Writing Across Cultures

1. This morning, please gather in groups of 4. Read the 2 plays aloud. Discuss them. Have a donut. 2. Go to the lab. Complete your research from last class. 3. Use your research to write creatively. Put your writing/drafts in your portfolio. 4. Read Tales of the City. Complete the character directory for the book. Avoid incidental or unimportant characters to focus on major characters. Still there are a lot of them. 5. Complete Tales of the City during break. 6. Have a nice break! HOMEWORK: See #5 & #6 above. Portfolios are due Jan. 20.

The Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City takes place (setting) in the 1970's in San Francisco . Since we live in Rochester, NY in the 21st century, let's learn a little about the good ol' turbulent 1970's. Start off our tour with an idea of the Russian Hill area of San Francisco . After glimpsing some of this, please take a few minutes to visit a self-guided tour of San Francisco with pictures/details about where the characters lived and how Maupin uses reality and real locations in which to set his story. Use this website and research key ideas/events in the 1970's. Be ready to share what you researched at the end of Period One. You may select any of the topics from the website (you don't have to research all of them as others will fill you in!) Use this link:  http://www.cnn.com/shows/the-seventies When you're done with that website, please read/learn about the following topics/links: Timeline of the...

This morning, please take a moment to view a short video and read an article dealing with "race" & discrimination. Please watch this short video and read the article from Time.  After viewing/reading, please take 5 minutes to respond in writing. Then, let's go to the library. Check out Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin. Please return to take your test on Things Fall Apart . While you are waiting for people to finish, please begin reading Tales of the City . When students have completed the test, please go to the lab and continue working on your portfolio. HOMEWORK: Please read Tales of the City (you should finish the book during Winter Break--you could finish it before you go on break, if you put your mind to it.) As you read, please keep a character chart (you will turn this in when you return from break). 

This morning, after our writing prompt, please discuss the book Things Fall Apart . Before we begin, write a quick character list for the characters in the book. If you have specific questions/concerns or ideas about the book, what are they? Take about 3-5 minutes to complete this. You can use this for our discussion and to study from for your upcoming test. After our discussion, please use the lab to continue writing for your portfolio. There will be a test on Things Fall Apart on Wednesday. Please prepare and bring your books to class. Discussion seed questions/topics: Discuss gender roles in the book. How does the author handle gender--what seems to be his point or attitude or position on this subject? How do the scenes in the book illustrate this? Discuss the cultural importance of tradition and/or religion in the book. How does Igbo religion and traditional practices differ from our own? What scenes concerning this had an impact on you as you read?  How does Acheb...

This morning, please spend about 20 minutes researching the Igbo culture where Chinua Achebe sets his novel. On the graphic organizer examine and note aspects of the culture that interest you--what draws your attention? What is interesting to learn? Take notes (Cornell notes or annotate or outline). Read and research the following information from the links, then use this information to write a poem, short story, essay, or scene set in or involving one of the ideas/themes you researched: Nigeria  (choose at least 2 topics from the menu selections at the bottom of the page to research) Nigerian gender roles (although the entire article is informative, please focus on gender roles) Igbo customs  & Igbo history and resources Other cultural groups in Nigeria (read about these too!): The Yoruba The Hausa/Fulani With the rest of the time in the lab, you may: Write Write about men and men's studies Write about women and women's studies Write from the perspec...

Let's read a few articles/poems today and then get over to the lab for writing time. Use your time in the lab to write about men's issues. Use your prompts and writing exercises to write or develop your ideas. Revise old stories to include and flesh out men's issues. Revise old stories to develop female characters. Change the gender of your character's POV, etc. HOMEWORK: Read part two: Things Fall Apart , pp. 126-167. Take notes for yourself on characters and plot events. How does the author develop the MIDDLE of a story? What complications arise in this part of the book? What might Achebe be trying to say about Igbo culture ?

Today is a day to discuss. We'll discuss the concept of HONOR and POWER in Things Fall Apart, we'll discuss some of the key topics you came up with from your reading/research the other day, and we'll also take a look at a few articles and respond to them. All these ideas and topics can be written about. If you need a prompt/assignment for your portfolio, here you go: Take any idea we cover today and flesh it out into a story, a poem, a play, an essay, etc. Two men walk into a hairdressing salon... Or: Two men meet at a mall bench while their wives are shopping... If you identify as a boy: write about why.  If you identify as a girl: write about growing up as a boy. This is writing across cultures after all... Choose a fairy tale, film, book or television program and discuss how men are portrayed or stereotyped in the media... Other ideas? Do it! Key Ideas/Terms to consider: Functionalism : the theory based on the idea that all aspects of a society or cultur...