January 25
Announcements
I will take any missing assignments from the first 2 weeks up until this Friday.
Also, please be sure to pick up Tortilla Curtain if you have not done that yet.
Live Session
Weekly Write: Where do your come from?
Delaney is a main character in the novel we are about to read. He says, “Immigrants are the lifeblood of this country—we’re a nation of immigrants—and neither of us would be standing here today if it wasn’t” (101). Because we are all (or at the very least, most of us) immigrants from another country, we bring to this conversation our own unique family history. For your Weekly Write this week do some digging and investigation about where you (your family) comes from. Talk to your parents, grandparents, as well as other relatives, refer to photos, and/or documents and use the questions below as a guide to develop your response:
Where and when (approx.) did your mother’s family originate?
Where and when (approx.) did your father’s family originate?
What prompted each side of your family to come to America?
Where did they originally enter the country? Are there any notable stories regarding their
arrival?
Did any family names change upon entering America? Do you know what your former sir
name was?
Where did your family settle and what did they do for work?
What were some of the successes, challenges, and/or stories relating to your first ancestors
coming to America?
Written Response #1 (1/2 page minimum)
What does the "American Dream" mean to you?
Share out in Chat Bar
Ingredients of the American Dream in American Literature
“The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.”
January 26
January 27
Live Session
Read "Forging a New Vision of America's Melting Pot"
Chat Bar
What is difference between the concepts of multiculturalism and melting pot?
Which concept do you think is healthier for America to embrace?
Read Tortilla Curtain Pre-Reading Sheet
Chat Bar
Share your thoughts to each passage.
Read Tortilla Curtain chapter 1 (audio)
Independent Work
"Forging a New Vision" Activity Questions
Finish reading chapter 1
January 28
January 29
Live Session
Chat Bar Discussion: Tortilla Curtain Questions for Thought: Chapter 1
1. Describe Delaney’s first reaction(s) after hitting Candido.
2. Explore the juxtaposition and range of Delaney’s reactions after hitting Candido: guilt, annoyance, outrage, and anger. How do those “square with his liberal-humanist ideals” (13)?
3. Explain Candido’s dilemma about whether or not to visit the doctor. What practical reasons does he have for not getting medical treatment?
4. Even though Delaney suggests he knows better, he stereotypes “these [Mexican] men” (12). Provide some general stereotypes Delaney puts forth in chapter one.
Read chapter 2 (audio 27:23)
Independent Work
Finish reading chapter 2
forging_a_new_vision_of_america_questions.doc
Download File
pre-reading_sheet.doc
Download File
Announcements
I will take any missing assignments from the first 2 weeks up until this Friday.
Also, please be sure to pick up Tortilla Curtain if you have not done that yet.
Live Session
Weekly Write: Where do your come from?
Delaney is a main character in the novel we are about to read. He says, “Immigrants are the lifeblood of this country—we’re a nation of immigrants—and neither of us would be standing here today if it wasn’t” (101). Because we are all (or at the very least, most of us) immigrants from another country, we bring to this conversation our own unique family history. For your Weekly Write this week do some digging and investigation about where you (your family) comes from. Talk to your parents, grandparents, as well as other relatives, refer to photos, and/or documents and use the questions below as a guide to develop your response:
Where and when (approx.) did your mother’s family originate?
Where and when (approx.) did your father’s family originate?
What prompted each side of your family to come to America?
Where did they originally enter the country? Are there any notable stories regarding their
arrival?
Did any family names change upon entering America? Do you know what your former sir
name was?
Where did your family settle and what did they do for work?
What were some of the successes, challenges, and/or stories relating to your first ancestors
coming to America?
Written Response #1 (1/2 page minimum)
What does the "American Dream" mean to you?
Share out in Chat Bar
Ingredients of the American Dream in American Literature
“The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.”
- Opportunity: The opportunity to gain land, freedom, upward social mobility, and abundance.
- Hope: A belief that one can have the fullness of life and that one’s children will have it better than oneself
- Virtues: The ability and willingness to work hard, maintain integrity, practice frugality, self discipline, morality, and humility.
January 26
January 27
Live Session
Read "Forging a New Vision of America's Melting Pot"
Chat Bar
What is difference between the concepts of multiculturalism and melting pot?
Which concept do you think is healthier for America to embrace?
Read Tortilla Curtain Pre-Reading Sheet
Chat Bar
Share your thoughts to each passage.
Read Tortilla Curtain chapter 1 (audio)
Independent Work
"Forging a New Vision" Activity Questions
Finish reading chapter 1
January 28
January 29
Live Session
Chat Bar Discussion: Tortilla Curtain Questions for Thought: Chapter 1
1. Describe Delaney’s first reaction(s) after hitting Candido.
2. Explore the juxtaposition and range of Delaney’s reactions after hitting Candido: guilt, annoyance, outrage, and anger. How do those “square with his liberal-humanist ideals” (13)?
3. Explain Candido’s dilemma about whether or not to visit the doctor. What practical reasons does he have for not getting medical treatment?
4. Even though Delaney suggests he knows better, he stereotypes “these [Mexican] men” (12). Provide some general stereotypes Delaney puts forth in chapter one.
Read chapter 2 (audio 27:23)
Independent Work
Finish reading chapter 2
forging_a_new_vision_of_america_questions.doc
Download File
pre-reading_sheet.doc
Download File