Quinceñeras Tradition Analysis

Authors of nonfiction text emphasize details of real life events that occur in people’s lives and cultures. In the news article, “Quinceñera Birthday Bash Preserves Tradition, Marks Passage to Womanhood”, author Natalie St. John shares a descriptive account of a quinceñera, showing its significance in the Mexican culture and community. St. John highlights the main character Vanessa Negrete’s rite of passage and its cultural importance by using the organizational structures of sequence and description, and by using direct quotations from members of the community. The author’s use of the organizational structure of sequencing makes the text easy to follow, which helps the reader discover the main idea the author is highlighting about quinceñeras. When Natalie St. John uses the signal phrase “On a Saturday evening in July”, she orients the reader in order to begin showcasing the event itself. By using the phrases “...the first part of the quinceñera…”, “...the second half of the quinceñera…”, “Early in the evening…”, and “Later the lights went out…”, St. John gives a step-by-step account as the events unfold. St. John’s use of a clear sequential
In the very beginning of the text, the setting of the quinceañera is described with vivid adjectives including the descriptions of the young men’s white suits, the choreographed formal dance, the three hundred guests, and Negrete twirling in her swaying violet ball gown and glittering tiara in “...an elaborate cascade of curls” looking radiant as the guest of honor. St. John’s bold descriptions create an image in the reader’s mind of the extravagant measures taken by Vanessa’s family to ensure a memorable quinceñera. These vivid images make clear how much time, planning, and money must be invested in a quinceañera, making it a unique coming-of-age celebration that symbolizes a girl’s transition from childhood to