Terkel's "Frank Chin"
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In Terkel's "Frank Chin," the main character speaks directly to the reader. Although primarily narrative in structure, the essay contains a number of descriptive elements, also. These descriptive sections, written with humor and wit, give a glimpse of Chin's adjustment to an environment composed of an unusual mix of different ethnic group members. The essay is very informal in style. An American of Chinese descent, Chin describes what his life was like growing up in Oakland, California in a racially mixed neighborhood. The first five paragraphs of the essay establish Chin's unique experience in this ethnic montage and describe the environment in which he lives. He grapples with each group's ethnocentrism. He points out that he was bothered when blacks and whites asked him why he was talking about Chinese stuff. Chin observed that nobody spoke English like anybody else. As a result of his experiences, Chin writes, "I've come to believe that monotheism encourages racism, whoever practices it. There is only one God and everyone else is an infidel, a pagan, or a goy" (116). The author develops his essay along a time sequence of events relevant to the civil rights movement and their effect on the main character. Chin was a Chinese living with blacks in Oakland. By sharing the black culture, he gained a unique perspective on the black experience and an appreciation for rhythm-and-blues and jazz. Growing up alone and without parents, Chin did not absorb the ideas
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cumstances and developed a sense of his authentic self. Chin's growth process unfolds through the narrative structure of the work.
The same power of the personal experience is evident in Martha Serrano's "Chicana." "Chicana" is more expository in form than "Frank Chin." However, Serrano's essay uses an informal style, also. Serrano's choice to be called Chicana is the central theme of her essay. She describes her choice of the term based on her understanding of her indigenous past. Through this work, she shares with the reader how the knowledge of her roots has been transformed in a way that has enriched her present-day life and helped her established a personal cultural identity.
Unlike "Chin," which uses the narrative essay form with many descriptive sections, the structure of Serrano's essay uses an expository framework combined with personal narrative. The substantial historical research Serrano cites establishes the central theme of the essay.
Serrano has not selected Chicana frivolously, but based on her study and belief about her cultural heritage. She explains why this concept is logical and accurate. Serrano is retrieving a part of her heritage ignored by most American historians. Proud of her indigen
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1570
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)
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