Portfolio; Survey; Identity & Literature

Period 1: Lab

This morning contemplate the meaning of identity as you watch the following videos:

Food for thought: Who Am I?
A Finger, Two Dots, Then Me by Derrick Brown

Respond to these ideas creatively in a poem, short story, essay, etc. about "Who am I? Really."

Then please continue working on the following projects/drafts for your portfolio:

• How it feels to be me reflective essay
• Cultural poem(s)
• Writing prompt creative responses (use the exercises/reading we've done in class to create a poem, short story, film, script, play, essay, speech, article, blog, podcast, etc.)

More Prompt Ideas:

• Choose a passage or line in the book you are reading. Do one of the following with it:

• Steal up to 25 words from the passage. Rearrange and use the words (or forms of them) in a poem, short story, essay, script, etc.
• Steal a line. Start something fresh using the line as an epigraph for your own/new story, poem, etc.
• Write the next scene or the chapter that does not exist in the novel you are reading: for example: Write the story of Gogol's childhood, or Tin Jong's POV; or write a script/play about 2 characters who read this book and who meet accidentally
• Write a creative essay about the important lessons/personal reflection you gleaned from reading this book so far
• Write about identity and culture. Where do the two things intersect or clash?

Before the end of the period, please take the WXC survey and return it to me.

Period 2: Classroom

Readings:

• Bharati Mukherjee: "Two Ways to Belong in America"
• Video: "The Great American Melting Pot"
• Lacy Johnson: "White Trash Primer"
• David Henry Hwang: "Trying to Find Chinatown"
• Erving Goffman & the Performed Self (video)
• Edwidge Danticat: "The Book of the Dead" to understand this story you should be familiar with the reference to Fort Dimanche, some information about Haiti's history, Haiti's Dark Past, and Francois Duvalier.

Keep your packet until we have read this literature and completed the writing prompts that go with them. We will likely finish Monday.

HOMEWORK: Please read "You're not going to believe what I'm about to tell you" from the Oatmeal. Record your reaction to the comic in writing. Then watch the short video "Rebranding White Nationalism" from The Atlantic. Track your emotional barometer as you watch the video, then write about your reaction. Be prepared to discuss your experience Monday in class.

Also (from last class): Read chapters:

• Joy Luck Club chapters 7-12 (pg. 116-214)
• The Namesake chapters 7-9 (pg. 159-245) 

Add to your summary for chapters 3-12 for JLC or 3-9 for Namesake. Note further cultural details used by the author as characterization, diction, conflict, theme, setting, dialogue, or plot. Look for a specific passage that defines, describes, or details a cultural aspect used as any of these literary devices. Take note of the page # or section that fulfills this category. Bring your notes/summaries and passage with you to Monday's class for your book discussion.