Free Preview of the First Chapter in Patterns of Writing
Hey there! Welcome to the first lesson from the “Patterns of Writing” as prescribed in your Business English curriculum. Here, we’ll be covering the summary and all the important questions that can be asked in your examination from this lesson. As usual, I ask you to carefully study all these notes and think aloud or write down what you’ve learnt for effective memory. So, let’s get started.
हुन्छ Sir …..अब सुरू गरिहालौं!
Summary of the Lesson Content
Grasp the substance of the lesson in a few minutes
“Only Daughter” is a personal story written by Sandra Cisneros, which talks about her experiences growing up in a Mexican-American family in Chicago. She was the only daughter among six brothers, and her father wanted a son to carry on the family name. Despite this, Cisneros was a bright child who loved reading. Her mother, on the other hand, wanted her to learn more practical skills like cooking and cleaning.
Cisneros had a hard time at school because she was often the only Mexican-American student in her class. She struggled with English at first, but eventually became an avid reader and writer. She loved writing and dreamed of becoming a writer. She knew she had to be a woman who would write things down because if she didn’t, everything would be forgotten.
Despite her success in school and her admission to a university, Cisneros still struggled to find a community of writers who shared her experiences and identity. She felt that she was different and that the only thing she could hope for was to find a group of people who would understand her. Eventually, she found a mentor who encouraged her to write about her experiences as a Mexican-American woman.
Cisneros’ writing began to gain recognition, and she was happy to see her name in print for the first time. She was proud of her accomplishments and felt the joy of her family. However, she also felt the pressure of representing her community and the frustration of constantly having to explain her identity.
Cisneros realized that she is so many things all at once that sometimes it’s easier for her to say nothing at all. She reflected on her success as a writer and the impact that her work has had on young Latina girls. When she read letters from young women who tell her that she has given them a voice, she felt blessed. Despite the challenges, she is proud to be a Mexican-American woman and writer.
In conclusion. “Only Daughter” is a story about a Mexican-American girl who had a tough time growing up because she was different from others. She struggled to fit in because of her culture and felt like her voice was not heard. However, she found that writing about her experiences helped her to be heard and inspired others like her. The story teaches us that it’s important to be proud of who we are and to use our voices to share our stories and make a difference.
Selected Question-Answer from this Lesson
Learn to answer the most important exam questions from the lesson
Q) How does Cisneros’ essay relate to larger themes of feminism and women’s rights?
Sandra Cisneros’ essay is about her experiences growing up in a Mexican-American family and the challenges she faced as a woman. She talks about the expectations placed on her as a daughter and how these expectations limited her opportunities and independence.
Her essay relates to larger themes of feminism and women’s rights because it highlights the ways in which gender roles and cultural expectations can be oppressive for women. Cisneros shows how women are often expected to conform to traditional roles and behaviors, such as being submissive, nurturing, and domestic. These expectations can prevent women from pursuing their goals and dreams and can limit their ability to achieve equality.
Cisneros also discusses the importance of education and empowerment for women. She emphasizes the need for women to have access to education and to be able to make their own choices about their lives. By empowering women, they can break free from traditional gender roles and achieve greater equality and freedom.
Overall, Cisneros’ essay highlights the challenges faced by women in patriarchal societies and the importance of fighting for women’s rights and equality.
Q) What is the significance of the title “Only Daughter”and how does it relate to the themes of the narrative essay?
The title “Only Daughter” is significant because it highlights the unique experiences of growing up as the only girl in a family of six boys. It is a title that is specific to Cisneros and her personal story, but it also speaks to broader themes of gender and cultural expectations.
The title relates to the themes of the essay because it highlights the challenges that Cisneros faced growing up as a girl in a traditional Mexican-American family. She had to fight against traditional gender roles and overcome traditional barriers (तगाराहरु) to find her place in the world.
Throughout the essay, Cisneros explores the challenges that she faced growing up as a girl in a traditional Mexican-American family. She describes how her father had traditional expectations of gender roles and did not always understand her desire to pursue her own interests and dreams. She also discusses the ways in which she felt isolated and misunderstood as the only girl in a family of six boys.
The title “Only Daughter” is important because it reminds us of the challenges that girls and women often face in their lives because of their gender. In the essay, Cisneros talks about the difficulties she faced growing up as the only girl in her family. She shows us that girls can feel isolated and misunderstood because of traditional expectations and stereotypical thinking (येस्तै हुनुपर्छ भन्ने खालको परम्परावादी सोच) about what girls can and should do.
Q) What does Cisneros mean when she writes that being an only daughter in a family of six sons “explains everything”?
When Cisneros writes that being an only daughter in a family of six sons “explains everything,” she is referring to the many challenges she faced growing up as the only girl in a male-dominated family or in a patriarchal (पितृसत्तात्मक) society. This statement suggests that her experiences were shaped by her gender and the expectations placed on her by society. She had to fight against traditional gender roles and overcome stereotypes to find her place in the world. Her brothers were given more opportunities and freedoms than she was, which made her feel like she didn’t belong.
By saying that being the only daughter in a family of six sons “explains everything,” Cisneros is suggesting that her experiences are relatable to other women who have grown up in similar circumstances. Her struggles with gender and cultural identity are common to many women who have been marginalized or oppressed because of their gender. Cisneros’ statement highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing gender inequality and the need for greater representation and empowerment of women in all areas of society.
Q) What distinction does Cisneros make in paragraphs two and three between “the only daughter” and being “only a daughter”?
