San Diego Jewish Academy
9th Grade Humanities
The House on Mango Street Vignette Writing
(assignment adapted from Suzanne Gabe, Grossmont High School)


Using "one true sentence" and "show not tell" techniques, include sensory details and figurative language (similes, metaphors, personification), and write some vignettes in the style of Sandra Cisneros. Choose three of the following vignette topics to write about, or propose your own spin-offs of The House on Mango Street.

The finished vignettes must be word-processed, revised, edited, and show use of the design guidelines.


Chapter

Prompt related to chapter

"Hairs"

Describe your own hair and someone else's in an unusual, poetic way.

"Boys & Girls"

Who are you? Try to capture the essence of yourself in poetic images.

"My Name"

If you could name yourself, what would you choose? Why do you pick this name?

"Laughter"

Pick a family trait that you have or others in your family have and describe it using imaginative language.

all

Describe your neighborhood using interesting words and phrases.

"Those Who Don't"

Describe one place that makes you feel safe and secure, and one place that makes you feel awkward and insecure.

all

Pick something from your world and describe it from a child's perspective.

"The First Job"

Esperanza loses some of her innocence because she is young and unsuspecting. Tell about a time that you or someone you know felt exploited because of youth and innocence.

"Elenita…" "Geraldo…"
"Edna's Ruthie"

We all encounter people who somehow affect us even though we don't know them well. Describe someone who has shared a bit of your life and made an impression on you.

"The Earl of Tennessee"

Re-read paragraph three which describes the familiar sounds Esperanza hears each night. Listen to the familiar sounds in your life, and describe them in words.

"Four Skinny Trees"

Pick something familiar to you, around your house or school or neighborhood, and write a prose poem.

"Sally" "Minerva Writes Poems"

As you grow and age, you can recognize problems. Choose someone you know who has a problem or some sadness in life, and try to capture it in a description.

"A Smart Cookie"

Do you know anyone who had a dream but never realized it? What about you? What are your dreams, and how can you make sure you don't let them escape?

"What Sally Said"

Sally is being physically abused. Her story is ugly, but it captures the sickness of the abused and the abuser. Can you capture the essence of an unpleasant situation in words, something you have seen or heard. (Please protect those involved by changing names.)


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