Quick Summary:
Written in 2017, at the start of Trump's first term, "Everything Is Far from Here" is a haunting short story about a migrant woman who, after a harrowing journey to the U.S., arrives at a detention center expecting safety but instead faces continued uncertainty, separation, and dehumanization. 

About Cristina Henríquez:
Cristina Henríquez (b. 1977) is the author of four books, including, most recently, The Great Divide, a novel about the building of the Panama Canal that explores those rarely acknowledged by history even as they carved out its course.

Her novel The Book of Unknown Americans was a New York Times Notable Book of 2014 and one of Amazon’s Top 10 Books of the Year. It was the Daily Beast Novel of the Year, a Washington Post Notable Book, an NPR Great Read, a Target Book of the Month selection, and was chosen one of the best books of the year by BookPage, Oprah.com, and School Library Journal. It was longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction and was a finalist for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize.

Link to Story: www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/07/24/everything-is-far-from-here

Printable Doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1V2Y-t7WWIf-s_3-YtYbYNzKM5AxR8ggud9nLkvgAiio/edit?tab=t.0

Prompt:

Cristina Henríquez’s short story Everything is Far From Here follows a migrant mother as she arrives in the United States, exhausted and desperate to reunite with her son. In her short story Henríquez conveys the emotional and physical hardships of migration.

Write an essay in which you analyze how Henríquez uses rhetorical strategies to depict the mother’s journey and deepen the reader’s understanding of her experience.

In your essay, you should:

• Develop a clear thesis that responds to the prompt.

• Provide specific evidence from the text to support your analysis.

• Explain how Henríquez’s rhetorical choices affect the reader’s perception of the protagonist’s struggle.

• Demonstrate a strong command of language and organization.

In short: What is the message and purpose? How does Henríquez establish her purpose through different rhetorical moves? Why does this matter?

Prompt:

Throughout its history, the United States has been shaped by immigration. However, immigration policy remains a contentious issue, with debates surrounding its economic, social, and cultural effects. Some argue that immigration strengthens the nation by promoting diversity, innovation, and economic growth, while others claim it places strain on resources and national security.

Write an essay in which you develop a position on the role of immigration in the United States today. Use at least three of the following sources to support your argument.

Synthesis Materials:

Source Packet

Individual Materials Found in Packet:

• Source A: Excerpt from John F. Kennedy’s A Nation of Immigrants

• Source B: Recent Pew Research Center Report on Immigration Trends (2023)

• Source C: Opinion Editorial from The Wall Street Journal

• Source D: Opinion Editorial from The New York Times

• Source E: Excerpt from Emma Lazarus’s Poem The New Colossus

• Source F: Testimony from a Recent Immigrant (Published in The New York Times, 2022)

Prompt:

French political thinker Alexis de Tocqueville once wrote, “The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults.” Tocqueville suggests that America's strength comes not from inherent superiority, but from its capacity for self-correction and progress.

Write an essay in which you develop a position on the extent to which America’s greatness depends on its ability to recognize and address its flaws.

• In your response, you should:

• Develop a clear thesis that asserts your position.

• Support your argument with logical reasoning and relevant evidence.

• Address potential counterarguments to strengthen your position.

• Demonstrate a strong command of language and organization.

You may draw from history, current events, personal observations, or readings to support your argument.