Why So Many Students Struggle with Literary Analysis—And How The House on Mango Street Can Help

“Why can’t I get above a B on my English essays?”

I hear this question all the time from students—and I understand their frustration. They want to do well. They’re smart. They read the book. But when it comes time to write about literature, something’s not clicking.

After over a decade of teaching high school English, I’ve come to realize that students struggle not because they don’t care, but because they haven’t had enough targeted practice with the skills that matter most in literary analysis: structure and evidence.

That’s exactly why I created my new course:
Unlocking Literary Analysis with The House on Mango Street
(Now open for beta testers — click here to join for free)

The Problem: Why Literary Analysis Is So Hard (Especially for Freshmen)

In the public school classroom, time is tight. We’re trying to cover so many texts, standards, and assessments that there often isn’t enough space to teach—and re-teach—the skills students need to write strong analytical paragraphs.

This is especially true for 9th and 10th graders, who are just starting to transition from middle school writing into high school expectations.

What they need most?
📝 A clear paragraph structure they can rely on
🔍 Frequent practice with analysis
📚 Access to rich literary evidence that sparks real thinking

Why The House on Mango Street?

Sandra Cisneros' poetic vignettes are often taught as a creative or casual read—students might journal, write their own vignettes, or reflect on themes. While these are valuable activities, they can leave an important skill behind: deep literary analysis.

But The House on Mango Street is full of figurative language, symbolism, and striking prose—if students are shown how to read it closely.

This course focuses on:

• Accessible and poignant vignettes
• Guiding students to analyze rich language
• Teaching them how to structure analytical paragraphs using the “Quotation Sandwich” (aka PEA or CER) model
• Removing the stress of “choosing quotes” so they can focus on analyzing evidence

In short: they’ll learn the formula so they can grow beyond it.

Who This Course Is For

This course is a perfect fit for:

• 9th–10th grade students (or advanced 8th graders)
• Students who are motivated to get an A but need more clarity and structure
• Homeschoolers or independent learners looking for a focused English writing course
• Teens who need a confidence boost in reading and writing about literature

Even if your student just needs a review of paragraph writing, they’ll benefit from seeing expert models, clear video explanations, and scaffolded practice.

What’s Included (and Why It’s Free Right Now)

This course is currently in beta, which means I’m offering full early access for free to a limited number of students in exchange for honest feedback.

Inside the course, students will get:
✅ Self-paced lessons hosted in Google Classroom
✅ Guided video instruction
✅ Downloadable graphic organizers and worksheets
✅ A final paragraph assessment with a rubric
✅ Exposure to model paragraphs and high-level writing examples

💬 All you need is a Gmail account to join.

Want to Join the Beta Test?

If you have a student who’s ready to take their literary writing to the next level—or if you’re a parent or teacher looking for strong, focused English instruction this spring—you can apply to join the beta test for free.

📅 Beta window: May 15 – June 30, 2025
⏱ Estimated time: 12-18 hours total over 2-4 weeks
💸 Cost: Free for selected testers

Final Thoughts

Analytical writing doesn’t have to be mysterious. With the right tools, structure, and practice, students can learn how to write essays that go beyond summary—and start earning those A’s with confidence.

I hope this course helps your student take that next step.