Danyang Li’s “Justice for the Mother” presents a strong example of the final essay for WR 097, an argument-based analysis of a theme identified in the novel Montana 1948. This is the first full-length work that students at this level are expected to discuss in terms of both content and stylistics, and the challenge is both linguistic and cultural: the story is set in post-World War II Montana, with the idiosyncrasies of small-town America predictably foreign to ESL students.
Danyang manages to enter the world of the characters at that time, unravel the subtle interactions caused by a moral dilemma, and discover universal messages that give validity to her argument. The good balance between plot summary and nuanced analysis is a major achievement, along with a near-native-like command of the language in its idiomatic phrasing.
— MARIA ZLATEVA
WR 097: English Grammar and Composition