"Stranger in the Village" An Essay By James Baldwin & Comprehension Activity

English 12 Unit 2: “Stranger in the Village”
James Baldwin Essay Activity

Materials:
You will need a copy of “Stranger in the Village” by James Baldwin, your own paper and a pen.

Know:
Writers use personal narratives to reflect on events that have taken place. Essays, such as “Stranger in the Village” help us to learn about ourselves, others and cultures. We will continue to notice how language plays a role in how we shape our identity and how others.

Understand:
We will examine how language choice and the writer’s “voice” impact you, the reader. We will analyze the language used so that we might better understand how the writer, James Baldwin in this case, elicits specific emotional responses in his audience.

Do:
We will use a variety of different strategies to comprehend and come to a greater understanding of the essay. In order to do that, please do the following:

1. Go through and number the paragraphs. Write a small number at the first line of each one.

2. We will read the first paragraph together. For the first and second sentences pick the most important words and write them down on your own paper:
P1 ______________
______________

3. Then read the remaining sentence and write down the most important phrase on your own paper:
P1 _____________________________________________________

4. At the end of paragraph 1 answer the following:
o Does Baldwin know he is a stranger?
o How do you think the people will respond to him?
o What is the purpose of this paragraph?

5. Read paragraphs 2-3 and do the following:
o Copy down unusual words and phrases (usually one per sentence, roughly)
o Copy down the most important sentence;
o Explain what the purpose of the paragraph is.

6. Paragraphs 4 -6 - look for Baldwin’s response and his reflection. Summarize them.

7. Paragraphs 7-9 – Listen closely while I read it to you. Look for the reflection. Write a 1 sentence summary of the reflection for each of the paragraphs.

8. Paragraphs 10-12 – Read these silently. Pick out one sentence per paragraph that jumps out at you for some reason. It may be something that bothers you, or that seems especially striking. Copy these down and explain why you selected them. Give some thought to this. We will discuss people’s finding and offer time to comment on the ideas.

9. I will read paragraph 13 to you. Look for the new description of the village. We will discuss this.

10. Now we will break the class into pairs. Each pair will be assigned a paragraph from among paragraph 15-24 in the essay. Reread you paragraph closely. Identify the important words, phrases, sentences, etc. Identify the main idea(s) and summarize the paragraph.

11. Each pair will read their paragraph aloud. They will then present their paragraphs to the rest of the class and discuss their findings.

12. I will read the last paragraph to the class. Consider and respond to the following:
o Is this conclusion positive or negative?
o Why?
o Why do you think Baldwin wrote and published this essay?
o What do you think Baldwin wanted you to do with the information presented in this essay?

13. For paragraphs 10-13 select just a few choice words, two phrases and one important sentence from each.

14. Skim and reconsider the first 13 paragraphs of this essay. Answer the following:
o Why re their so many foreign words?
o How does the presence of so many unusual words impact you, the reader?
o How do you feel when reading an essay, like this one, with so many foreign and unusual words?

15. Read paragraph 14 closely. Scholars consider this to be the “heart of the essay.” We will discuss this in more detail later.

16. Copy down the last sentence in paragraph 14. This is considered to be the thesis of the essay.

"We Are Marshall" Video - Stranger in the Village

We Are Marshall
English 12 Unit 2: Stranger in the Village

As you watch the film, "We Are Marshall," please write down responses to the following questions:

Watch from the beginning of the film until the end of the funeral and then respond to the following question”

1. Describe, in detail, the “village” as it is portrayed at this stage of the movie.

Now, continue watching the movie until the new team is gathered in a circle on the playing field, each wearing his white uniform.

2. Why does Jack Lengyel elect to become a “stranger” in the village?

Continue watching the film until you get to the part where the team meets at the site of the memorial for the team at the crash site. Pause and take time to fill in this chart (this format could not support a chart so you will need to create it yourself. Below are the components of the chart):

3 Characters who became “strangers in the village”
* Describe/Analyze why the person is a “stranger”
* Describe/Analyze what the impact is on the person
* Assess what becomes of that character. Does the person “belong” or
remain estranged? Why?

