Contents
Preface v
Readings Arranged by Rhetorical Strategy xxi
PART I: ON READING AND WRITING 1
1.
Critical Reading and Thinking: An Approach to Connecting Cultural Contexts 3
Body Ritual among the Nacirema, Horace Miner 3
What Is Culture? 8
Why Read and Think to Understand Cultures? 9
Strategies for Reading and Thinking across Cultures 9
Reading to Respond 10
Marginal Notes 10
From “What’s American about America?” Ishmael Reed 10
Journal Entries 12
Classes Clashing, Lynda Gorov 15
Reading to Understand 17
Summarizing to Identify Ideas 17
Reading to Understand Inferences 21
Reading to Evaluate 23
Establishing Criteria 23
Using Criteria to Evaluate: Journal Entries 25
Using Criteria to Evaluate: Discussions 26
2.
The Processes of Writing: Issues and Strategies 29
Understanding Your Own Writing Process 29
Understanding the Writing Task 31
The Subject 31
The Purpose of the Assignment 31
The Audience 32
Special Requirements 33
Understanding the Process of Writing 33
Prewriting 34
Drafting 35
Thesis Statement 35
Planning 35
Getting Started 35
Revising 35
Editing 36
Peer Editors 37
3.
The Aims of Writing 41
Expressive Writing 41
One Student’s Process for Expressive Writing 42
Exploring Ideas: Freewriting 42
Writing the Draft 43
Revising 45
Informative and Explanatory Writing 47
One Student’s Process for Informative and Explanatory Writing 50
Exploring Ideas: Researching, Freewriting, Listing, and Outlining 50
Planning and Writing a Draft 52
Revising 55
The Revision Plan 55
Persuasive Writing 59
Rational Appeals 60
Emotional Appeals 62
Topics Worth Arguing About 64
One Student’s Process for Persuasive Writing 65
Exploring Ideas: Mapping 65
Planning and Writing a Draft 65
Gathering Evidence 65
Considering Tone and Voice 66
Revising: Developing Transitions, Providing Examples, Expanding Explanations 70
Revised Argument Paper 71
PART II: READINGS 75
4.
Arrivals, Roots, and Memories 77
Slave Ship, charles ball 79
This brief but graphic account of an African’s forced voyage from his homeland to early America allows the reader to witness firsthand the terrifying journeys forced on thousands of black people.
The Promised Land, mary antin 82
A Russian immigrant recalls the wondrous and magical first weeks of life in America during the late 1800s. The novelty of even the most basic of objects, from rocking chairs to street lamps, leads to an early sense of what it means to live free.
A Boat Person’s Story, vo thi tam 87
In a numb and distant voice, Vo Thi Tam describes the agonizing journey she and her family endured as they attempted to leave South Vietnam.
Arrival at Manzanar, jeanne wakatsuki houston and
james d. houston
92
This child’s-eye view of the inhumanity suffered by Japanese American citizens during World War II may evoke laughter but also leaves the reader thinking hard about the lives led by those forced to spend the war years in detention camps.
Rootlessness, david morris 99
Can Americans really establish meaningful roots and relationships when we are constantly moving, constantly racing to get ahead? Morris offers reasons why we should slow down and solutions to our hopscotch lifestyle in this country.
The World of Our Grandmothers, connie young yu 104
Chinese women immigrating to the United States in the early years of the twentieth century often faced great challenges when their old traditions conflicted with the messages of their new culture. Yu’s narrative focuses on her grandmother’s struggles and eventual triumphs.
Passing, shirlee taylor haizlip 113
Hiding parts of one’s identity in order to fit in with an apparently desirable culture is a common practice. Many people, in many historical eras, have also lived in disguise to avoid persecution. Haizlip’s essay asks us to consider the conflicts faced by men and women of African American ancestry who choose, for many reasons, to pass as white.
Two Kinds, amy tan 124
A Chinese mother and her Chinese American daughter, caught up in the glamour of the American dream, realize how different their goals and desires are. In this short story, the reader gets a sense of the challenges that must be faced for two different cultures, as well as two different people, to harmonize.
To Live in the Borderlands Means You, gloria anzaldúa 134
This poem invites readers to ponder the politics, history, and culture of the Mexico–United States border located between Brownsville, Texas, and San Diego, California.
Topics for Making Connections: Arrivals, Roots, and Memories
136
5.
Families 139
Letter to My Mother, tran thi nga 141
Although Thi’s letter to her mother in China reveals the conveniences of daily life in America, in the empty spaces of this piece, Thi also whispers why her heart is aching and her spirit lacking.
My Father’s Life, raymond carver 144
Even though Carver’s father cheated on his mother and couldn’t handle money or alcohol, he cared about his family and never pretended to be perfect. In this piece, Carver reconciles his feelings for the man who profoundly influenced his life.
Chinese Puzzle, grace ming-yee wai 152
Through recollections of her early life, Wai attempts to reconcile both her relationship with her father, who was killed in a robbery when she was ten years old, and her Chinese culture with her life in the United States.
