Writing Across Cultures

Today, let's start by reading an article on "love poetry." St. Valentine's Day is just around the corner. After our discussion and response, let's take a look at some Central and South American (and Spanish) poets. As we read these samples, we'll stop and compose. Cesar Vallejo : Peru Federico Garcia Lorca : Spanish Pablo Neruda : Chile Octavio Paz : Mexico After our reading and writing this morning, we'll take the quiz on the Crossing . After all tests are in, we'll chat about the book and some of the issues it brings up. Pablo Neruda: 20 Love Songs & a Song of Despair. Let's take a quick look at this. Instructions to follow.

We will continue to conduct presentations on South & Central America and the Islands. NOTE : If you are entering Sokol, Gannon, etc. please make sure you submit your work to the folders in the writing lab. Also, if you have work for Ms. Gamzon, please get that to her as well. Auditions are this week, if you are interested in helping out, please see Ms. Gamzon. Please complete The Crossing for next class. There will be a quiz. Materials to help you or that go with this book are posted below this one. HOMEWORK: Complete The Crossing . Write anything inspired by the presentations.

Today we will be presenting our Prezi presentations. Anyone NOT going today MUST deliver their presentations next class. No exceptions. WRITING TASK: Please take notes and prepare to use the information you learn in a story, poem, play, scene, sketch, ad poster, non-fiction essay, comic strip, film script, haiku, etc. HOMEWORK: Please begin and conclude The Crossing (see post below).

Over the next week, please begin and complete the reading of The Crossing by Gary Paulsen. This blog entry will help you on your way, but I assume you will have little to no trouble with this book, as you are at a higher reading level than its intended audience. Still, if we are concerned with learning to write for all markets, children are people too--and deserve our respect. At its heart, this book brings up some very important contemporary issues for both U.S. American citizens and a sympathetic understanding of Mexican border culture. Please take a look at this website and learn a little about the author before or as you read The Crossing . Gary Paulsen Biographical (author) Info The Crossing deals with a young, male protagonist named Manny. The setting takes place in Juarez, Mexico. Please take a moment to watch this video documentary to learn a little about Juarez. Juarez: City at War. This video will help explain the situation of the drug cartels and the issue in Juarez:

Here are a few culturally significant and potentially useful links for our study of Mexico. Mexico Statistics Carlos Slim, a Mexican Billionaire Octavio Paz, a Mexican Poet As One Listens to the Rain Brotherhood Day of the Dead Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu Filmography Babel Trailer 21 Grams Trailer Amores Perros Trailer Biutiful Trailer

Your portfolio is due today. Please turn it in as per usual. Make sure you have your reflection included. During 2nd period we will be giving our Prezi reports to the class. Our purpose in completing the Prezi's (apart from presentation skills) is from a writer's perspective. For each culture, what would be most interesting to write about? Look for interesting ideas in which to write about as you listen and take notes to the presentation. Before you leave the library, please check out the book: The Crossing by Gary Paulsen. This is a young adult (children's) novel. Please read it by Jan. 31.

Please work on your Prezi today. You should be finishing up so that next week (Tues. & Thurs.) we can view these projects in class. Your portfolio is due Tuesday. 2nd period we have an assembly. More details to follow.

Please use the time in the first period lab to research and work on your Prezi projects. Also, feel free to work on your portfolio (due Jan. 17 - next week). There is no midterm exam for this class. Please make sure you have turned (or posted) your essay test to the forum. During 2nd period, we will hold a discussion about the book 100 Years of Solitude and begin our poetry reading. HOMEWORK: Portfolio is due Jan. 17.

Please use the time this morning in the lab (1st period) to do any of the following: 1. Work on your Prezi presentation and your research (see post below) 2. Work on your portfolio (portfolios are due Jan. 17) 3. Study for the test on 100 Years of Solitude . During 2nd period, we will be moving to room 238 and taking our test. Afterward, if time allows, we will discuss 100 Years of Solitude .

Please sign your name next to the culture/country you will be creating a Prezi for. In your research, please prepare any of the following aspects that go to make up a culture. For example you may wish to cover important historical information (HISTORY) that helped to create the modern culture, you may also wish to include cultural ideas such as FINE and PERFORMING ARTS, CUISINE, FASHION, TABOOS AND MORES, PRIMARY PHILOSOPHY OR RELIGION/BELIEF, MATERIAL CULTURE (TECHNOLOGY), LAWS/GOVERNANCE, ECONOMICS, EDUCATION, GENDER ROLES, OCCUPATIONS/WORK FORCE, etc. Explain enough for us to get a good idea about the SETTING, and PEOPLE of these areas. Your last Prezi "slide" should have a works cited page to include where you took information. Chile Uruguay & Paraguay Bolivia Peru Brazil Guyana Ecuador Venezuala Nicaragua Guatamala Costa Rica Honduras Panama Mexico Mexico (partner) Cuba Dominican Republic Puerto Rico Jamaica Haiti HOMEW

First Generation:    Jose Arcadio Buendía is the first patriarch of the Buendia Family and the founder of Macondo of which he dreams of a city of mirrors and establishes the town. He is an inquisitive man of massive strength (like his son Jose Arcadio) and energy who spends more time on his scientific pursuits. Eventually he is tied to a tree for most of his life (i.e., his own family tree) and withdraws from his family in solitude until his death. Úrsula Iguarán is one of the two matriarchs of the Buendía family and is wife to José Arcadio Buendía. She lives to be over 130 years old and oversees the Buendía household through six of the seven generations documented in the novel. She is a very strong character and often succeeds where the men of her family fail. She is the archetypical mother figure in the novel. Second generation: José Arcadio is Jose Arcadio Buendía's firstborn son and has inherited his father's stubborn impulsive personality.  He