At this time you can finish the movie. Then please consider:

4. What are some of the risks that various characters from the film face by being/becoming part of the village?

5. Describe how various characters from the film go from being a “stranger” to being a part of the village.

6. Describe how various characters from the film go from being part of a village to being a stranger.

Resumes Writing

A resume is not a statement of facts. It’s a declaration of intent.
- Rands in Repose

If I could give only one bit of advice for writing a resume, it would be that most employers read a resume for 15 seconds (or at least make a decision within 15 seconds). This is a resume's job--to advocate you as a strong candidate during those 15 seconds. It's not about how much information your resume has on it--it's about how well it conveys important information.
- Robert Peterson, author of Landingthejob.blogspot.com

Know: People are going to judge you based on your written communication. They will expect your resume to look a certain way and contain specific types of information. My goal is to help inform you about what is expected so that you can create a wonderful resume that will get you an interview and a chance to land the job.

Understand: A well written and designed resume can give you the edge to getting the job you want. When an employer posts a job opening many people usually reply. A significant number of applicants will get cut out the competition due to not having all of the requested materials or submitting materials (cover letter, resume) that are error ridden.

Do: We will be reading a few articles on resumes, answering a few questions, gathering personal data and creating resumes. I suggest that you save your resume on a thumb drive/zip drive/memory stick so that you can simply update it for each job you apply for. This can save you a lot of time in the long run.

Let's begin by looking at why a resume is important.
Here's an article that explains why it is important to have a well designed and updated resume, "A Glimpse and a Hook." I think it gives you a realistic look into the mind of a person who does a good bit of hiring. You will find that he contridicts some of what I have said. That is okay with me. I still think that I am giving you good advice that is worth following.

In order to help you focus on what he is saying, please filling the following information from the chart below:

English 12 :Writing a Great Resume:
A Glimpse and a Hook
From RandsinRepose.com


Let’s look at this section by section:

The First Pass:
List the four things he looks at and explain why he focuses on them –

1.

2.

3.

4.

Now, explain why he skips the following sections of a person’s resume –

Professional Objective –
Skills –

Summary of Qualifications –

The Second Pass:
Look at the “In-Depth Job History” section and summarize what creates warning flags.

Now, look at the “Schools and Degrees” segment. What is important to know?

Differentiate, Don’t Annoy:
How can you make your resume stand out from the others? (Hint: The answers will come from two different sections of the reading.)

Explain how formatting can help your resume stand out –

Explain how you should use buzzwords and your ability to talk about them at length –

What is the importance of buzz words and mumbo jumbo?

Why does he want you to tell him a story?

Finally, write a short paragraph about what he means by “a glimps and a hook”.

Now, gather your personal information together before you begin writing your resume. Robert Peterson suggests, "A good exercise is to list 10 things you definitely want someone to know about you within those 15 seconds. For example, this may include that you worked for company A, that you had leadership role B, that you stand out from other students because of C, and the like."

***Now, stop and make your own list of the 10 top things you want people to notice when they look at your resume. For the purpose of this assignment you can pretend that you have graduated from college with a Bachelor's degree and you have worked for two years. Make sure yuor information is realistic for you. (For example, it is unlikely that you would be promoted to CEO in your first year with the firm.) Then, as you are designing your resume, work these in so that they are easy to find in 15 seconds. ***

This is a time of transition in your life. You'll need to provide a prospective employer with information they can use to contact you now or later. Also, remember that many potential employers are web 2.0 savvy and they may look you up. They might run a Google search on your name or they may check out MySpace or Facebook to see who you REALLY are. You'll also want to create a professional email address that you check on a daily basis.

