Yesterday we talked a lot about how cultural references can lead to questions, and how it is okay to “not know” the answers to those questions.
Why is this important? If we don’t recognize that we “don’t know the answer,” we probably are not going to think too seriously about the explanations for the questions.
Let’s begin this way today:
Two classes ago, I asked you tell me about where your expectations for the world of work come from. Today, I am going to ask you a related question:
In-class writing: (Suggested: 10 Minutes)
How has your culture shaped your expectations of the world of work? What have your models of “work” been in your life? Are you satisfied with these expectations? What are some questions you have about these expectations? Use specific examples.
Group Discussion: (Suggested: 10 minutes)
Share your responses, then come up with a list of specific cultural references that actually represent work for the various members of your group. Provide explanations for why this is the case.
Group Presentation: (Suggested: 10 minutes)
Class Discussion: (Suggested: 5-10 minutes)
In-class Journal/or class conversation: (Suggested: 10 minutes)
How is it that people get jobs that they do not like? What is your understanding of this? Use core class concepts to express, or frame, your ideas.
Break
Opening Exercise for Maggie: A Girl of The Streets: (Suggested: 10 Minutes)
Question One: (5 minutes)
To what extent to you think that your environment shapes the opportunities you will have over the course of your life? Back up whatever claims you make with specific examples, and use core class concepts to help articulate your thoughts when possible
Question Two: (5 minutes)
While we have all been taught that “anyone can escape poverty with hard work and effort” – do you think this is true? If so, why – what are some of the practical factors that may challenge individuals who are raised within impoverished situations?
Group Discussion: (Suggested: 10 Minutes)
Begin with a five minute conference on your individual findings and positions. Next, use your findings to create a presentation in response to the following question:
Do you believe that your environment determines your social and professional opportunities? If so, why — or why not?
Group Presentations: (Suggested: 7-10 Minutes)
Part Two:
In-class Journal: (Suggested: 10 minutes)
In your journal, I want you to create sections for details that relate to character, setting, plot, tone, and cultural references as they are evident in the first half of Maggie: A Girl of The Streets. Look to your annotations.
Next, I want you to select from these details some evidence to back up an argument that you could make about the representation of work in this story, as you understand it so far.
Group Discussion: (5-10 minutes)
Consider your understandings of the story and the kinds of arguments you might make about work as it is represented in this story based on the evidence they have compiled so far.
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