A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America

Presentations and Essay Assignment Due Monday-Thursday, October 4-7 and October 12, 2010.

I’d like to go to Alcatraz October 11 for the sunrise ceremony. Is anyone interested?

This is a one day event. Boats depart Pier 33 at 5:15 and 5:45 am. The Indigenous People’s Sunrise Gathering is a commemoration of the 1969-71 occupation of Alcatraz by the “Indians of All Tribes.”

Tickets can also be purchased by calling 415 981-7625 or at the Pier 33 ticket booth. The ticket booth opens at 4:45 am on Monday, October 11, 2010. Tickets are $11.00 per person. Children under age 5 are free.

There is absolutely no sale of merchandise of any kind allowed on Alcatraz Island, at Pier 33, Alcatraz Landing, or on the side walk outside of Alcatraz Landing.
http://www.alcatrazcruises.com/website/pprog-upcoming-events.aspx


Presentations
Students in groups of 3-4 students or individually will present their section of Takaki. It will be chronologically: Foundations/Contradictions; Foundations/Transitions; Foundations/Transformations.

Monday, October 4, students will have an opportunity to rehearse or practice their presentations. If we don’t finish, we’ll continue Tuesday, October 12. We will not have class on Monday, October 11. There will be a cyber-essay assignment.

Presentation con’t.
We will run through the sections twice, two cycles. Students will prepare an outline for the class detailing the salient points for the section by chapter. Each presentation will be no longer than 15 minutes.

Each group will turn in a brief description of their project, the process used to develop it, any problems and then after the presentation a reflection on the process and presentation to be posted later that day.

Students in the class are responsible for commenting on each presentation in minimally 100-250 words each day. Respond to content, was anything left out? Creativity and lastly cohesion, did the presentation convey a sense of what Takaki covered in the section in the book.

Remember, everyone is responsible for reading all the introductions to the chapters, the first section: Foundations, Chapter 17 (434) and the Author’s Note (441).

The Essay
The individual essay for the section is due for peer review along with Initial Planning Sheet and outline, Tuesday, October 12. The final draft is due, Thursday, October 14. The essay will focus on a theme from the section of A Different Mirror. Students need to include a citation per page: paraphrase, block quote and in-text citation.

I will be focusing on signal phrases, transitions and thesis sentences and support from Takaki. Students do not have to cite any source except Takaki; however, I would like you to cite in a bibliography one scholarly source from the COA academic database.

You should already have such an article.

The essay will be minimally 3-4 pages, plus a works cited page.

Edit for these grammar errors once you have completed the essay: sentence fragments, confused words, subject verb agreement, misspelled words, parallel structure, passive voice, pronoun case, point of view errors.

Edit for these mechanical errors once you have addressed the grammar errors: spacing, heading, header, works cited page, margins.

Topical Invention
Bring in 4 thesis sentences: definition, analogy, consequence, and testimony, using Topical Invention.

Take the themes or topics from a chapter in Takaki (your section). A suggestion was for members of the group to chose different chapters. Bring in a copy of the sentences to class tomorrow.

Mirrors

Today we dived Takaki into sections: Foundations/Contradictions; Foundations/Transitions; Foundations/Transformations.

Presentations
Each group will present their section the week of October 4-7. The essay will be due October 11. The essay will take its topic from the section you are presenting. It will need to incorporate evidence from Takaki and one other source: magazine, journal, film or multimedia, interview or lecture.

Essays
The essay will be 4-5 pages, including the works cited page. More later on the assignment which we will be talking about for the next two weeks.

The groups are 3-4 persons each and we have double and triple categories. If you were absent, the category open is Transitions (209-332).

Everyone is responsible for reading Foundations 3-71, chapter summaries, and 17: We Will All Be Minorities" (434-9) and the Author's Note (441-445). I expect students to have read these sections by Thursday, October 1.


In-class essay Thursday, October 15, 2010
There will be an in-class writing assignment based on one of these sections (smile). Students will have 50 minutes to respond to the prompt. It is not homework. It will be your midterm essay.


Homework
Homework, which we started in class, is to find an article related to the topics or themes of your chapter. Complete the College of Alameda Library handout mentioned below: "Library Worksheet" (it is the third page of the handout Professor McKenna gave students Wednesday, September 22, 2010.

The worksheet is to search one of the Article Databases listed on the COA Library website relevant to your topic and complete the information about the selected article on the sheet.

Cyber-Assignment
Post a summary of your article here by Monday, Sept. 27, 2010 before 11 AM. Some students are behind in their posts. I do read them. Catch up.

If you missed class, ask the librarian for a copy of the form. There might be a link on the library website.

Announcements

UC Berkeley is having a free day of arts and entertainment Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010, 11 AM to 6 PM. Visit http://www.calperfs.berkeley.edu/performances/2010-11/fffa/fffa.php

Saturday, Sept. 25, at the Main Library there will be poetry readings:

An Afternoon of Poetry at the Oakland Main Library, Saturday, September 25, 2-5 PM

South Asian American Poetry

Indivisible:An Anthology of Contemporary South Asian American Poetry is the first anthology to bring together established and emerging American poets who trace their roots to Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Several of the poets who contributed to the anthology will read their work at the Library from 3 PM to 5 PM.

