Working on RED SCARF GIRL Essay
*It’s not enough to just mention events and examples from the book…you must SUPPORT them!
Tip #1:
Not enough to just say:
Ji-li was asked to testify against her father at a Struggle Meeting.
Instead, support it by saying:
Ji-li was asked to testify against her father at a Struggle Meeting. Even though Thinface was threatening her, Ji-li couldn’t imagine criticizing her father in public. She was worried he’d never forgive her. She wanted to be loyal towards Chairman, but she couldn’t betray her father to do it.
Not enough to just say:
The Red Guards ransacked Ji-li’s house and destroyed fourolds.
Instead, support it by saying:
The Red Guards ransacked Ji-li’s house. Since her family was in the Black Category, they were targeted. The Red Guards destroyed the family’s belongings and took away many of their fourolds. It was hard for Ji-li to still support the Revolution, especially when her treasured stamp album was taken away. She couldn’t imagine being that destructive towards another family, even if it meant supporting The Revolution.
*State things that happened in the book and describe events – but support it…say what that meant
for Ji-li or her family or the Revolution.
*Reflect on how she or her family were affected.
Tip #2: Starting off 1st argument/2nd/3rd…
*The power of propaganda was so influencing during The Cultural Revolution that believed whatever was written on da-zi-baos.
*Ji-li’s perspective changed throughout the book because of her family’s Black Status.
*Opportunities were limited for Ji-li’s dad because his father was a Landlord.
Tip #3: Supporting a Quote…
Ex. 1 -“We cannot choose our families or our class status. But we can choose our futures.” (Teacher Zhang, pg. 198)
By Teacher Zhang telling Ji-li this, it gives her confidence that she doesn’t have to keep losing opportunities, just because her family is in the Black Category. She can’t control what her family stands for, but she can prove to everyone her loyalty towards Chairman Mao.
Ex. 2 -“The names of many shops still stand of old culture, so the signs had to be smashed to make way for the coming of new ideas.” (Ji-li, pg. 21) People believed whatever they were told during the Cultural Revolution. Propaganda was so influencing that when fourolds were being destroyed, people wanted to join in. They felt that they were helping the Revolution grow.