How it Feels to Be Me Essay Draft; The Namesake (Chapter One)

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The fundamental idea of this course is to use our research and responses to a variety of topics to inspire our artistic and academic impulses. Secondly, it is a course that urges the artist to depict him or herself in relation to or as the other. We will be examining power structures and hegemonic cultural groups in relation to each other, using this topic to reach a more universal and engaged POV about our own selves, our own cultures, and the world audience itself.

Last class, we read an essay by Zora Neale Hurston. Take a moment to refresh your memory about that reading. Look closely at how the article opens (the hook, lead-in, thesis), and how it develops (the body, topic sentences, argument), and notice the sentence structure (length, diction, syntax). After studying some of these elements respond to the article in writing.
  • What defines you? What single physical, mental, emotional trait defines you? Why? What is the significance of this trait? 
  • Think about your own educational experience. How multicultural has your experience been? 
  • Is there value in having a common culture (for example stressing the idea that we are all 'Americans' over fragmenting our culture)? Why or why not?
  • Choose a side and argue for or against it. Who is right in your opinion? 
  • Does this idea of multiculturalism need updating? Is this issue still important--and, if so, why? Etc.
You will need a Chromebook. Log on and sign up for our Google Classroom. The assignment is available there. Open it and begin writing. In order to begin thinking about this, consider how you identify yourself. Look back at your list of hegemonic groups. Review your brainstorming from last class. Fundamentally, what part of your personality/tradition/culture is unique to you? Focus on this idea in your creative essay. Remember:
  • Non-fiction is creative--remember to use poetic/literary devices (imagery, metaphor, detail, tone, character, etc.)
  • Non-fiction tells an interesting story--show us the scenes, paint them with imagery, remember to use your writing skills and make your audience appreciate your story. 
  • Non-fiction includes dialogue, description of a setting, and can include teaching new ideas to your audience
  • Non-fiction includes a reflection on the subject matter
Length and style are up to you, but you should develop and tell a good story. Drafts are due Friday.

Let's write for period 1. Then we'll take a break and shift to The Namesake and our second first draft assignment.

Let's take a closer look at Chapter One. In your notes for this book (see handout), take about 5 minutes to answer:

  • What is the book's setting? (time/place/location/weather, etc.)
  • What do you already know about the setting? [If you need to, look up something online before you answer]
  • List the most important characters in this chapter. 
  • How does the chapter open? What is going on and who does it involve?
  • Examine the structure of the chapter. The first 10 pages deal with one character (who is it?). The last 11-12 pages deal with a second character (who is it?). Where does white space indicate a transition? How is the author using this transition? To what effect?
  • What seems to be the two most important events or actions or passages in this chapter? Record the page #('s) of each passage.
  • Summarize the events in this chapter in 1-3 sentences. Remember to be specific.
Now let's chat about what we noticed as writers in this chapter.

Brainstorm a character. Put that character in a significant or life-changing situation (this does not have to be a life or death issue, but something that might change a person for the better or worse.) Write a draft of this event over the shoulder of your character. See Google classroom assignments for more details/directions/due dates.

Use the rest of your time this morning to write (choose either task) or work on your homework (see below).

HOMEWORK: Please continue reading The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri. Complete the second chapter (pp. 22 - 47 Namesake). As you read, notice how the second chapter continues to develop the two main characters Ashoke and Ashima. What conflicts arise as a result of Gogol's birth? Examine the dichotomies--a division or contrast between two things--in this book and how they help develop characters/conflict/theme/setting/plot: a few sample dichotomies include:

  • Ashima/Ashoke
  • American culture/Indian culture
  • Father/Mother; Man/Woman; Parent/Child 
  • Freedom/Responsibility

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