Performance Objectives :

1) Students use strategies to manage or overcome communication anxiety

2) Students analyze and evaluate the effective use of literary techniques.

3) Students appreciate and understand Cisneros' distinctive narrative style of communicating meaning with simple images presented with little comment.
 

Procedures :

1) Students divide into pair "appointments".

2) Students read together, consider, and are led in discussion about images in response to guiding questions about images and themes from the first vignette.
    After reading "Hairs," the second vignette, students work in pairs to discuss and write answers to guiding questions on narrative style and meaning.

Mango Street pp. 35 - 42
Instructions: One point for each item; four points total.  Answers to the four items to be completed and  turned in by the end of the period.  Work individually and silently.

1. On pages 33 - 34, Darius says something wise.  What does he say?  Why does Esperanza think this is wise?

2. In "The Family of Little Feet," Esperanza tells us some things about feet and shoes.
List the family  members Esperanza tells us about.  Are their feet the same?  Esperanza contrasts these people and tells of individual characteristics by  describing their feet.  Why is it  important for Esperanza to tell us these things?  Base your answers on information from our discussions in class about Mango Street and why Esperanza is telling us these stories.

3. Why do you think feet and shoes are important to Esperanza in "The Family of Little Feet"?  Are they symbolic?  What do they symbolize?  What is the reaction of Mr. Benny?  Of the boy on a homemade bicycle?  Of the six girls in front of the laundromat?  Of the bum man?  Why  do they react in the ways they do?  Support your answer with evidence from the text,  and with information from discussions we have had in class.

4. In "And Some More," Esperanza narrates a conversation between some girls about names and clouds.  Why does Esperanza think it is important to tell us about this conversation?
(Hint: There are many kinds of clouds, just as the Eskimos have many names for snow.)

Marks: 1 point for each answer, with evidence of having read the vignette.

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Assignment: Write a letter of at least one hundred words to one or both your parents, or to your guardian(s), or to someone who was responsible for naming you, about your name.   Do you like your name?  What about it do you like or dislike?  This letter can be as "real" a letter as you wish it to be   - - perhaps you would like to actually give it to your parents eventually.  But use your imagination now; our purpose in English class is for you to reflect about who you are and are becoming, much as Esperanza does in her vignettes.  Esperanza talks about who she is by reflecting on her memories of growing up, and what she would like to have been different.  Remember how Esperanza feels about her name on pages 10 and 11?  "And Some More" on pages 35 - 38 also is about names.

Marks:
           1 Correct grammar, punctuation, spelling
           3 Logic of presentation / support for ideas / imagination, creativity
           1 Completion by due date
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Total: 5 Points