Page 125 - The Language of Composition 4e Teacher Edition Sample.indd

tiv
a
v
b
a
e l
urns the
e the cons
ik
er
er who s
p
international students and the LGBTQ commu- L Like the conservative laborer who spurns the 4
or
nity. I was none of those things, and professors idea of “handouts,” my pride was bigger than my
idea of “handouts,” my pride was bigger than my
need. I didn’t know the term “first-generation stu- -
and other students often assumed from looking need. I didn’t know the term “first-generation stu CLOSE READING chapter 4
dent” and didn’t grasp yet that I had in fact “grown
at me or hearing me speak that I was a middle- dent” and didn’t grasp yet that I had in fact “grown Key Passage.
Key Passage. The highlighted text is a
class kid with parents sending me money. up poor” and was still very much “living in poverty.” rich passage suited for close reading. Stu-
up poor” and was still very much “living in poverty.”
eading. Stu-
rich passage suited for close r
The best I could come up with for describing my
To pay my room and board during my fresh- The best I could come up with for describing my dents can annotate this key passage in the
dents can annotate this key passage in the
situation was that I was a “financially independent
man year at college, I worked as a tutor for poor situation was that I was a “financially independent Other Voices / Sarah Smarsh book’s digital platform, or you can print it to
book’
s digital platform, or you can print it to
middle-school kids in nearby Kansas City and student” and that “I grew up on a farm.” be annotated by hand.
student” and that “I grew up on a farm.”
be annotated by hand.
Topeka in the afternoons, as a stage technician
Copyright (c) 2023 Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Uncorrected proofs have been used for this sample chapter.
for a performing arts center in the evenings, and
as my dorm’s front-desk attendant overnight. Among household heads with at least a
DIFFERENTIATION
During spring break, I was the trail boss for an bachelor’s degree, household incomes DIFFERENTIA TION
environmental cleanup crew. I waited tables, are higher for those with a parent who is Speaking and Listening
Speaking and Listening
too, late-night shifts worth a 45-minute drive to a college graduate
In paragraph 20, Smarsh r
ecounts family
Kansas City because the tips were better there. I Median adjusted household income, in 2019 dollars In paragraph 20, Smarsh recounts family
events happening at home while she was in
Distributed by Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Strictly for use with its products. Not for redistribution.
knew other kids with jobs but not many who had A parent with bachelor’s+ events happening at home while she was in
No parent with bachelor’s degree
college. Y
ou might ask students to discuss
no choice but to work. college. You might ask students to discuss
how these would r
esult in her “struggling . . .
There are many complicated reasons why so
There are many complicated reasons why so All households $100,900 how these would result in her “struggling . . .
emotionally” (par. 22). What rhetorical
few people cross a socio-economic divide in any 65,200 emotionally” (par . 22). What rhetorical
few people cross a socio-economic divide in any
einfor
choices does she make to r
ce that
lasting way, but one of the reasons is simple: it is High school or 58,600 choices does she make to reinforce that
lasting way, but one of the reasons is simple: it is
claim? Students could discuss the selec-
a painful crossing. Those were the hardest years
a painful crossing. Those were the hardest years less 49,900 claim? Students could discuss the selec-
tion of detail (why might she allude to her
of my life.
of my life. "First-Generation College Graduates Lag Behind Their Peers on Key Economic Outcomes" Pew Research Center, Washington, D.C. (May 17, 2021) https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2021/05/18/first-generation-college- tion of detail (why might she allude to her
father’s new wife without explanation?), the
70,500 graduates-lag-behind-their-peers-on-key-economic-outcomes/psdt_05-18-21_parental-education-00-4/ father’ s new wife without explanation?), the
When I called home, I heard the familiar
When I called home, I heard the familiar 20 Some college
language choices (including the profanity
stories: my 30-year-old cousin didn’t know how 67,000 language choices (including the pr ofanity
stories: my 30-year-old cousin didn’t know how
and the last sentence), and the structure
she’d pay her hospital bills, but she’d survived Bachelor’s 135,800 and the last sentence), and the structur e
she’d pay her hospital bills, but she’d survived
that makes paragraph 21 a single
colon cancer. At a party Grandma threw at the degree+ 99,600 that makes paragraph 21 a single
colon cancer. At a party Grandma threw at the
sentence.
farm, Grandpa’s daughter-in-law rifled through
farm, Grandpa’s daughter-in-law rifled through sentence.
Note: Based on household heads ages 22 to 59. Income is adjusted
unlocked parked cars to steal cash—to buy
unlocked parked cars to steal cash — to buy for household size and scaled to a three-person household, “Some
drugs, my mom speculated—and in the process
drugs, my mom speculated — and in the process college” includes those with an associate degree, certi cate, and
those who attended college but did not obtain a degree.
took my cousin’s last $20. Well, she’d had it, so
took my cousin’s last $20. Well, she’d had it, so Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2019 Survey of Consumer
Finances.
she beat the shit out of her while my mom
she beat the shit out of her while my mom “First-Generation College Graduates Lag Behind Their Peers on Key
cheered her on and my uncle tried to pull them
cheered her on and my uncle tried to pull them Economic Outcomes”
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
apart. Dad was on a new job site. His wife was
apart. Dad was on a new job site. His wife was
having more health problems, due to painkillers
having more health problems, due to painkillers This graph, created by the Pew Research Center
that an unscrupulous physician had carelessly
that an unscrupulous physician had carelessly in 2019, shows the median adjusted household
prescribed. Bills bills bills.
prescribed. Bills bills bills. income of those ages twenty-two to fifty-nine
Then I hung up and went to class.
Then I hung up and went to class. based not only on their own educational
attainment but that of their parents as well.
Few people knew how much I was struggling
Few people knew how much I was struggling What story does the data in this graph,
both emotionally and financially, because
both emotionally and financially, because created by the Pew Research Center, tell?
I didn’t talk to anyone about it or even under-
I didn’t talk to anyone about it or even under- How does it relate to Smarsh’s claim that
stand how bad off I was. Knowing I’d never ask “There are many complicated reasons why so
stand how bad off I was. Knowing I’d never ask
for it, my high school cheerleading coach mailed few people cross a socio-economic divide in
for it, my high school cheerleading coach mailed
any lasting way, but one of the reasons is
me $300. I put it in a thank-you card and mailed simple: it is a painful crossing” (par. 19)?
me $300. I put it in a thank-you card and mailed
it back.
it back.
231
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CLOSE READING
You could use paragraph 23 to discuss the
functions of putting the phrases in quota-
tions, and make students aware that they
serve different purposes. For instance,
“handouts” is the dismissive language of the
laborer who scorns government aid, while
“first-generation student” is a scholarly des-
ignation with positive connotations.
Other Voices / Sarah Smarsh 231
05_sheatlcte4e_46921_ch04_170a_315_2pp.indd 231 1/20/23 7:48 PM