Writing about the Wall

Every day, there are many people crossing the border between the United States and
Mexico. This creates the question of should or should there not be a well between the two
countries. Richard Rodriguez strongly answers this question in The Great Wall of America by
saying that there should not be a wall. He uses substance, style, and organization to successfully
do this. The essay is written towards an audience of those who are either in favor or opposed to
the building of the wall; mainly Americans and Mexicans, but also has a larger, more general
audience of everyone that would have access to read the essay. The Author of The Great Wall of
America argues against the future image of a wall between the United States and Mexico by
creating an image of the wall in our minds using great examples, a serious tone with a few nonserious examples, and organization to help the points he makes against a wall transition and give
us an understanding.
Richard Rodriguez uses well created real world examples to argue successfully against
having a wall. He argues that even though The Great Wall of China is longer than the wall that
would be between the United States and Mexico, China still is able to go across borders to
expand their economics. The example of Israels wall is also used. This example is used to
show the opposite side of the argument for the wall. Many people who are for the wall say that it
would keep illegal immigrants out and keep the United States safe. Rodriguez goes on to say
that police and border patrol would keep the border safe and the so called illegal immigrants
out.
The well-defined tone of The Great Wall of America uses non-serious examples to
represent serious issues when Rodriguez is writing about his attitude towards the wall. To create
a non-serious tone for a serious topic, Rodriguez states it is an attempt to stop the

Roadrunners progress with an Acme Border Sealing Kit (59). This cartoon is something that
many Americans can relate to, thus making this an effective way to go about adding a nonserious tone to the issue. Using the example of an American cartoon sets the audience of the
essay to be geared towards American readers. Rodriguez also says that Grandmas knockoff
Louis Vuitton handbag is so full of meds it sounds like a snake rattle (59). This is also giving us
a non-serious tone in the way it talks about a grandma having a handbag that is full of
medication. This is using imagery that is taken non-seriously. The essay also has an ironic tone
to it. The article mentions that the statue of liberty advertises for the tired and the poor
(Rodriguez 60). This is showing an ironic twist in where some of the immigrants who are
coming to the United States might be tired or poor and are looking to better their lives.
The organization of Rodriguezs essay is very easy to follow. The essay starts out by
describing the wall itself, and goes into describing the Mexican, and American side. This gives
us a background about the wall and a feeling about what it would be like on both sides of the
wall. These are separated into different paragraphs, and it is easy to tell what he is talking about.
The Author then goes on to give his examples about China and Israel. This is logical to put here,
because it is showing us what a wall on our border could potentially be like. At the end,
Rodriguez has a concluding paragraph that brings his essay to the end and sums up the
arguments he makes against building the wall.
Rodriguez is successful in arguing his point against a future wall on the border between
the United States and Mexico. The examples of The Great Wall of China and the wall of Israel
are used to create images of what a wall could be and do in our minds. A serious tone is used
throughout the paper, showing that the issue is serious. A few of the examples that are used
however, are non-serious examples and might add a little relief of the serious tone of the essay.

The essay is nicely organized with how it is laid out and it is easy to understand what is talked
about throughout the paragraphs. The way that Rodriguez writes his essay is successful in
arguing against the wall and proves the point that there should not be a wall on the border
between the United States and Mexico.

Reference:
Rodriguez, R. (2008). The Great Wall of America. In G. H. Muller, The New World Reader (pp.
58-61). Boston: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

Essay The Great Wall of America by Richard Rodriguez

Introduction
Intro sentence The Author against a wall on the border between the United States and Mexico
(Purpose) and is for people who are considering a wall, but also for a general
audience to gain support for his points against a wall
Thesis - The Author of The Great Wall of America argues against the future image
of a wall between the United States and Mexico by creating an image of the wall
in our minds using great examples, a serious tone with a few non-serious
examples, and organization to help the points he makes against a wall transition
and give us an understanding.

First Main Point Substance

The examples that Richard Rodriguez use help him create an argument against a
wall.
-

Chinese Wall Example The Chinese go across their border to expand their
country

Israel Wall example To help get rid of violence in the country

Second Main Point - Style

The tone of the essay is serious but some examples are using non-serious ways
to represent a serious topic
-

The example of the Roadrunner is turning a simple non-serious cartoon in

representing a serious issue

Third Main Point Organization

It is easy to follow if the Author is talking about the American or Mexican side of
the border
The Essay transitions from describing the border to giving the examples about
why we should not have a wall

Conclusion
Essay makes an effective argument against a wall
Uses great examples to do this
Uses a few non-serious examples to support a serious topic

The organization is clear and easy to follow