Page 155 - The Language of Composition 4e Teacher Edition Sample.indd

say my name or Mama’s. She is old and frail and the periodic table to know how atoms like these 4
speaks in the broken phrases of a woman whose make up the world around us.”
language center has been destroyed by multiple I make a copy of the periodic table in the 20 CLOSE READING chapter 4
I make a copy of the periodic table in the
front of my textbook. I carry it with me every-
strokes. She has lived with us all my life, and front of my textbook. I carry it with me every- Key Passage.
Key Passage. The highlighted text is a
where I go. On a yellow legal pad, I write out the
what words I have learned are meant for her. where I go. On a yellow legal pad, I write out the rich passage suited for close reading. Stu-
eading. Stu-
rich passage suited for close r
3
element names in order over and over. I’m trying
“Te amo, Lita,” I tell her every night before element names in order over and over. I’m trying dents can annotate this key passage in the
dents can annotate this key passage in the
to memorize how many protons and electrons
bed. She cannot say it back, but she always to memorize how many protons and electrons Other Voices / Ariana Remmel book’s digital platform, or you can print it to
s digital platform, or you can print it to
book’
each element has. I’m trying to figure out what
smiles her good night. each element has. I’m trying to figure out what be annotated by hand.
be annotated by hand.
the world is made of.
I think Mom believes I will learn her language the world is made of.
Copyright (c) 2023 Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Uncorrected proofs have been used for this sample chapter.
by immersion at Mass. But I am old enough not • • •
to believe in God anymore. Old enough to have
forgotten what it sounds like to hear my mother I am at an art gallery for a high school field trip. CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING
I am at an art gallery for a high school field trip.
say she loves me in her native tongue. I am sixteen. The exhibit is called Part Asian, The word “resonates” in paragraph 21
I am sixteen. The exhibit is called Part Asian,
esonates” in paragraph 21
d “r
The wor
4 4
100% Hapa, and it features portraits of mixed- and it features portraits of mixed-
100% Hapa,
etur
r
ns later in the essay
, in a dif
ent
fer
• • • returns later in the essay, in a different
race people like me. They all look different, and form, starting in paragraph 50 and in the
race people like me. They all look different, and
form, starting in paragraph 50 and in the
Distributed by Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Strictly for use with its products. Not for redistribution.
they are all beautiful. Each photograph has a
I am reading my chemistry textbook in class. I they are all beautiful. Each photograph has a essay’s conclusion. You might ask students
essay’
s conclusion. Y
ou might ask students
plaque with a handwritten note by the person in
am fourteen years old, and none of the other plaque with a handwritten note by the person in to define “resonates” here, in anticipation
to define “r
e, in anticipation
esonates” her
kids are paying attention to the teacher, who has the picture. There is a woman with porcelain skin of those later connections.
the picture. There is a woman with porcelain skin
of those later connections.
and flax-colored hair. Her note reads: “My mother
mostly given up on lecturing for the day. We are and flax-colored hair. Her note reads: “My mother
learning how each element has a distinct num- is a woman and my father is a man. That makes
is a woman and my father is a man. That makes
me half woman and half man.” I am astonished.
ber of protons, but atoms of the same element me half woman and half man.” I am astonished.
I read the note over and over again, but it will take
can have a different number of neutrons and I read the note over and over again, but it will take
electrons. He draws an H on the board for me years to fully understand why it resonates.
me years to fully understand why it resonates.
hydrogen, then puts one dot on its right. The • • •
dot is an electron.
I am cramped into one of those chairs with a tiny
“Hydrogen has one proton and one electron,” 15 I am cramped into one of those chairs with a tiny
desk that slides out, used for standardized tests.
the teacher explains. desk that slides out, used for standardized tests.
This is one of the big ones—a college-admissions
This is one of the big ones — a college- admissions
H
test that will decide my future. But I am stuck on
test that will decide my future. But I am stuck on
Then he draws another H, next to the first, the very first page. Sex: Female or Male. I check
the very first page. Sex: Female or Male. I check
with a second dot. “Female” with some remorse, but I still don’t
“Female” with some remorse, but I still don’t
have the words to describe my sadness. Race:
H H have the words to describe my sadness. Race:
White, Black, Latino, Pacific Islander, Asian. The
White, Black, Latino, Pacific Islander, Asian. The
“When two hydrogen atoms come together,
instructions say to check one. Only one.
they will share their electrons to make a bond.” instructions say to check one. Only one.
When I look in the mirror, I think I look
He draws a line from one dot to the next so When I look in the mirror, I think I look
white. That is, until I gaze into my dark-brown
that the Hs are connected. white. That is, until I gaze into my dark-brown
eyes, which are my mother’s and my Lita’s and
eyes, which are my mother’s and my Lita’s and
H H her mother’s before her. I have my father’s pale
her mother’s before her. I have my father’s pale
skin and my mother’s round features. If I choose
“Every element is different, and not all of skin and my mother’s round features. If I choose
white, no one will bat an eye. I will only feel the
them will share electrons to form bonds like white, no one will bat an eye. I will only feel the
5 5
guilt of erasing my mother and abuelos
and the
this,” he tells the class. “But you have to study guilt of erasing my mother and abuelos and the
4 A Hawaiian term for someone with mixed ancestry. — Eds.
3 Spanish for I love you, Grandma. — Eds. 5 Spanish for grandparents. — Eds.
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CLOSE READING
Remmel structures the essay in mostly short how it can suggest something about human
sections and vignettes. You could suggest identity. You could have students look for
to students to highlight key sentences from key sentences on their first read, but then go
each section as they read the essay: they back and reassess after they see where the
could try to find at least one important claim essay ends up. Students can compare their
or insight or step in character development choices as you discuss the different sections.
or in line of reasoning from each section. For Then, ask them to notice any structural pat-
instance, you could point out for them this terns: do the key sentences come more often
sentence in paragraph 19, “Every element is at the beginning or end of a section? This
different, and not all of them will share elec- work could help focus their reading and help
trons to form bonds like this,” and ask them them trace the essay’s line of reasoning.
Other Voices / Ariana Remmel 261
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