1. Bellringer March 24 ANSWER THIS IN YOUR NOTES
Naturally, the important thing is, I helped to save them, them and a part of their democracy, even if I had to kick their law into their teeth in order to do that for them. And I am feeling well and settled in myself because I believe it was a good job, despite this possible horror: that they might prefer the preservation of their law in all its sick dignity and their knives to the continuation of their creed and their lives.
This is the final stanza of the poem written as if it were prose. What ideas are emphasized when it is written as a paragraph?
As part of our discussion, we will compare it to the poetic version.

2. Your Task
Create a comparison/contrast chart for “Legal Alien” and “Negro Hero”.
List what they have in common – remember we are looking at diction and structure.
Identify the categories of differences and then show how they are different.
What conclusion can you draw about their similarities and differences?

3. Comparing and Contrasting
How are the poems similar?

4. Comparing and contrasting
How are the poems different?

5. So what if they are similar and different?

6. Homework
Start your draft – get the “So what?” done and start the introduction with the questions answer.
You could start development if you want.

7. Bellringer: March 26
Use the following quotation in a sentence about Diction (look at the terms under Diction to help you) :
“a handy token / sliding back and forth” (Mora ll )
WRITE THIS IN YOUR NOTES.
(translation: The metaphor, “a handy token / sliding back and forth,” emphasizes the importance of her life by how she is able to come and go between two different cultures (Mora ll ).
How to cite quotations: OWL information:

8. Today’s class.
You are starting today’s class with 15 participation and focus points.
If you are on task and working hard, you will keep those easy 15 points.
If you are off task or not working, you will begin to lose points.
I will deduct points without notifying you. You’ll be able to figure it out. I’m the sole judge of you being on task and working or not.

9. Writing the response
1 – begin with the “so what” you created about the poems. 2 – identify the themes for the poems. 3 – make sure you have used both titles and their authors by this point. 4 – Identify which specific parts of Diction and Structure you will focus on for your response.

10. For example:
Both poems show that society can overlook the capabilities of people because they are a minority. The theme of Gwendolyn Brooks’ poem “Negro Hero (to suggest Dorie Miller)” ties into this idea because she shows that (INSERT YOUR THEME HERE). Pat Mora’s poem “Legal Alien” has a slightly different theme of (INSERT YOUR THEME HERE). The poets use standard diction, metaphors, parenthesis, and parallelism to create these themes. OR
Society can often overlook the capabilities of people because they are a minority. The theme of “Negro Hero (to suggest Dorie Miller)” by Gwendolyn Brooks and “Legal Alien by Pat Mora tie into this idea because they demonstrate that (INSERT YOUR THEME HERE). The poets use differing tones and figurative language but similar uses of parenthesis, stanza structures to create this theme.

11. Developing the response
For each area you are discussing, give examples.
For each example, specifically state how it shows either the theme or the “so what” for your response.
Mora’s use of “American but hyphenated” emphasizes how separated she feels from both her American and Mexican heritage (l. 8). The connotation of “hyphenated” evokes an estrangement from being an American, but as she doesn’t name what comes after the hyphen also indicates an alienation from her Mexican side, almost as if she is missing part of her last name, part of her identity. She would be able to include the second part of her hyphenated name if she felt more included by either societty.

12. Writing the Closing paragraph
Notice how in “Negro Hero (to suggest Dorie Miller)” Brooks repeats her KEY ideas for the poem in the final stanza.
Closing paragraphs do something similar.
OWL link
More info for writing closing paragraphs
SHMOOP video (for those who think reading is silly – really? Look at the other links too!)
Writing closing paragraphs is now a “tested” skill – you need to know how to write one anyway, even if you never think you’ll write after high school. Boy, will you be surprised out in the real world.

13. Now you.
We will spend 20 more minutes in class today developing our response.
After that time, you will work on the response at home and you will bring your completed response back with you next class.
Remember to stay on task and working hard to keep those easy 15 writing workshop participation points.

14. Homework Complete the response essay for class on Tuesday, March 31.
It is due that day. If you turn it in on Tuesday, it is in on time.
Your DEADLINE AFTER WHICH I will NOT accept it is end of the day, April 2.