Write an essay addressing one of the following quotes from the attached passage.
1. What does Mr. Escalante mean by, "All you see is the turn, Pancho. You have to look for the
road ahead." Explain the significance of what Mr. Escalante says to Pancho.
2.
Stand and Deliver Essay: Pancho
Or
"Wouldn't you rather be designing these things than repairing them?"
For either of these quotes, write a response to the following:
Why is his message important to Pancho? To the students in Mr. Escalante's class? Provide some
analysis of the situation. Then connect it to yourself (text to self). Write about a situation in your life or
the life of someone when you (or they reached a "fork in the road," and had to make an important
choice between different options. How can you connect it to the larger picture - the universal - the way
people are?
Please incorporate two quotations using the quotation sandwich method. You may use others from
other places in the text, as well.
Create a strong introductory paragraph with a clear thesis statement. Write a summary paragraph of
what is happening in the story at this point. Then develop your essay, supporting your thesis with
illustration and narrative.
Mr. Escalante handed him the blank contract.
"Go back until you sign it."
Pancho let out his breath. "My uncle offered me
a job operating a forklift Saturdays and Sundays.
I'll be making time and a half."
Mr. Escalante shrugged. "So what?"
"Two years in the union, and I'll be making more
than you."
"How nice," Mr. Escalante said, frowned at him,
and put the blank contract on his desk.
That night, Mr. Escalante met Pancho after he
got off work, and they went for a ride in Pancho's
car. Mr. Escalante insisted on driving, while Pancho
slouched in the seat next to him.
"Kemo, I don't want to let you down," Pancho
said, "but the money I'll be making will buy me a
new Trans Ani."
Mr. Escalante shrugged. "No one cruises
through life, l'ancho. Wouldn't you rather be de-
signing these things than repairing them? You can't
even do that if they got fuel injections." He down-
shifted, awkwardly, and there was a grinding in the
engine.
Panchu winced. "Kemo, you're gonna strip my
gears, man."
Mr. Escalante put his foot on the accelerator,
shifting again, the car grinding again. Pancho
winced again.
"So What's the big problem?" Mr. Escalante
asked, switching gears-noisily - and lanes-
badly.
"Orale, Kemo," Pancho said, stepping on the car
floor as though he would find the brakes on the
passenger's side.
"Don't panic, Johnny. Just watch out for the
other guy." Mr. Escalante sped up as they got to a
fork in the road. "Right or left?"
"Where are we going?!" Pancho asked, bracing
his arm against the dashboard.
Mr. Escalante drove faster. "Right or left?"
"Go right! Go right!"
Mr. Escalante swerved right at the last possible
second, then jammed on the brakes, bringing the
car to a screeching halt in front of a sign that said
DEAD END.
They both sat there for a minute in silence.
"All you see is the turn, Pancho," Mr. Escalante
said quietly. "You have to look for the road ahead." I choose number 1 essay