The “Support and Pass the Dream Act” article was published by the California Dream Act Network (California Dream Network) in 2011 on the change.org website. The authors use a mixture of elements to draw in the reader’s attention. The Dream Act is not a just a law trying to be passed but also serves as a life changing act that plays into the lives of young Hispanic Latinos raised in California. Citizens from all over California have come together to make statement by writing a petition that gives undocumented students a chance to further pursue an education they want. The petition and its representatives create an effective way of convincing the reader into agreeing with what they believe by preaching their …show more content…
idea, presenting facts and information, present their ideas with the backing of highly recognized groups, and then support of those in favor of the act to create a strong and persuasive petition to reach their purpose of achieving support to pass the Dream Act. In “Support and Pass the California Dream Act” the authors acknowledge that in America “65,000 students graduate” from high school with the requirements to apply to well-known colleges and university and to receive the financial help (CDN 326).
The reality of the law is brought into play by the authors to lure the publics’ attention to the problem. They use facts by giving the audience unknown statistic that evokes change in mind, a technique that tries to convince the public, of the statement they are making. The writers use facts and reasons to persuade the readers into wanting to make change happen by signing the petition, which is their purpose. The text is used to inform the audience of the petition. By breaking down the petition point by point, it is a more effective way of presenting their purpose. The authors demonstrate how the act “would allow undocumented students to meet in-state tuition requirements” and “receive scholarships derived from non-state funds,” the author uses this to inform the reader the change that they are trying to persuade people to make (CDN 327). The writers name different types of financial aids that American teenagers are given like “Cal grants…students aid, and fee waivers” to let the public know of the everyday type of help for college that is withheld from those students that are here undocumented (CDN …show more content…
326).
The authors use the changes that are stated in the article as hooks. They are used to lure in the audience of the seriousness and importance of that act. The CDN also try to give the audience information that was unknown of by telling the petition had been vetoed in previous attempts such as “2006, 2007, 2008, and 2010” (327). The acknowledgment of the previous failed attempts is used to induce the problem into the readers mind by giving the audience facts of how long the problem has been carried out and how long they have tried to fix it. The “Dream Act” is the first law, in recent years, trying to pass to give undocumented aliens in the USA, legal status (NPR par.4). The last time any law of this type was brought to a state legislature was in 1968, which was approved by the United States government by Ronald Reagan (NPR par.1). Furthermore, the petition also uses personal opinions into luring the public to help change the law by passing the Dream Act. The authors refers to the undocumented youth as “student body presidents, honor students…leaders, and aspiring professionals” to make the audience believe that the change that is trying to be made is for a good reason, to give those students who with a bright future a chance of being successful (CDN 326). The creators of the petition use a certain choice of words such as “hard working, educated, bright, and productive” to describe the type of people those “undocumented 65,000 illegal immigrants” are (CDN 326). They use this technique to establish the character of the minority who are to become the “hard-working” and “bright” workforce that the nation is in need of (CDN 326). The creators of the text use of the word “we” in the closing sentence of the next to last paragraph, when it is used to represent “our future” and “economy” showing the audience that they have the choice of contributing to the change (CDN 327). By giving them a sense of power the writers create a sense of authority to show they trust America’s public. They want them to know that this change is possible, if they are willing to make the right choice. One of the last elements used in “Support and Pass the California Dream Act” is the presentation of the highly recognized types of business, religious, civic, legal, community, and educational groups and institutions that support the act (Timbur 328). Those groups and institutions being the “ Los Angeles Chamber of commerce, San Francisco chamber of commerce, ACLU, The University of California,” (CDN 327). The creators of the text use the credibility of the groups and institutions to show a strong sense of support that is given to the change that the California Dream Act is able of making. By showing that the AB 110 law has the backing of various known and prestigious it lets the audience of the article know the law has been approved by the educational institutions of the state of California. The University of Cal system has examined the statistics of the state graduating classes, showing them that the undocumented immigrants have in some cases done better academically then then those students that have gained admissions into their schools.
The CDN sends a message to the people making sure that their voice is being heard, and that the United States is a democracy that is susceptible to change.
The believers or “Dreamers” believe that there should be a change in the state government to give them an opportunity of chasing their dream of success after education, and by reading this article they feel inspired by the message they are trying to get across. The “Dreamers” believe since they are given permission to educate themselves in primary and secondary education it is only just to allow them the opportunity of joining their peers in post education after high school. The undocumented graduates desire the “Dream Act” to be passed so that they are able to join their fellow classmates at the college of their choice but most importantly be able to attain the American Dream. The “Dream Act” would give the undocumented students of California a sense of freedom. In USA, being here with no status gives you the risk of being deported at any time. By passing this act, undocumented students would be able to work without fear but more importantly strive to achieve success. The “Support and Pass the Dream Act” article is very promising (CDN 326). The undocumented graduates are given hope that one day they will be successful in a county they consider to be
home. “Support and Pass the California Dream Act” gives the audience a mixture of facts, personal beliefs, the backing of well known educational institutions, and the support of the undocumented youth of California to convey the purpose of the text which is to gain support for the approval of the Dream Act (CDN 326). It is not only the different types of elements the CDN uses but how they are utilized together to allow them to create a specifically designed petition that is beneficial in helping them present their message.
Work Cited
California Dream Network. “Support and Pass the California Dream Act.” The Call to Write.
6th ed. Ed. John Timbur. Boston: Wadsworth, 2014. 326-328. Print.
NPR Staff. “A Reagan Legacy: Amnesty For Illegal Immigrants.” NPR. 04 July 2010. Web. 01
October 2013. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128303672