Adoption Battles for Gay Prospective Parents,
jeffrey gibson
159
What are the hindrances that face gay and lesbian prospective adoptive parents in the United States? The American Bar Association has worked to advance gay and lesbian adoptive rights and to challenge the bias against such adoptions.
Orbiting the Son, jesse green 169
The story of Erez’s adoption suggests that families come in many forms and sizes. What loving families share is the central wonder of the newly welcomed child.
Inside the Culture of Kids’ Sports, andrew ferguson 172
Competitive athletics can help keep children happy and out of trouble, but team membership can often create conflicts when games and practice schedules intrude into family time.
Tracking Down Mom, john cloud 181
Should adopted children have the right to uncover information on their birth parents? More states are trying to open records, raising issues of health, lineage, and confidentiality.
Summer Water and Shirley, durango mendoza 184
Sibling rivalry may be a fact of life, but this story focuses on the way love between a brother and sister can face down even the ultimate enemy—death.
Family Ties, jimmy santiago baca 192
How do families form their connections? Do family gatherings confirm loyalties or raise doubts and challenges?
Topics for Making Connections: Families
193
6.
Ways of Learning 195
Learning to Read and Write, frederick douglass 197
In this classic essay, Douglass recounts his poignant and ingenious struggle to educate himself during his years in slavery.
The Teacher Who Changed My Life, nicholas gage 203
With clarity and grace, Gage recalls the one teacher who reached out to a young immigrant boy and fostered within him a hunger for learning and a sense of dignity.
I Show a Child What Is Possible, jacques d’amboise 209
What do children need to astound themselves with all their potential? In this essay, d’Amboise shares his own experiences as student and teacher to remind all teachers of life’s most valuable lessons.
The School Days of an Indian Girl, zitkala-sa 214
When white authorities sent Native American children to boarding schools many miles from their home and forced them to adopt a culture alien to them, these children faced sorrow, confusion, and anger without the support of their parents or extended tribal families.
The Mind of Man, david thomas 221
In recent years, many studies have looked at the inequities girls often experience in school. Thomas asks that we also look at the inequities faced by boys.
A New Kind of Street Smarts, benjamin pimentel 227
With his new definition of “street smarts,” the author raises intriguing questions about how and where life’s most important lessons are learned.
Famous All Over Town, danny santiago 231
Rudy, a rebellious member of the inner city Jesters, is determined to change his life by becoming a star pupil in his teacher’s eyes. When Rudy slips back to his old ways after a class, we wonder: Was Rudy a lost cause to begin with, or did a rookie teacher extinguish the spark that could have led him to a brighter future?
First Grade—Standing in the Hall, cheryl savageau 240
A first grader may not be able to repeat lessons as the teachers wish, but these educators have many things to learn from their students’ creative perception of the world.
Topics for Making Connections: Ways of Learning
242
7.
American Dreams and Conflicts 243
I Have a Dream, martin luther king, jr. 245
This classic speech, full of powerful rhythms, metaphors, and images, takes readers back to a time and place when a leader’s words made concepts like freedom and unity touch the hearts of those seeking to live and prosper in the United States.
A Chinaman’s Chance: Reflections on the American Dream, eric liu 250
What is meant by the “American Dream”? Liu offers a thoughtful extended definition and urges that the dream not be relegated to history. Instead, young Americans from all cultures and backgrounds must struggle past the barriers of race and class to continue pursuit of the dream.
Why Willy Loman Lives, the economist 259
The story of an aging, defeated salesman who lived in the 1940s still has strong appeal to the American public, even at a time when the economy seems to be booming and financial success appears within easy reach.
The Revolt of the Evil Fairies, ted poston 263
Miss H. Belle LaPrade, the sixth-grade teacher at the Booker T. Washington Colored Grammar School, challenges her students’ dreams when she chooses who will play the part of the beautiful princess and handsome prince and who will fill the roles of evil fairies.
Working for the Dream, maya angelou 268
Angelou examines the role of work, social class, ethnicity, and trust in the path to create a successful and self-reliant life.
Stars and Stripes—and Stress, jerry adler 277
In the short term, stress can be vital to self-preservation, but over time it becomes destructive. New research shows how chronic stress affects the body, and this article suggests that stress is becoming inextricably linked with the American race for success and self-fulfillment.
Death of the Right Fielder, stuart dybek 282
Baseball has been called the great American pastime. Dybek’s story suggests that it can also be looked at as a metaphor for the way American men lead their lives.
Ellis Island, joseph bruchac 286
Are Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty symbols of hope and possibility, or do they represent invasion and loss?
Topics for Making Connections: American Dreams and Conflicts 287
8.
Women and Men 289
Letters: The Place of Women in the New American Republic, john adams and abigail adams 291
These three letters give readers a firsthand look at American history. A wife urges her husband to remember that women should be treated fairly as he and the other male leaders design rules that will shape the destiny of this new country.
Where I Come from Is Like This, paula gunn allen 294
Gunn Allen analyzes the ways the Native American woman achieves her identity and explains the sources of her strength and her sense of purpose.
