Page 152 - The Language of Composition 4e Teacher Edition Sample.indd

e ar
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of these are quintessentially American values high-minded chatter to a working family that is
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and institutions. As Americans, we should care
and institutions. As Americans, we should care struggling to make ends meet during the current
struggling to make ends meet during the current
about preserving the power of each of them.
recession, or to a family member of a victim who
DIFFERENTIATION Identity about preserving the power of each of them. recession, or to a family member of a victim who
Sometimes that means leaving each one of them died at the hands of excessively forceful police,
died at the hands of excessively forceful police,
Sometimes that means leaving each one of them
Collaborative Learning alone and keeping them separate from one or to a small-business owner who had his or her
or to a small-business owner who had his or her
alone and keeping them separate from one
another. That, too, is part of what it means to
Ramaswamy ends his essay with several another. That, too, is part of what it means to store raided in the name of racial justice, or to
store raided in the name of racial justice, or to
reject essentialism and embrace pluralism, at
someone whose parents may have died of
paragraphs that define what he sees as reject essentialism and embrace pluralism, at someone whose parents may have died of
the level of America itself.
COVID-19. Rebuilding shared American identity
appropriate steps forward for America. To the level of America itself. COVID-19. Rebuilding shared American identity
help students understand his claims and to The antidote to the siren song of identity may seem abstruse in the face of these practical
may seem abstruse in the face of these practical
The antidote to the siren song of identity
Copyright (c) 2023 Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Uncorrected proofs have been used for this sample chapter.
politics and tribal division in our country isn’t to
consider his line of reasoning, you could politics and tribal division in our country isn’t to challenges.
challenges.
divide them into small groups and assign double down on our division. We’ve spent so Yet I believe it is a necessary precondition to
Yet I believe it is a necessary precondition to
double down on our division. We’ve spent so
much time celebrating our differences that we
making real progress on the more tangible prob-
them to look at paragraph 18, 19, or 22 (or much time celebrating our differences that we making real progress on the more tangible prob-
let them choose one for their group). Ask have forgotten all the ways that we are actually lems that we face. In the end, all we can do is
lems that we face. In the end, all we can do is
have forgotten all the ways that we are actually
them to summarize Ramaswamy’s argu- the same. The cure to our division isn’t to cele- make progress, bit by bit. America is imperfect
the same. The cure to our division isn’t to cele-
make progress, bit by bit. America is imperfect
ment in that paragraph, and then look back brate our diversity between one another. It is to and always will be. Indeed, America was born in
brate our diversity between one another. It is to
and always will be. Indeed, America was born in
at the essay to trace his line of reasoning celebrate the diversity within each of us. That part from the idea that perfection is impossible.
Distributed by Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Strictly for use with its products. Not for redistribution.
celebrate the diversity within each of us. That
part from the idea that perfection is impossible.
that leads to the conclusion in that para- is the key to our shared identity as Americans — Our system of checks and balances reflects an
Our system of checks and balances reflects an
is the key to our shared identity as Americans—
graph by highlighting claims, evidence, and one so strong that it makes both racism and understanding that humans are fallible, includ-
understanding that humans are fallible, includ-
one so strong that it makes both racism and
commentary that develop the ideas. woke culture superfluous, one that is achievable ing the leaders we elect.
ing the leaders we elect.
woke culture superfluous, one that is achievable
Groups can then share their results, and even if we don’t share every attribute, or even Still, more than any nation in history,
even if we don’t share every attribute, or even
Still, more than any nation in history,
the class could then discuss the line of rea- most attributes. America is the pursuit of perfection — call it
America is the pursuit of perfection — call it
most attributes.
soning of the essay as a whole: is one of I recognize that much of this message may 20 the pursuit of a more perfect union, the pursuit
the pursuit of a more perfect union, the pursuit
p
rs
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t
ct union, the
I recognize that much of this message may
t
of a mor
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er
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rs
ui
them best for the essay as a whole, or do sound aloof to many Americans who find them- of happiness, the pursuit of liberty, equality,
of happiness, the pursuit of liberty, equality,
ui
t
ui
u
p
p
u
y,
rs
rs
t
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sound aloof to many Americans who find them-
qualit
of lib
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er
they overlap, intertwine, or work together? selves suffering during this particularly difficult and justice for all. If we can elevate these
selves suffering during this particularly difficult
and justice for all. If we can elevate these
year. I recognize that not everyone has experi-
year. I recognize that not everyone has experi- ideals above fractious group identities, then
ideals above fractious group identities, then
enced the full arc of the American dream in the
nothing — not a nation, not a virus — can
enced the full arc of the American dream in the nothing — not a nation, not a virus — can
same way that I have. Rediscovering shared
beat us.
DIFFERENTIATION same way that I have. Rediscovering shared beat us.
American identity may sound like a load of
American identity may sound like a load of 2020
Speaking and Listening
At the end of the essay, in paragraphs 20
and 21, Ramaswamy addresses counterar-
guments and offers some concessions. You Understanding and Interpreting
ou
fers some concessions. Y
guments and of
could ask students to identify the function
of those two paragraphs in the structure 1. Rhetorical Situation. How would you characterize the rhetorical situation in which Vivek
of his argument. How do they affect his Ramaswamy writes? Be sure to consider exigence and occasion in your response.
ethos? Why are they apt for the rhetorical 2. Claims and Evidence / Reasoning and Organization. The beginning of Ramaswamy’s
situation? article consists of the definition and exemplification of two key concepts: essentialism
and pluralism. Using Ramaswamy’s definitions, provide two more examples of each
concept.
TRM Suggested Responses
3. Rhetorical Situation / Claims and Evidence. In paragraph 5, Ramaswamy states that
Suggested responses to the questions for “every American bears a responsibility to soundly reject” what he calls “[t]his narrative of
this reading can be found in the Teacher’s identity.” How does he define this narrative? What appeals does he make to persuade
Resource Materials. Americans to reject it? What claims does he give to support this call to action?
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DIFFERENTIATION DIFFERENTIATION
Connections to Self Mode of Expression
Understanding Q2. Although it might raise Understanding Q2. You could offer the
some contentious discussion, you might ask opportunity for students to create a poster
students to decide where they stand on the that contrasts essentialism and pluralism,
essentialist–pluralist divide. You might pres- perhaps with a big “OR” in the middle. They
ent it as a continuum rather than as a binary. could make both views seem equal, or they
Draw a line with each term at an end, and ask could express a position on the two by the
students to do the same on a piece of paper way they depict their view.
or screen. Ask them to situate their own
views on that continuum. Then, ask them to
write a rationale that supports their choice,
including supporting evidence. They can take
Ramaswamy’s definitions of the terms and
adapt or qualify them to express their views.
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