The Scholarship Jacket Rising Action

The Scholarship Jacket Rising Action

In the short story "The Scholarship Jacket" written by Marta Salinas Martha, a poor mexican girl with a A+ grade average, is faced with adversity in the highest for. Racism and discrimination change her chances completely for getting a jacket that means a great deal to her. There are many examples of rising action that make this story fantastic. Three of the examples that bring you to the climax are the following. First Martha is expecting to get the jacket given to the class valedictorian in 8th grade because she has the best grades and has been working extremely hard. This is classified as rising action because it is building an expectation to the ending of the story. The second step to the climax would have to be when she forgets her gym shorts and has to run back to her classroom to get them. When she arrives at her classroom she hears her two teachers arguing about the Jacket. Her teacher Mr. Schmidt says that Martha should recieve the jacket because she is the most deserving, but Mr. Boone says that another girl with a rich and generous father should recieve the jacket because her grades are above average (though not comparing to Martha's) and her father would donate money. This event makes Martha reconsider the fact she will be getting the jacket and creates tention in the school; therefore, is a turning point. The final example of rising action is when Martha is offered the jacket for the fee of $15, a high price that is meant to belittle her and stop her from getting the jacket. When she asks her Grandfather for the money for the jacket he solemnly tells her that if she had to pay for it, it would not be a scholarship jacket. With a heavy heart she must relay the news to a smug board. This intrigues the reader, everyone was so sure she would possess the jacket when it looks like she wont everyone must read on to hear the climax where all the tables turn.