Between a Rock and a Soft Place: A Century of American Manhood, peter filene 303
Caught between the stereotype of the macho, Old West cowboy and the image of the sensitive, caring “new man,” today’s American male, according to Filene, lives a life of frustration and contradiction.
Asian Girls: A Cultural Tug of War, david haldane 320
When Asian families make America their new home, conflicts often arise between parents and their teenage daughters when Eastern values and Western freedoms clash.
Hope in a Jar, kathy peiss 326
How can hope reside in a jar? Kathy Peiss examines the motives, conflicts, and beliefs of people who believe beauty can be created from the outside.
Alternative Bride, marjorie ingall 334
The ideal wedding can take many shapes and forms. Marjorie Ingall describes the ceremony she and her fiancé, Jonathan, envisioned—their plans for their marriage are as unique as their wedding rituals.
The Gender Blur, deborah blum 338
What makes a man a man or a woman a woman? Blum argues that the distinctions are becoming increasingly hard to make.
The Bass, The River, and Sheila Mant, w. d. wetherell 346
During his fourteenth summer, the narrator has to choose between the two great loves of his life—fishing and the desirable Sheila Mant.
The Wedding Couple, donald hall 352
The qualities that make a marriage last a lifetime may be surprising.
Topics for Making Connections: Women and Men
353
9.
Questions of Language 355
What’s Wrong with Black English? rachel l. jones 357
Black English may very well serve to keep African Americans as a proud and separate group, says Jones, but it also excludes them from the advantages and opportunities enjoyed by Americans who speak “white” English.
Talking Like a Lady, robin lakoff 361
Not only do men and women act differently when placed in social situations, but also, as Lakoff points out, the words they choose and the inflections they use reflect their dominant/submissive relationships.
A Question of Language, gloria naylor 371
As she reflects on her childhood and a time when she was called “nigger,” Naylor realizes that the hurt and violence words inflict are most often caused by the speaker’s intention and tone of voice.
Americanization Is Tough on “Macho,”
rose del castillo guilbault
375
The author argues that defining the word macho can depend on your roots. To her and her family, the word means “manly, responsible, hardworking, a man in charge.”
Laughing in English, cathy n. davidson 378
How can you learn to laugh in another language? Cathy Davidson and her Japanese students teach each other this valuable lesson.
Mother Tongue, amy tan 387
Amy Tan suggests that learning one language at home and another at school need not be viewed as a difficult hurdle to leap but rather as a way to enhance sensitivity to both languages—and to their native speakers.
English as a Second Language, lucy honig 393
For Maria, learning English meant more than taking language lessons. It also meant trying to understand the values of U.S. culture—especially as those values were depicted on popular television programs.
A Gathering of Deafs, john heaviside 404
In the culture of signed languages, messages can be communicated that are very different from spoken or written language.
Topics for Making Connections: Questions of Language
406
10.
Rights and Responsibilities 409
A Loaded Question: What Is It about Americans and Guns? leonard kriegel 411
Kriegel claims that both gun proponents and those opposed to the sale of firearms are prompted by the same feeling: fear.
The Price of Preference, shelby steele 421
Although Steele realizes how members of his race have benefited in the past from affirmative action rulings, he still maintains that blacks would be much better off without this mandated government crutch.
Artistic Freedom: A Gathering Storm, ira glasser 430
In this essay, Glasser, who has long been associated with the American Civil Liberties Union, explains why he and this organization view the growing movement to censor everything from rock music to unconventional imagery in photography as a dangerous threat to First Amendment rights.
Marriage Ed, tamar lewin 436
Who has the right and the responsibility to educate young people about issues related to marriage? Parents or the schools?
Benevolent Bribery—or Racism? margot hornblower 441
A California woman starts a nonprofit organization that stirs debate by paying drug users to stop having children.
The War on Alcohol, anna quindlen 444
Quindlen argues for government intervention to ban advertisements that make drinking seem an inevitable part of having fun in our society.
Lullaby, leslie marmon silko 447
In the depths of winter, an old Navajo woman’s mind sifts through years of memories as she struggles to make sense of what she had and what was taken from her.
Ethics, linda pastan 456
Education may pose the tough questions about students’ values and the meaning of life, but it is through living and aging that the complexity of possible answers becomes clear.
Topics for Making Connections: Rights and Responsibilities
457
11.
Popular Culture and Media Messages 459
Did Somebody Say, “Give Me a Sign, Lord”? tom kuntz 461
Billboards carrying religious messages have raised controversy.
Warning: Viewer Discretion Advised, janet reitman 464
The controversy over television programs and other forms of entertainment that contain explicit messages about sex and violence fuels a debate over the role of mass media in forming society’s values.
Star Wars Forever, gloria goodale 468
Star Wars films, from the first to the most recent, fight against the growing tide of irony and cynicism. The optimistic themes of Star Wars resonate as much with today’s audiences as with those of 1977.
Romance with Relish, Please, elizabeth kendall 471
Kendall argues that mixing work and love as themes can create great romantic comedies that celebrate love and connection rather than depicting panic and loneliness.
Out of the Closet and into Your Living Room,
patrick mccormick
475
The portrayal of gay characters in movies and television programs ...
Januszek66