One of the most important tips I have ever received in fiction writing is to "show don't tell." However, when writing an essay you have to find a happy medium between these two, which is something Vargas does really well. He both explains his experience as an undocumented worker as well as shows what happened by adding in quotations, which adds layer to the story and makes it more interesting to read.
Here is an example of Vargas explaining his life on page 3, paragraph 4: "This deceit never got easier. The more I did it, the more I felt like an impostor, the more guilt I carried--and the more I worried that I would get caught. But I kept doing it. I needed to live and survive on my own, and I decided this was the way."
In this example he tells us that the deceit never got easier, but doesn't show us with an example, which is ok, because he does show us an experience later, giving his story a good balance.
Here is an instance in which Vargas shows us his life on page 3, paragraph 6: "After a choir rehearsal during my junior year, Jill Denny, the choir director, told me she was considering a Japan trip fr our singing group. I told her I couldn't afford it, but she said we'd figure out a way. I hesitated, and then decided to tell her the truth. 'It's not really the money,' I remember saying. 'I don't have a passport.' When she assured me we'd get the proper documents, I finally told her. 'I can't get the right passport,' I said. 'I'm not supposed to be here.'"
When Vargas shows us what happened in his life it is much more interesting to read because along with being told what happened the audience also want to see what happened.
Here is an example of Vargas explaining his life on page 3, paragraph 4: "This deceit never got easier. The more I did it, the more I felt like an impostor, the more guilt I carried--and the more I worried that I would get caught. But I kept doing it. I needed to live and survive on my own, and I decided this was the way."
In this example he tells us that the deceit never got easier, but doesn't show us with an example, which is ok, because he does show us an experience later, giving his story a good balance.
Here is an instance in which Vargas shows us his life on page 3, paragraph 6: "After a choir rehearsal during my junior year, Jill Denny, the choir director, told me she was considering a Japan trip fr our singing group. I told her I couldn't afford it, but she said we'd figure out a way. I hesitated, and then decided to tell her the truth. 'It's not really the money,' I remember saying. 'I don't have a passport.' When she assured me we'd get the proper documents, I finally told her. 'I can't get the right passport,' I said. 'I'm not supposed to be here.'"
When Vargas shows us what happened in his life it is much more interesting to read because along with being told what happened the audience also want to see what happened.