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Identity

Mr. Naymik — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 09:00:12 +0000

The things we are…

Who are you? Do you Know? This unit is designed to find the answers to these questions (well, maybe). We are all products of our experiences. The things we encounter everyday in some way shape our personality. Rarely, however, do we stop and think about our own nature. By studying a variety of materials, the goal is to identify our personality and the influences that helped shape it. Also, we need to recognize that the decisions we make are a result of those experiences.

What does Holden’s red hunting hat have to do with identity? This will make sense later, don’t worry.

To help you think about your own Identity, complete the following “Me Map” ( Me Map) if you did not get one in class.

This unit on identity will encourage you to think about yourself and how the world around you influences you by reading a variety of materials (essay, poetry, short story, novel). This will focus on students—how do they become who they are and how do they end up making decisions.

Who am I?

How did it become who I am?

Think about how these authors explore their identities in relation to others:

“It’s Hard Enough Being Me”

It\'s Hard Enough Being Me

Questions about Hard Enough

Did the author’s identity change in college? How so?
What do people expect of her (at college)?
What is the contradiction she expresses with her situation? (3rd paragraph)
Why was learning in college difficult for her? (explain paragraph 10)
The author states it was difficult when she moved to New York to define herself as “Latina.” Do you think it is good, bad, or some of each to be forced to define oneself in terms of ethnicity?
What conclusion does the author draw at the end about her identity?

“For the white person who wants to know how to be my friend”

by Pat Parker

Think about

Why do the first two lines of the poem contradict each other? What is the author trying to say?
What stereotypes does the author bring up? Why does she?
How would the author identify herself?

What would your own poem look like? What things about you are true?

the first thing you do is to forget that i’m Black.
Second, you must never forget that i’m Black.

You should be able to dig Aretha,
but don’t play here every time i come over.
An if you decide to play Beethoven-don’t tell me
his life story. They make us take music appreciation too.

Eat soul food if you like it, but don’t expect me
to locate your restaurants
of cook it for you.

And if some Black person insults you,
mugs you, rapes your sister, rapes you,
rips your house or is just being an ass-
please do not apologize to me
for wanting to do them bodily harm.
It makes me wonder if you’re foolish.

And even if you really believe Blacks are better lovers than
whites-don’t tell me. I start thinking of charging stud fees.

In other words-if you really want to be my friend-don’t
make a labor of it. I’m lazy. Remember.

-from Making Face, Make Soul
edited by Gloria Anzaldua
( For the White Person Who Wants to Be My Friend)

San Francisco: Aunt Lute Foundation Books, 1990.

Identity

The act of being oneself.

In class we discussed all the things that make up who you are and how you form those things. We considered the role nature (environment) vs. nurture (DNA) in forming ourselves. What role to these things play in our lives.

In the comments below, select one of the topics that follow and write your take on the issue. There is no correct answer and research is often mixed. Then comment on a classmate. You must login to complete.

Homosexuality
Criminal behavior, either a thief, serial killer or both
Alcoholic

Do you think one of these are a result of environment or DNA?

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Raisin in the Sun Essay

Mr. Naymik — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:55:08 +0000

Now that we’ve finished the play, combine your knowledge of the play with what you have learned about quoting sources and writing a literary analysis by using one of the topics below. You will have some class time to work on this and I will be providing assistance with different aspects of the writing process.

Topics:

Compare and contrast Bennie and Walter.
Compare and contrast Asagai and George.
In thinking of the Langston Hughes poem from which the title of this play was taken, the key concept of dreams deferred comes to mind. Choose one character in the play and explore what that character’s dream is.
Do you think it is right of George Murchison to call Walter “Prometheus”?
Symbols play a role in the play. Choose a symbol (sunlight, Mama’s plant, the garden, liquor store, etc.) and explore what it adds to the play.
The play features generations interacting. Examine Walter Lee and how he attempts to live up to his father or examine how Walter Lee serves (or doesn’t serve) as a role model for Travis.
The play is or isn’t still relevant today.
Your choice, with approval

Requirements:

Raisin Essay Thesis Plan
Raisin Essay Body Plan

handouts

Create a thesis statement from the topic of your choice. I must check this.
Create a short outline showing your main ideas to support your thesis.
Create a list of possible quotes/evidence
Use explanation (your words) and evidence from the text to back up your main ideas.
Your essay should have an introduction, 2 to 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
Type your essay (according to guidelines), print and hand in, submit through website or email it. Paper Format Page 1
Use class time appropriately

Literary Analysis Rubric

Thesis statement created from topic	15
Focused on thesis, main ideas back it up (your words	20
Strong introduction ending with thesis statement, body paragraphs to develop argument, conclusion to wrap it up	20
Use of quotes to main ideas, and done so correctly	20
Typed, format, grammar and mechanics	15
Turned in on due date: Monday, March 22	10
	100

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Quoting sources for your arguement

Mr. Naymik — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:17:00 +0000

An important skill for all upper level papers is the ability to quote other peoples’ words to back up your own. Review the notes from class on creating a “quote sandwich” that we will use later in writing a literary analysis.

