Mary Gordon: More than Just a Shrine

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Mary Gordon: More than Just a Shrine—Ellis Island

This activity contains 3 questions.

Gordon’s visit to Ellis Island evokes in her a variety of negative impressions, yet the overall experience does not seem to be a negative one for her. Analyze the essay to explore this apparent contradiction. What does she gain from the experience?

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type at the beginning of the paragraph, and at the end.

In this essay Gordon mixes personal narration, description, reporting of historical detail and images from her imagination, along with personal analysis and reflection. Look carefully at how she develops these strands of the essay, provides transitions, and moves from point to point. In an essay analyze and evaluate her technique.

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type at the beginning of the paragraph, and at the end.

Reflect on own sense of your heritage as an American. Are there any “shrines”—whether public or private—that have special meaning to you? Do you feel more an insider or an outsider? (If you are not a citizen, you may wish to reflect on what your experience has led you to believe it means to be an American.)

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type at the beginning of the paragraph, and at the end.

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