Barrio Boy Writing Assignment
Write 1-2 paragraphs and make sure you answer the question completely. Your writing should
be clear, understandable, and free of grammar errors. It may be helpful to include quotes.
1. Describe the setting of Barrio Boy. What kinds of description are used to make
Ernesto’s school seem different from what he had been used to? Please give
specific examples (use quotation marks.)
2. A character sketch is a description of a person’s personality and behavior. Write
short character sketches (at least 3-5 sentences each) for the characters listed
below. Remember- you learn about characters through what is directly told to you
and through what is inferred about them. Please make sure to put the description in
your own words.

Ernesto Galarza

Henriqueta Galarza

Miss Hopley

Miss Ryan
3. As Maurice said in class, Ernesto’s school is “unique.” Galarza explained “the
school was not so much a melting pot as a griddle.” How are Maurice’s and
Galarza’s ideas connected?
4. As with many of the stories we have read this semester, Ernesto learns to balance
his pride for his native Mexican heritage with his adopted American heritage.
Compare Ernesto’s struggle with one other story we have read in class. In order to
do this, do the following:

Identify the two characters you are going to compare, in this case Ernesto and
one other character.

Clearly identify how Ernesto struggled to adjust to life in America. Give some
examples that illustrate some difficulties for him.

Then do the same for the other character. Make sure to give clear examples to
illustrate those difficulties adjusting.

The EVALUATE- were their situations similar? Different? Tell me how? In
Ernesto’s case, he feels pride for both cultures. In other stories we have read,
this is not the case.