Here's what you need to gather first:
Name, address, telephone, e-mail address, web site address
All your contact information should go at the top of your resume.
• Avoid nicknames.
• Use a permanent address. Use your parents' address, a friend's address, or the address you plan to use after graduation.
• Use a permanent telephone number and include the area code. If you have an answering machine, record a neutral greeting.
• Add your e-mail address. Many employers will find it useful. (Note: Choose an e-mail address that sounds professional. I recommend using gmail.com.If you use an email address like hotchick@abc.com you will sound like a kid and may be treated as such.)
• Include your web site address only if the web page reflects your professional ambitions.


Here are links for articles that provide you with tips and hints on how to write a great resume:
The Secret “So What?” Method To Resume Writing Success
How to Write a Masterpiece of a Resume: Part 1 Write a Resume that Generates Results (This has an extensive, impressive set of sublinks)

Step by Step instructions on how to tackle writing a resume can be found at:
How to Construct a Killer Resume, From Start to Finish
Purdue University step-by-step instructions
Prudue University Resume' powerpoint presentation
A Prudue University link about how scannable/electronic resumes differ from traditional resumes.

Now that you have the format and information figured out, you might want to tweak it so that you use the perfect verbiage. Here's some help with that:
60 Resume Achievement Writing Ideas and Expressions
25 words that hurt your resume
Using Resume Keywords

Resume Design Recommendations are found in:
Give your résumé a face lift
The 7 deadly sins of résumé design

Want to see some samples? Look here:
You can view sample resumes from several types of career fields by looking them up on the Resume Resource website.
Or you can check out BlueSky Resumes - Get Creative to see how a simple, plain resume can be energized with formatting.
Innovative and a bit designer resumes are found in 36 Beautiful Resume Ideas That Work
For really artsy, graphic art style check out The 20 most creative resumes i’ve seen in a long time. Pure inspiration

Landing the Job is a great blog that offers straight forward answer to aspects related to getting a career.

Let's get started writing your resume. There is an excellent worksheet and article on resume writing for teens at QuintCareers.com, Teen Resume Writing Worksheet.
Please upload a printable copy of the worksheet (just look for the link on the site) and complete the questions. You will need this when we type up our resumes in class.


Action Words:
• achieved
• acquired
• adapted
• addressed
• administered
• analyzed
• anticipated
• assembled
• assisted
• audited
• budgeted
• calculated
• centralized
• changed
• collaborated
• composed
• condensed
• conducted
• constructed
• contracted
• converted
• coordinated
• created
• cultivated
• demonstrated
• designed
• developed
• devised
• discovered
• doubled • drafted
• edited
• eliminated
• enforced
• established
• evaluated
• expanded
• explained
• forecasted
• formed
• founded
• generated
• guided
• hired
• implemented
• improved
• informed
• insured
• interpreted
• interviewed
• launched
• maintained
• managed
• marketed
• minimized
• motivated
• negotiated
• obtained
• operated
• organized • originated
• oversaw
• performed
• planned
• prevented
• produced
• programmed
• promoted
• provided
• publicized
• published
• recruited
• reorganized
• reported
• researched
• resolved
• reviewed
• selected
• separated
• set up
• simplified
• solved
• surveyed
• staffed
• supervise
• taught
• tested
• trained
• used

Creating Effectiving Cover Letters

Now that we have done a good bit of career research, each student should have a lot of information about the career they delved into. As part of the research students where asked to find and copy two actual job postings.Our task at hand now is to learn how to write an effective business letter.

Know: Well written communications, such as a business letter, can increase your chances of getting your foot in the door in an industry that you are interested in.

Understand: The people who will hopefully be reading your letter(s) get many similar letters each day. You need to write an error-free letter that is concise, communicative and effective.

Do: We will review the parts of a business letter. We will gain an understanding of how a written (hard) copy is different from an email. We will also look at how you tailor your letter depending on where the job information came from. Finally, we will use make sure the letter is error free.