In the second and third paragraphs of her essay, Cisneros makes a distinction between “the only daughter” and “only a daughter.”
When she says “the only daughter,” she is referring to herself as a unique and individual person, who had a specific identity and experiences as the only girl in a family of six boys. She felt like she had to prove herself and overcome obstacles that her brothers did not face. Her experiences were shaped by her gender and her role in the family as the only daughter.
On the other hand, when Cisneros says “only a daughter,” she is referring to a broader societal issue of how girls and women are often devalued and marginalized because of their gender. She is highlighting the fact that being “only a daughter” in a patriarchal society can limit a girl’s opportunities and possibilities in life. It suggests that society places less value on girls and women, which can lead to discrimination and inequality.
Therefore, the distinction Cisneros makes between “the only daughter” and “only a daughter” is important because it emphasizes both her unique experiences as an individual and the broader societal issues that affect all girls and women.
Q) What is the message that Cisneros is trying to convey about gender roles and cultural expectations?
In her essay “Only Daughter,” Cisneros is trying to convey the message that gender roles and cultural expectations can limit individuals and their potential (व्यक्ति र उसको सम्भावनायुक्त क्षमता लाई खुम्च्याउन सक्ने). She shows how she was expected to conform to (स्विकार्नु) traditional gender roles as a Mexican-American girl, but how she also had a strong desire to pursue her own interests and dreams.
Cisneros’ essay highlights the importance of recognizing and challenging gender roles and cultural expectations that may be limiting individuals based on their gender, ethnicity, or other factors. She argues that it is important to embrace diversity and to create a world where everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential, regardless of their gender or background.
Overall, Cisneros’ message is a call to action for individuals and society as a whole to break free from traditional gender roles and cultural expectations and to create a more inclusive and equitable world.
Q) Explain whether you think Cisneros intends to convey a sympathetic or an unsympathetic impression of her father.
Cisneros intends to convey a sympathetic impression of her father in her essay.
She describes him as a hardworking and caring man who loved his children deeply. Despite his traditional beliefs and expectations about gender roles, he tried to provide for his family and protect them from harm.
However, Cisneros also acknowledges the ways in which her father’s actions and beliefs affected her and her siblings, especially as the only daughter. She felt like she was not valued or understood by him, and that her life was limited by his expectations. Despite this, she still loves and respects her father for who he is and the sacrifices he made for his family.
Overall, Cisneros’ portrayal of her father is complex, but she clearly intends to convey a sympathetic impression of him as a flawed, but caring and hardworking person who did his best for his family.
Q) What is the message that Cisneros is trying to convey about gender roles and cultural expectations?
In her essay “Only Daughter,” Cisneros is trying to convey the message that gender roles and cultural expectations can limit individuals and their potential. She shows how she was expected to conform to traditional gender roles as a Mexican-American girl, but how she also had a strong desire to pursue her own interests and dreams.
Cisneros’ experiences show that girls and women are often expected to conform to certain roles and expectations that may limit their opportunities and potential. Her essay also highlights the importance of recognizing and challenging cultural expectations that may be limiting individuals based on their gender or ethnicity.
Overall, Cisneros’ experiences growing up as an only daughter in a family of six sons reflect broader social and cultural issues related to gender and expectations. Her essay calls for a more inclusive and equitable world where everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential, regardless of their gender or background.
Q) What literary devices does Cisneros use in her essay to convey her message and engage the reader?
Sandra Cisneros uses several literary devices in her essay to convey her message and engage the reader. Some of these devices include:
Narration of personal stories: Cisneros narrates her personal stories to illustrate her points and make them more relatable to the reader. For example, she tells the story of her first job at a department store and the way her supervisor tried to change her name to something more “American.”
Repetition: Cisneros repeats certain words and phrases throughout her essay for emphasis and to create a sense of rhythm. For example, she repeats the phrase “I am the only daughter in a family of six sons” several times throughout the essay.
Tone: Cisneros uses a conversational and often humorous tone to engage the reader and make her points more accessible. She also switches between English and Spanish to create a sense of cultural identity and to connect with bilingual readers.
Overall, these literary devices help Cisneros convey her message about the challenges and joys of growing up as a Mexican-American woman and the importance of education, empowerment, and self-discovery.
Welcome to the Exam Rehearsal Mode!
Research has proved that you remember things better when you either think of them or write them down.
Exam Rehearsal: Lesson Questions
Think of the answers to the questions in the study-mode
Practice remembering aloud or writing down the answers to the Qs you just studied in the ‘Study Mode’ here.
Group C Total Weightage: 3×10 = 30 Marks
Practice remembering aloud (बोल्दै सम्झनुहोस्) or writing down what you’ve studied on the White Board below.
(Remember: If you are using laptop, you can increase the height of The White Board to your desired size. Just move your mouse cursor to the bottom-right corner of the Board below and drag the border down to your required size)
Note: Open your “Study Mode” link in a new tab of your laptop browser. Now you can see all the questions from that mode in your newly opened tab. This way you can start practising or writing down the answers to any question from the ‘Study Mode’ here.
Want to fully master these Qs ? Switch back to the STUDY MODE again.
Pause and Remember!
Minimise the lesson-window and look away. What were the main ideas of this chapter? You will find that you can recall these ideas more easily if you relate them to your own life and career goals.
Congratulations! You’ve now gone through every type of question that can be asked in your exams from this unit. A next round of revision will certainly help you learn & remember all these answers to your exam questions!