ENGL 493

Description: Anthem is a dystopian fiction by Ayn Rand.   It was written in 1937 and published in 1938.   The setting in is an unspecified future when humans have come to another Dark Age.   This Dark Age has led to the concept of individuality to be banned.   People are now considered a collective group, only using plural pronouns.   No one has an individual name.   Children are no longer raised by mothers and fathers.   Children are conceived only for the sole purpose of procreation.   Men and women no longer get married or are able to interact with one another.   Everything in life is determined by the many different councils: jobs, who you mate with, where you live, etc. In this story, we follow the life of Equality 7-2521.   Equality is a 21-year-old man who wants to become a scholar.   His wish is unfulfilled due to being assigned to be a Street Sweeper.   When you being to read the text, you told about Equal...

I have read Sherman Alexie’s The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian a couple times before.   I read this book once in high school and once in college.   For me the text was always interesting to read.   Knowing that the book took place partially at Reardan High School was the most exciting thing for me when I was first introduced to the book.   I grew up in Ritzville and we played sports against the Reardan team; so, I knew many students from there.   I knew a few students who went to school in Reardan and were part of their Native communities as well.   I was eager to read the book and see what perspectives were in there that aren’t always mentioned by those one knows. I enjoyed reading the book.   I know it was semi-biographical book but it was well written.   Every time I pick the book up, I am never left disappointed.   There are things that make you wonder what is the truth and what maybe was embellished in the way he does...

What struck me most about this novel was how the different struggles Margot goes through. I may not have done things the way Margot did and I may not be of Latino/Hispanic decent; but I did rebel against my family, I was a misfit in school, and I struggled with depression. I was surprised with how Margot acted towards her family. It is natural for kids to rebel, it is part of our biology as teens. Our brains are wired to be more adventurous and take risks. But Margot, while doing that, is also struggling with the realities of being a "misfit" in her school. She attends a high-SES prep school, but doesn't come from a high-SES family. She does what she can to fit in, but gets herself in trouble when she steals money from her family. She spends the summer experiencing how her family and community are different than other people at school. It makes her feel alone and that is a struggle. This hit me because I know what it’s like to be different. And I want to work with stude...

I thought this was a very interesting read.  I have read a few works by Kelly Gallagher on how to teach students about writing.  I am so excited to see books like this written by Tovani. While reading this book, it struck me that I was reading about myself as a student.   In the fake reading section, I realized I was reading something that applied to me in so many ways as a reader.   I still catch myself doing these things a “fake reader” does.   I will skim a text if I feel pressed on time or really don’t want to read.   AS an elementary student I would do this just to get by on my speed reading so I didn’t feel so far behind.   This has continued.   Looking for key points that might be the main theme or topic of a chapter or article.   From there, I build off of that by listening to what others around me have said about the text.   I, then, make my own opinions or discussion/writing points about that text.   By doing those t...

Critical pedagogy is a very tough topic to think about as educators as there is often a disagreement between teachers, administrators, parents/guardians, and even students.  Everyone agrees that educational systems need to focus on student achievement.  The way we reach that goal of student achievement is where many disagree upon. Throughout the changes in education, one thing still stands to be true, students need strong literacy skills to be a citizen in the world.  As students go into the career field, they will need to know how to formulate writing and read with the skills to help them comprehend/refute what is in a text. Teachers are the pathway to helping students master these skills. There is also a greater emphasis on standardized tests now than there ever has been in the past.  Teachers need to be able to teach students the skills that are needed to pass these tests and move toward their futures as citizens and yet, avoid "teaching to the test."  Te...