Let's begin by looking at what is in a cover letter by examining the following links:

Articles that offer good advice about how to write a business letter:
How To Write a Cover Letter
Maximize Your Cover Letter's Power

How to Write a Business Letter that Gets Results

Articles that have sample letters:
Business Letter Writing: Writing a Cover Letter when Applying for a Job
Business Letter Writing: Writing a Cover Letter when Applying for a Job (posted in an advertisement)
Business Letter Writing: Writing a Cover Letter when Applying for a Job (in response to an opening)

Great Samples and Tips:
Cover letters: types and samples

Articles about Avoiding Errors:
Five Common Cover Letter Mistakes

Your Assignment: How to Write a Cover Letter

Now that you have researched a career I want you to select two of your job postings and write covers letter for them. One will be written as if it was a hard copy. The other will be a soft/electronic copy. Use the notes we took in class to help you remember how the formats are different. If you missed those notes, use the links above to find out how they differ. Label each letter as "hard copy" and "soft copy" before you turn them in.

In order for this to work well you will need to pretend that you already have a college degree and a little bit of work experience.

Your assignment is to create a cover letter that is properly formatted and written. You can access information about formatting from the presentation I did in class. You can also access formatting information by following the appropriate links on the website for this class. Here’s what is in the paper:

Research the company you are applying to.
Visit their website and check them out. Consider finding out the following kinds of information:

• What is the employer’s mission?
o How are they different from their competitors?

• What kind of person is their customer/ target audience

• What do they value? (Good Service, Cutting Edge Technology, Diversity, Predictability, flexibility?)

• What kind of news is featured on their website?

• What do you know about the company’s history?

• Any other information you can learn from their website that might be useful?

The more you know about the company, the better your letter and interview will be. Doing this research will help you discover whether the company might be a good fit for you.

Analyze the Job Posting Carefully:
• What skills are they looking for?

• What kind of education/license/certificate are they looking for?

• What kind of experience are they looking for?
•
Find out who the manager or Human Resources office will be reading your letter. (A personalized letter is more likely to be read than one addressed to “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Sir or Madam”. It may also show that you do not care enough about getting the job to call the company and ask for the name of the hiring officer.)

• Make a list of the qualifications you have that match up with those listed in the job posting. (For the purpose of this activity you can pretend that you have a reasonable set of qualifications and work experience.)

Write the first paragraph.

• Find a powerful way to start your letter.

• Tell the reader specifically why you are writing to them.
o This may include what specific job you are interested in or how you came to find their job posting.

• If you found the job posting on a website, make sure you mention which one. Many of them also assign a job ID number. Include that if you have it.


Write the second paragraph.
Take a second look at the job posting specifics and your personal qualifications list. The goal of the second paragraph is to persuade the reader that you are the best person for the job.
• Be sure to address as many points from the job posting as possible;
• Explain how you meet or exceed the job qualifications;
(Avoid telling them what you needs are at this point.)
• Explain why the company would benefit from having you as an employee.
(How can you help them meet their goal(s), solve a problem or attract a new kind of customer?)
• Highlight some of your specific accomplishments in relation to the job descriptions, the company’s focus, goals, etc.

Write the Third Paragraph: Be Bold & Brave.
• The third paragraph is where you take the action into your hands and ask for what you want.

• Be sure to thank the reader for taking time to consider your letter;

• Tell the reader what you want them to do. Be sure to do it in a polite way;

• You may want to indicate when you will call or email next.

• If you have included a resume or any other item with the letter make sure to refer to it. This could improve the chance that it will be actually looked at.

• Be sure to include your contact information, such as email address, cell phone number and a website, if you have one.

Career Research Project and Presentation

Career Research Paper & Presentation

Know:
A student who researches the nature of a job, its working conditions, employment facts, the education and training requirements, along with the future job potential and earnings will be wiser and more knowledgeable when determining a career path to choose.

Understand:
Doing the research for yourself will allow you to follow pathways of knowledge that can open more doors and introduce new areas that could become of interest.

Do:
You will complete the research and create an engaging presentation about that career.


