Composition

The essay “I Am Not Proof of the American Dream” by Tara Westover follows a relatively straightforward composition. 

In the introduction, Westover shares personal stories from her first year of college and the challenges she faced in pursuing an education. Westover then addresses the reactions her memoir usually receives, prompting her to reflect on the idea of the American dream and how it relates to her own experience. 

In the following part of the essay, Westover delves into broader social issues related to education, social mobility, and inequality. She discusses how the costs of higher education have changed in past decades and examines the systemic barriers that make it difficult for some people to achieve success. In t...