[goog doc="dc4kzt6f_109d3skbvk"]Quoting sources notes:[/goog]

Note sheet

Quote sources notes

use this for the notes above

Practice with Cameras

Practice using quotes on camera essay

practice finding and using quotes from sources

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Writing Effective Paragraphs

Mr. Naymik — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:53:12 +0000

As we learn to write a literary analysis, it is necessary to write good paragraphs. All good paragraphs are focused on a main idea. This is usually expressed in a topic sentence. The key is to have the rest of the paragraph support this main idea. If you can learn to avoid irrelevant information that doesn’t contribute, you will be in good shape.

An essay is basically a giant paragraph. Supporting sentences back up a topic sentence. In an essay, body paragraphs back up a thesis statement. We learned about this when we did the five paragraph essay. Remember squish? This ideas is called unity.

Save the Reader

Another important concept is coherence. This refers to the order of information in a paragraph or essay as well as the way ideas are connected together (transitions). Order of importance and chronological order are the most common.

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Rhetorical techniques for emphasis

Mr. Naymik — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:26:10 +0000

There are many rhetorical techniques for adding emphasis. The following are especially helpful for speeches, as they can add rhythm and drama.

Use Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention” to practice ( Speech to the Virginia Convention). Or listen to it:

The following slides provide a definition and simple examples.

Rhetorical Techniques for Emphasis

[Show as slideshow]

When used sparingly and appropriately, these will make your writing more entertaining and persuasive

Look for those techniques, in addition to logos, ethos and pathos, in the following “essay.”

Cheeseburgers with mushrooms and onions are far superior to plain hamburgers. I’ve been eating hamburgers of all types for years and cheese burgers with all the fixings taste better, smell better and provide for greater nutritional value.

Who doesn’t like a little extra flavor with their meal? A plain beef patty, especially a fatty one, is tasty, that I will concede, but it could be so much more. A little cheese makes everything better. A little onion makes everything better. A littler bit of mushroom makes everything better. If one likes hamburgers and one likes cheese, mushrooms and onions, it stands to reason that the combination of the patty and the extras will be an even better treat.

And the smell. It’s like smelling a perfume that reminds you of your first girlfriend, years after you broke up with her. The smell can’t but help remind you of when times were good and everything was happy. The smell can’t but help remind you of a time in your life when everything felt comfortable and you didn’t have a care in the world. The smell can’t but help remind you of the promise that life holds. The smell of a cheeseburger can conjure up all sorts of tasty memories. Who could have bad memories about a cheeseburger?

Cheeseburgers are healthier by providing extra vitamins, giving needed calcium, and supplying extra fats that the body needs. A plain beef patty couldn’t shake a healthy stick at a burger full of extras.

Is a beef patty on bread the best society can accomplish? I think cheese burgers top plain burgers any day.

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Formating typed papers

Mr. Naymik — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:07:41 +0000

All typed assignments in literature class must conform to the MLA format. Failure to do so will result in lost points for the assignment. Please don’t be lazy. This is a common format to all high school English courses and college English, History, and other humanities courses. Similar formats are used for science papers.

Example Page 2

Example Page 1

Double-space the text of your paper, and use Times Roman. The font size should be 12 pt.
Set the margins of your document to 1 inch on all sides. Indent the first line of a paragraph one half-inch (five spaces or press tab once) from the left margin.
Create a header that numbers all pages consecutively in the upper right-hand corner, one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin if your paper is more than one page.
Use a heading (double spaced like rest of page) that includes: your name, teacher’s name, class (title and period), and date (use due date).

You can download the two pictures here: Paper Format Page 1, Paper Format Page 2

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College Application Essay

Mr. Naymik — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 11:34:00 +0000

Save the Reader

Why do you have to write College App Essays? Colleges put you through the effort of writing an essay for a variety of purposes–all of which are designed to give you a chance to show yourself off. A well written essay will say just as much as grades or good test scores. However, essays are short and therefore need to be efficient and effective. A good essay will:

Convey the students unique personality and character
Demonstrate writing skills
Demonstrate the ability to organize thoughts clearly and effectively

Colleges have a million students with good grades. After all, that’s why people go to college. A good essay will set you apart and will reveal more personality than a transcript.

The Essay Assignment

It must be about 500 words long (most word processing programs will count for you)
It must utilize the entire writing process
It must be typed–Times New Roman, 12pt, double spaced, indented paragraphs (see example page for more information).
It must be revised and edited
It must have a clear thesis statement that answers on of the questions
It must use personal examples to back up the thesis

Do your best work. Check the downloads below for more info.

Visit the Events and Dates page for due dates. The assignment may be printed and turned in or submitted through the the assignment form.

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