Here’s and outline of what information needs to be included. Feel free to add more than what is asked for:

General Classification: (example: Engineer)

Specializations within the Given Field: (Example: Mechanical Engineer)

I. Nature of the work
1. Major duties
2. Technological influences
1. Advancements
2. Emerging specialties
3. Geographic Concerns/Requirements/Limits/Opportunities
4. Philosophical Issues

II. Working conditions
1. Typical hours worked
2. Workplace environment
3. Physical activities
4. Susceptibility to injury
5. Special equipment
6. Extent of travel required
7. Extent of “On Call” or out of office expectations/responsibilities

III. Employment facts
1. Estimated number of jobs
2. Key industries for jobs
3. Significant geographic distribution

IV. Education and training qualifications
A. Personal characteristics/Skills
1. Read, write, and speak well
2. Compute accurately
3. Think logically
4. Learn quickly
5. Get along with others
6. Demonstrate dependability
7. Computer/Web 2.0 Savvy

B. Preference by employers
1. High school
2. On-the-job training
3. Special Certification or License
4. Formal training (including apprenticeships)
1. Paid Apprenticeships
a. How Long?
b. What is the expected pay?
2. Volunteer Practicum
5. Armed Forces
6. College or postgraduate degrees
7. Previous work experience

C. Typical length of training
D. Advancement possibilities
1. Additional education required for promotion/advancement?

V. Future job outlook
A. Growth or decline potential
1. Number of job openings expected in coming years
B. Turnover rate
C. Susceptibility to layoffs
D. Is this career location specific or very transferable to other locations/professions
E. Local Opportunities
F. National Opportunities
G. Global Opportunities

VI. Earnings
A. Compensation
1. Starting Salary
2. Average Annual Earnings
3. Top Salaries in the career

B. Benefits
1. Medical
2. Insurance
3. Others of Monetary Significance ( Stocks, Partnership, etc.)

VII. Job Postings
A. Find two actual job postings for the career you are researching.


This form was adapted from the one found at:
http://alex.state.al.us/uploads/5680/Career%20Research%20Paper%20Outline.doc

Research Sites:
Below you will find a list of sites that will aid in your research. Please understand that this is not an exhaustive list, just a starting point.

Database Research Link:

AHS Website> Library>Research Databases> Click on the first link under “Do You Have Your Jefferson County Public Library Card? This will get you to the database listing. Some of them will require your Jeffco Lib. Card number. Others will list the login and password that you need to access the material. The databases are listed in alphabetical order. Here are a few of the ones that might be useful, depending on what your career topic is:
Careers – Internet Gale Databases Health Source
Learning Express Nursing & Allied Health
Online Magazines & Newspapers

Local Newspapers: Website> Library>Online Newspaper Access

Career Index & Information - http://www.wetfeet.com/Careers---Industries.aspx

Online Occupational Information - http://online.onetcenter.org/

Career Research Checklist and Good Informational Links Site:
http://www.quintcareers.com/career_research_checklist.html
Career Descriptions:
http://diplomaguide.com/article_directory/Job_Titles_and_Careers_List.html

Bureau of Labor Statistics: www.bls.gov

Specifics for Your Research:

The Grading Rubric for Career Research Paper & Presentation clearly states the expectations for this project. Here are a few reminders:

Please create a presentation (using PowerPoint or some other electronic source) that highlights what you have learned about the career you researched.

The presentation needs to include the information from the outline included in this assignment.

Be sure to create a professional looking presentation.

The research you’ve done should be documented in MLA styles. Here are two sites that will help you learn how to cite your findings correctly.
http://www.thewritesource.com/mla.htm
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_mla.html.

(You will save your work in your network folder. You will use the SmartBoard to show your presentation.
Please be sure to hand in a copy of handout slides from your presentation. If you do not know how to do this, see me. I will show you how.)

Grading Rubric for Career Research Paper & Presentation (The information below represents an "A" presentation. To see the entire grading rubric see me in class.)


Content
Project contains detailed and pertinent information from all categories of the research project.

Preparedness
Student is completely prepared and has obviously rehearsed. Presentation flows smoothly.

MLA Format
All information is cited properly using MLA format. MLA citation contains no errors.