Earl er that same afternoon, Roswitha McIntosh, Distinguished Senior Poet at NYU, will read from In Search of the Good Life, her recent volume of thoughts and poems inspired by her extraordinary life journey. Ms. McIntosh was born in Germany, in the year Hitler came to power. Her childhood experiences,surviving under Nazi rule, have figured prominently in her work.

Both readings are at the Main Library —West Auditorium, 125 14th Street, (510) 238-3138. Visit www.oaklandlibrary.org

I gave students a copy of a review I wrote for the film: Mountains Take Wings. The film is screening on Friday, Sept. 25, 7 PM at East Side Cultural Center. What is exciting about this is the fact that Angela Davis and Yuri Kochiyama will be present at the screening for questions and comments. Visit www.wandaspicks.com to read the review and for more information.

Wednesday in class we finally had our library orientation with Professor Jane McKenna, M.L.S., Public Services Librarian, 748-2366. There were two handouts, if you missed class get a copy from Professor McKenna.

There is an assignment attached to the orientation. We will talk about the assignment today.

Here is a video another professor showed in another orientation which might prove useful and informative:

Developing a Topic:
http://www.wou.edu/provost/library/clip/tutorials/dev_topic.htm

FYI
20/20 Privilege in America
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcJ8ib8U3zk&p=6E71245F3C140D8A&playnext=1&index=13

Yesterday in class we read an article from Expanded Academic, a database here at the college on the COA website entitled: A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America by Christopher Clausen. It was published in The New Leader (1993) and looks at two books, one by Takaki, the other by Robert Hughes, whose Culture of Complaint has a similar topic as Takaki, even if dissimilar views.

Students met in groups to read, then talk about the article and write a response they then gave to me. I shared most of the responses this morning in class. We then practiced skimming the chapter preface for Contradictions in Takaki's book. Thursday we will practice annotating.

I am not sorry I chose a history book, what is unfortunate is that this class is not tied to a history class where the book is explored in more detail than we are able to because so many students are not where they are supposed to be. That said, I don't expect you to become an expert on U.S. history. Takaki is a great book to use to illustrate how to paraphrase, how to incorporate sources, how to develop a works cited and bibliography... Mirrors is the epitomy of scholary research, something we are trying to do.

Wednesday, September 22
We met in A-202E. Tomorrow we will meet downstairs in the LRC for the library orientation with Professor Jane.

Some students are struggling with Takaki because they have no historic or cultural reference for the material. This is where discussion is most helpful. Find classmates who are more familiar with the material than you to meet for literature round tables. I am also available. You do not have time to read the same sections repeatedly. There are also tutors available who can help students who are having trouble with comprehension, not because they can read, but because there is a cultural gap.

It is up to you to look up those references which are unclear, especially significant people and places. I mentioned a film students might want to see: Mountains That Take Wing at East Side Cultural Center, Friday, September 25, 7 PM. It is free and the two protagonists, Angela Davis and Yuri Kochiyama will be present to entertain questions. I will bring a copy of a review I wrote for students tomorrow.

Cyber-Freewrite

Give a synopsis of Act Two, Scene One, in The Tempest. Relate to Takaki where possible. There are several references to colonizing or taking over the island. There are also references to class and race.

Shakespeare's language is so modern in places. Look at those sections where his language has survived to the present. Note a few analogies that stood out you'd like to share.

Respond in a fuller response later and re post.

Oh, respond in 250 words or more (smile). 1 page. Incorporate text where applicable.

The American Culture presentations over the past two days were outstanding! I am impressed with the level of scholarship and thought that went into most of the presentations. You have set a high mark--I expect everyone to continue to rise to this level of excellence throughout the semester.

With a degree in philosophy I especially enjoyed those presentations that looked at the object as symbol or metaphor like Maxx's flag and Andres's apple and the student who shared a credit card: over consumption, outsourcing of jobs...shaky economy and Americas dependence and worship of deferred gratification--buy now, pay later.

Cliff's Adidas, helmet and cap: tools of the hip hop trade was pretty impressive and I liked the student's commentary on diamonds--again, America's fascination with things --possessions over people.

Jay's heavy metal presentation was intriguing. I'd love to take a field trip to a concert, but I am don't want to get hurt (smile).

Assignments Handout
English 1A Fall 2010

Reading/Writing Assignments
A Different Mirror

Foundations Quiz (Monday, Sept. 13, 2010 freewrite. Students turned into me.)

1. What is a foundation and why does Takaki title his first chapter thus?

2. List three things you learned about the founding of this country and race relationships in Foundations?

3. Talk about Takaki’s writing style: how does the writer make traditional history texts assessable to lay audiences? Be specific.

Homework

Start reading Contradictions: chapters 4-7. As you read, develop a series of questions for each chapter to share in groups daily. Make sure you can answer your questions.


