In Aria: A Memoir of a Bilingual Childhood, Richard Rodriguez makes the claim that “[i]t is not possible for a child—any child—ever to use his family’s language in school. Not to understand this is to misunderstand the public uses of schooling and to trivialize the nature of intimate life – a family’s ‘language.’” Rodriguez enforces this idea through extensive use of vignettes as well as the structure of his essay, recalling his childhood and his reluctance to learn public language. Going into depth, he explains how his fear of the public society—rather his belief that he could not be a part of it—caused the young author to be weary of leaving his intimate family setting.
Rodriguez does not argue his points solely based on vignettes, however,
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In paragraphs 25 and 26 as well as throughout the essay, he explains how his fear of the public society—rather his belief that he could not be a part of it—caused the young author to be weary of leaving his intimate family setting. Countless childhood experiences are used to support his claim. The time his parents began speaking
English to him at home (para. 32) and his first introduction to the public education system (para.
3) are only a few examples. Rodriguez’ is able to immerse audience in his childhood experiences through vignettes, allowing them to relate to the author as well as develop an understanding as to why he does not support bilingual education.
Though Rodriguez uses an extensive amount of vignettes, he also develops his claim through the periodic structure of his essay. The events of his childhood are not retold in the way they ordinarily would be, which is the linear order in which they occurred. Rather, Rodriguez chooses to introduce specific memories in a way that gradually leads up to his final argument.
Evidence supporting his argument builds up until the audience can easily guess what Rodriguez’
2
Thornock claim is before he outright states it. Said claim makes its appearance in the 43rd