My Students Are Funny

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

We get off topic in English class. I think I’ve mentioned this. A big part of this is because there’s a lot of discussion. It’s different from in the states because when you read an American author there, most of the kids at least have a general idea of the history behind the story. In To Kill a Mockingbird it’s like starting from scratch. They did a research project on five different historical aspects: KKK, Lynching, Great Depression, Harper Lee and the Jim Crow Laws. They had heard about the KKK, and most of them knew who Harper Lee is : ) –

It’s not like I’m a history buff, but I do at least know more than my students. Teaching them how to paraphrase information is the joy of my life right now. No, you can not have a quote stand alone. Seriously, they have a sentence, a quote, and a sentence. It’s all good, right? Wrong. The previous and following sentences have NOTHING to do with the quote. Le sigh. It’s a good thing break is coming, because it’s getting harder and harder to make myself grade their papers. I know I have to. It just can get to be very depressing sometimes – like that paragraph that was two and a half pages long. Seriously? In what world is that right? It’s not like they’re writing high-level literature for the masses! Okay, okay, I do not go easy on them. I am a tough grader. I warned them about this from the first. Poor things. Most of them just dropped a grade because of their paragraph. But, since I am a generous teacher, I assigned them an essay.

I know. I am a glutton for punishment. However, their midterm will be here before you know it and they need to practice writing an essay since there will be one on that test. It was only 4 paragraphs (talk about throwing them off! They are totally ingrained to write a 5 paragraph essay) and it’s a theme essay. This should not be that difficult. I made them write 4 different theme analysis paragraphs. All they have to do is change the format, with the same type of thesis. I even gave them explicit directions on what I wanted in each paragraph.

Paragraph #1 – Sentence 1: Thesis statement that involves the theme, ‘the innocent should be protected from harm.’ Sentence 2: Write a sentence about the example you will be using from the book in paragraph 2. Sentence 3: Write a sentence about the real-life situation you will be discussing in paragraph 3. Minimum of 3 sentences (and this should be more, in all honesty).

Paragraph #2: Use the example and the evidence from the theme review worksheet that they already did. Seriously, all they have to do is transfer the evidence and the quote they ALREADY DID and put it in their essay in paragraph form. Analyze its importance either to the characters in the novel or to the reader. Minimum of 5 sentences.

Paragraph #3: Describe a real-life situation in which the innocent should be/have been protected from harm. This can be something they have experienced, seen on tv or a movie or even made up, as long as it’s believable. Minimum of 5 sentences.

Paragraph #4: Conclusion – Restate your thesis statement in either the first or last sentence of your paragraph. Summarize your essay.

I gave them 35-45 minutes to start writing the rough draft in class. This way I was able to walk around and answer questions (same question at least 8 times that I had answered in front of the entire class) and give them help in constructing their thesis statements and the transitions they could potentially use.

Sorry, I do have a point. Really. So I’m walking around in first block answering questions when a girl asks me if I’ve seen the ninjas. I had to stop and think a minute before I answered that I had indeed seen the ninjas. Some of the students call the Muslim women that wear the hijab/abaya ninjas. For real. Of course I have seen them. They are everywhere! I am actually quite used to it at this point. Hijabs and dishdashas galore around here! And then. And then she asks if I know what a B.M.O. is. I really had to think about whether or not I wanted the answer to this question. Let’s be real, I’m an American with a sense of humor that leans towards the vulgar (seriously, I have to stop myself from laughing at some of the things that they say because they are LACED with innuendo and they have no idea – it’s sweet, but so hard for me sometimes! If it was a class in the states the kids would be rolling!). Have you guessed what a B.M.O. is? It’s a Black Moving Object, yet another name for the ninjas or the hijab wearing women. I started laughing so hard I could hardly stand it. This girl has also written me a list of Arabic words that will be useful in English class. My favorite one is the one that tells them to be quiet. I pulled that out in 3^rd block and they were a little shocked. My accent is terrible, but I’m working on a few words and phrases. I’ll try to post some here later! I left my list at school. Dang it.