic background, or where they were born, but through grit, and a zest for life, anyone can sit at the "American Dream" table.
Reason: This change strengthens my reasoning that Sotomayor's argument revolves around staying true to your identity to achieve the American Dream and build a brighter future for the country.
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You did a commendable job of selecting and utilizing evidence from Sonia Sotomayor’s speech to support your thesis. Your analysis highlighted her use of repetition in emphasizing cultural traditions, like family meals and childhood interactions, which shape her Latina identity. This effectively supports your argument by showing how these elements contribute to her personal narrative and appeal to ethos. However, you could delve deeper into how this repetition enhances her message about the complexity of identity. Consider explaining how these shared experiences foster a sense of belonging and pride, reinforcing the broader theme of identity in a multicultural society.
Would you like to explore how to strengthen your analysis of the “melting pot” versus “salad bowl” analogy, discuss the significance of Sotomayor’s professional context in delivering this speech, or examine the impact of her concluding message on her audience? Let me know which path you’d like to take—or suggest another area to dive into.
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Your thesis does a commendable job of highlighting the rhetorical choices Sotomayor makes to convey her message about identity. You effectively identify how her optimistic tone and childhood memories contribute to shaping her Latina identity. You also recognize the use of repetition in exploring cultural elements like food and family ties, which is a strong observation. However, consider refining your thesis to more explicitly state how these rhetorical choices impact her message about identity. Perhaps, emphasize how her strategic use of repetition and tone not only highlights her pride in her culture but also serves to challenge broader societal norms. You might want to clarify how these elements work together to support her argument and her stance on cultural diversity.
What else would you like to explore? We could discuss how you can strengthen the connection between your thesis and the evidence provided, delve deeper into the significance of Sotomayor’s rhetorical strategies, or perhaps explore how you can enhance the clarity of your analysis. Let me know which path you’d like to take or suggest another area you’d like to improve!
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Your essay does a great job of addressing the rhetorical situation in Sonia Sotomayor’s speech. You clearly identify Sotomayor’s optimistic tone and her use of personal anecdotes to establish her Latina identity. This shows a strong understanding of how she connects with her audience by sharing relatable childhood memories, which you describe as “nourishing her Latina soul.” By mentioning the repetition of cultural elements like food and family, you highlight how Sotomayor uses these to reinforce her message about identity. Your analysis captures how she presents herself as an embodiment of the American Dream, a crucial aspect of the rhetorical situation.
Would you like to delve deeper into how Sotomayor’s use of contrast between the “melting pot” and “salad bowl” enhances her argument? Or perhaps explore how her professional status as a judge adds weight to her message? Alternatively, we could examine more closely how her diction contributes to her argument about cultural diversity. Feel free to choose one, or suggest another area you’re curious about!
Revise or edit your writing right now. If this is your document, click on a sentence or a paragraph number in the left panel, then hit Edit, make your changes, and hit Update. You can also hit Suggest Revision on a document that you have been invited to. Another option is to hit Add to Document, and then you can add New Content for deeper, multi-paragraph rewrites.
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