Compare and Contrast Essay 1 Prompt
Your sources should be limited to the two articles mentioned in the prompt, below.
This essay is based on Roberto Rodriguez’s “The Border on our Backs” and Star Parker’s “Se Habla
Entitlement”. Both essays offer perspectives on the U.S. immigration policy toward Mexicans. Rodriguez
includes Central Americans in his essay.
Please write a unified essay that explains what you think each author is saying, comparing and/or contrasting
the perspectives on immigration. You should focus mainly on the two texts. Be sure your thesis statement
includes the most important similarity or difference between the two texts. Also, be sure to find points of
comparison.
To find points to compare and contrast you might begin, for example, by asking yourself these questions:
 What is each author saying about the rights of Mexicans and Central Americans in this country?
 Does each author discuss immigrants’ rights in relation to the land?
 How does each author use language to make or bolster his/her main point/s?
 Do both articles discuss the impact of immigration on the U.S. economy?
 If yes, what economic points does each author make?
 Does each article talk about the legal issues? What point does each author make about the legal
issues surrounding immigration from Mexico to the U.S.?
Make an outline of your claims to organize your ideas before writing.
A Note on Purpose:
Your essay will be stronger if you have a purpose driving it, a purpose that goes beyond comparing, for
example, “how A differs from B.”
Essay Structure:
In your thesis paragraph, include a claim about the subject of these articles. You’ll basically be making a
claim that argues why these articles are comparable. Your thesis paragraph should also include your thesis
statement (i.e. a thesis statement is, in this case, a claim about what the most important similarity or difference
is between the two texts).
Each paragraph in the body of your essay must start with a claim, be followed by evidence (a direct quote)
that you introduce, frame, and cite, and end with your analysis (analysis explains how/why your evidence
illustrates that paragraph’s claim. (Google: OWL PURDUE for information on using MLA In-Text citation
correctly.)
Use key terms to keep your reader oriented. (I.e. if your claim contains certain terms, your analysis should use
those same terms to tie your evidence to your claim.) You should use the same key terms in your thesis that you
go on to use in your body paragraphs.