Appearance
PowerPoint is well organized and is clear and easy to read.

Posture and Eye Contact
Shows a full understanding of the topic. Stands up straight, looks relaxed and confident. Establishes eye contact with everyone in the room during the presentation.

Volume
Volume is loud enough to be heard by all audience members throughout the presentation.

Speaks Clearly
Speaks clearly and distinctly all (100-95%) the time, and mispronounces no words.

Questions To Go with College Entrance Essay Webquest

Below is an unformated version of the worksheet we will be doing in class on Monday. The goal here is to get you take a close look at the great links I have found for you. My hope is that this will help you feel armed with the knowledge and models of writing that will help you feel like you can tackle this task and come out a winner.

Writer’s Guide to Creating an Awesome College Entrance Essay Selecting a Topic:

Go to http://www.englishclub.com/writing/college-application-essays/lt_selecting.html to find the related article

1. Look at the list of 15 questions you should ask yourself after you have chosen a topic. Write a summary of the most important ones.

2. Make a list of the 3+ questions/issue that could be a challenge for you. Next to it, explain how you will deal with/overcome that difficulty:

1

2

3

Recipe For A Draft:
Gather the information for these next questions by visiting:
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/essay-skills/111.html
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/essay-skills/9406.html
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/essay-skills/9405.html

3. 6 Steps Towards Writing a Draft (From “Kick Start Your College Essay” & 3 Steps To a Great College Essay”):

1

2

3

4

5

6

4. What Should You Make Sure You Do?

1

2

3


5. What Should You Make Sure You DON”T do?

1

2

3

4


6. List the Three Essay Styles to Consider: (http://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/essay-skills/9405.html)

1

2

3

7. List the Four Editing Tips:

1

2

3

4



8. If you are applying for a college/scholarship that asks a specific question, write it down here. If you don’t have one, look at the sample/generic prompts on our College Essay links and pick one to write about:
Links: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/essay-skills/108.html

9. Look through the sample essays and find one that is close to the topic you will write one. Read the essay and make a list of the things the writer did well and a list of where the writer could have improved:
Links: http://www.englishclub.com/writing/college-application-essays/lessonone.html
http://www.englishclub.com/writing/college-application-essays/lo_college.html

The Writer Did a Good Job….. The Writer Could Have Improved By…

Writing Your College Entrance or Scholarship Application Essay - Useful Liks

In an effort to help you get ready for the next step in applying for college, scholarships or a career, we will be working on writing excellent college application essays. We will begin by critiquing sample essays. Then we will move on to having you write your own essay. I want it to be useful for you so visit with me if there are some specific prompts, types or requests concerning what your topic will be.

Here are links we will use to help you through this process:

We will begin with brainstorming for ideas. This will be similar to some of the other kinds of questions and surveys you have already done in class.

1. Follow the Brainstorming for your college essay worksheet link and complete the questions.

2. To further refine your thinking read the questions to help you develop the ideas generated from the brainstorming worksheet. Also consider a few more Questions to Consider About Your Topic Before Actually Writing.

3. Then read and consider the advice offered in Write an Effective College Application Essay.

4. Do the activities at Recipe for a Draft (of Your College Entrance Essay)

5. If you need some ideas, inspiration or just some idea of what other essays look like you can find many sample Essays which are grouped by prompt type here.

Here's the expected schedule:
Friday 9/5 Continue to read and critique sample essays. (You're IN or OUT)
Homework: Complete the "Brainstorming Worksheet #1" Due on Monday.

Mon. 9/8 Take a look at the links offered above. Begin to generate a draft of an essay.
Due: Brainstorming Worksheet #1

Tues. 9/10 Finish looking at the links and continue to work on writing a draft.

Wed./Thurs Finish writing your draft. Have two people in class give you feedback on your essay. Be ready type the essay on Friday.

Fri. 9/12 Type out the draft of your essay. This is the only day we have to do this. If you do not finish it in class you will need to complete it at home. The typed draft is due on Tues. 9/16