Reading experiences of your childhood

This assignment is to discuss with your parents how you learned to read. Since they will probably have a stronger recollection of this experience than you do, ask them about how you learned to read, what types of questions you asked, what you were most interested in as far as particular books, stories you liked to be told (even if they were not read to you, just told by a family member), or what your favorite reading spots were when you were younger.

This is meant to be a fun activity, not a stressful one! If you are uncomfortable asking your parents, or if they do not have strong memories of the occasion, try to remember for yourself a time when you read something that made your imagination take flight or just made you feel alive and interested in another world.

Please bring these stories and experiences with you to class on Thursday, 1/4/18,  to share (they need not be written down, just committed to memory well enough to be retold), and, if possible, the book or a few books that you enjoyed reading as a child!

Written Portion of Language Analysis Vocabulary Quiz

Task 1:

Read one of the articles below about euphemisms.

Article one

Article two

Article three

Based on what your read, describe if you believe euphemisms are helpful or harmful in today's society.  What do they do (or not do) to make meaning and purpose clear?  Support your ideas with at least two direct quotes or references to the article.

Task 2:

Read "Superman and Me" by Sherman Alexie.

Describe how this piece is intended to be didactic.  Consider who his main intended audience is and how they might benefit from hearing about his experiences with reading.  Support your ideas with references to the reading (does not need to be direct quotes).

EXTRA CREDIT:  Apply up to three vocabulary words (from this unit or last unit) to Sherman Alexie's "Superman and Me" piece and explain how he uses them to emphasize his purpose.  This should be done on a separate note card and labeled extra credit.

Readings from Frederick Douglass and Malcolm X due Monday

Please read and annotate these pieces for Monday, 12/18, recording your responses/ideas as you read, or when completed.
Frederick Douglass' "Learning to Read and Write"
AND
Malcolm X's "Learning to Read"

Write one voice response (A or B) and one purpose response (C, D, or E) including specific, supporting evidence from the piece within each 2-3 paragraph response. 

VOICE RESPONSE:

A.  Explain how you feel Malcolm X's experiences with words and reading/writing shape him and his perspective as a writer.

OR

B.  Examine the ways that Malcolm X's voice comes across in the process he chose to follow to develop a stronger understanding of words and their importance in the world.

PURPOSE RESPONSE:

C.  Douglass' autobiography was written before slavery was fully abolished in the U.S.  In what ways can his narrative be read as an argument against slavery?  How does gaining the ability to educate oneself change the path of Douglass' life and make him desire more, and even be committed to fighting for more? 

OR

D.  Douglass' writing has a purpose in the context in which he wrote it, before the Civil War and the abolishment of slavery, but it also has a purpose today.  What is the purpose within this piece that makes it relatable to today's reader and why?
E.  Consider and explain if this piece is an essay about reading, writing, culture, or the power of education itself, or if it has a combined purpose.

Exploration with language development from infancy

GATHER INFORMATION— Record these responses on your own.
First, read "The Power of Talking to Your Baby" by Tina Rosenberg (2013)
1.  While reading, take note of the claim Rosenberg is making and how she goes about developing her argument.
2.  At the end of the reading, apply Toulmin's model or Monroe's motivated sequence to her opinion article and talk about the effectiveness of her argument in terms of persuasive appeal.

Next, read "Word Power for Babies" from Reader's Digest 11/2014
1.  While reading, note ideas of strong interest or importance to you.
2.  At the end of reading, write about at least two claims made in this article that further teach us about the significance of language in human development.

Then, read "Baby Talk Helps Infants Learn Language"
1.  While reading, take note of the different ways that babies learn about language and, eventually, develop speaking capabilities and understanding themselves.
2.  At the end of reading, write about how parents and caregivers make a difference in the way a child's language abilities develop.

COMPARE INFORMATION— Talk about this together in your group.
Compare ideas and data given in EACH article above.  Is there any contradicting info.?  How do the articles complement one another?  What gaps are left in your understanding?  What other questions do you have?  What SPEEC issues might this topic bring up?  How does this connect with info. gained from the reading and TED talk you watched on Monday?

SHARE INFORMATION
Create a short keynote with images and words describing what you have learned that is exciting and interesting  and be prepared to present these ideas to another person.   You could present this to a parent of young children, a new parent or parent-to-be that you know, a childcare provider, someone who babysits, or to a friend in another class who is interested in the subject matter.  Please also share the keynote with me via email by Friday, 12/15.

The Importance of Words

Watch a TED talk to learn more about language and how we develop and use it.
Explore great ways that words, language, and communication have shaped our world!
Choose from TED talks on this list or on  this list to learn more about the role of language in civilization.
At the end, in a few paragraphs, record what new things your learned about language , and how the speaker went about informing you about these things effectively.