Presentation:
American Culture Tuesday-Wednesday, Sept. 14-15

Each student is to bring in an object that represents American Culture. The oral presentation is to be about 2-3 minutes long. Students will post a narrative on the blog after the presentation. Each student is also responsible for responding to at least one post by Thursday, Sept. 16 before 11 AM.


Homework
Homework for Sept. 20-23 is to begin thinking about an essay topic for Takaki’s book and to start annotating selectively.

We will complete The Tempest by Sept. 24 hopefully, as well. There will be an in-class writing assignment next week connected to the play.

Readings week Sept. 20-23 in Takaki: Weekend homework, read chapter 8 or finish Contradictions.

Sept. 21: Library orientation. We will meet there. Readings in Takaki: Transitions 209-291.

Keep reading logs for the book where you summarize key ideas and note vocabulary, questions, etc.

American Culture Cyber-Post

Today in class we began our presentations on American Culture. I was impressed, especially with students who used their object as a metaphor for a philosophical comment on American values such as patriotism, over consumption, debt and obesity. It was also interesting to note how one student shared her identifying peanut butter sandwiches with America, that and popular TV shows like That Girl.

Post your narratives here and respond to another student by Thursday, Sept. 16 at 11 AM.

We will continue tomorrow in class, a few students weren't able to share. We'll probably have time to break into groups and talk about Takaki or save Takaki for Thursday and read a bit more of The Tempest--we'll see.

Quizzes
I passed out a reading assignment sheet Monday. I'll post it here a bit later. If you missed class, ask for a copy. We also had a quiz on Monday. I will return them tomorrow.

Recap

Homework is to catch up. If you have read Takaki up to Contradictions and want to get ahead, start this section. We will discuss Chapters 4-6 next Wednesday, Sept. 15-16. The goal is to complete the book and write the definitive essay(s) by the end of September (smile).

Email me the three paragraph essays that were due today. We ran out of time and only a few students were able to practice Microsoft comment. I will read your essays and give you a grade.

Don't forget to keep a reading log.

Oh, extra credit assignments do not take the place of class assignments. Do the class assignments first. Quite a few new students joined us this week. My suggestion is to read the entire blog starting with the syllabus (August 22, 2010 post). The assignments you are responsible for start the first day you attend. Other assignments are relevant for your personal edification. You cannot make them up.

Take for instance, The Tempest, which we have been reading in class. Students who were not here still have to read it, because there will be other writing assignments attached to the material. The play is on-line. We have a translation published by Barnes and Noble. I gave students copies in class; however, if you are behind, I suggest you read the first Act Scene 2 to familiarize yourself with the story.

A lot of students are coming to class late. Some of these students have serious challenges, like homelessness, but not all have this story. I received a call today from a student who is in the hospital. She has been there since last week. I cannot stop and catch you up when late. Students who are late will just miss the assignment.

I am using the lab time to share strategies with you to help you in all your classes like email protocol: copying oneself, pasting the document as well as attaching it, filling in the subject line.

We will do the Microsoft comment next week, Thursday. Don't forget, Tuesday, Sept. 14, is the first formal presentation, the topic: American culture. Bring in an object that represents American culture. Share the reasoning or rationale with your audience. You will paste the document on the website. I plan to videotape the presentation to post on the blog. I hope no one objects.

Some of the posts are hard to read because of the formatting. You can report it correctly and I will delete the mistake: poor or no spacing, also irregular line spacing.

Cyber-Freewrite Assignment

What is your September 11 story. Post it here. Don't forget to comment on someone else's story.

For extra credit, students can share a favorite film, song, poem or any commemorative activity or ritual he or she participates in this weekend. Post that reflection here as well.

Today in class we paraphrased a section from The Tempest in conversational English then shared. Jay and Maxx shared for their groups. Both were well done. They maintained the intent of the original while making the text more contemporary.

The freewrite today was to look at how Takaki uses or compares Shakespeare's characters to explain or offer reasoning, certainly not justification, (Takaki's not English), of early colonizer's philosophy regarding empire expansion and New World conquest: 3 paragraphs with citations as examples.

The short essay response is due tomorrow. Email it to yourself, so you'll have it. Remember, we meet in A-232.

I also handed out a new sheet: What's Kickin' with Professor Sabir. Let me know if you'd like to join me at anything mentioned there.

Cyber-Assignment for Sept. 2, 2010

What are the qualities of good writing?

In a short essay, 250-500 words, discuss this topic using published writers, those you personally like and are familar with, along with those we have encountered this semester, Ronald Takaki and William Shakespeare (smile). You don't have to use Shakespeare as an example.

Post your essay here. Include citations in your essay (3): one free paraphrase, one block quote and one paraphrase. If the essay is too long to post, post it in two installations. Oh, don't forget to respond to a classmate's essay.

You should be able to do this assignment in an hour. The response to a classmate is homework. Next week we will read more of Takaki.

Continue to keep journals or logs on the Mirror readings. We are going to read The Tempest, over the next couple of weeks, continue to review writing concept like thesis sentences and incorporating citations smoothly into one's writing as we try to get up to chapter 6 by Thursday, Sept. 9.