by Julia Alvarez

Julia Alvarez
Visit this Web site to learn more about Julia Alvarez’s life and how her culture influences her writing. "I am a Dominican, hyphen, American," Alvarez comments. "As a fiction writer, I find that the most exciting things happen in the realm of that hyphen—the place where two worlds collide or blend together." How does this idea relate to the essay "Names/Nombres"? Write your response in the Web Links Activity Log.

Behind the Name
In her essay "Names/Nombres," Julia Alvarez discusses her many different names. On this site, you can look up a name and find out its etymology, or origin, and meaning. Find your name or a name you like and write a paragraph describing how the name's history does (or doesn't) capture your personality.