American Born Chinese: Beyond the Book

Below are a few links to other resources related to American Born Chinese that may be of interest to you. Feel free to post a thoughtful and appropriate comment about what you've learned after you've explored these sites.

1. NPR: "Growing Up Chinese American, Graphically":

Here is an NPR interview with Gene Luen Yang, author of American Born Chinese. In the interview Yang discusses his process for writing the graphic novel and how some of the stories presented are semi-autobiographical. There is also an accompanying audio slideshow that presents excerpts from the book.

2. Gene Luen Yang's Blog: Yang explains the origins of American Born Chinese and looks back to some of his sketches from his childhood.

3. American Born Chinese YouTube Video: Yang discusses the theme of the search for identity in American Born Chinese.

Image Source: http://rgr-static1.tangentlabs.co.uk/media/9781596431522/american-born-chinese.jpg

Identity and "The Box"

In humanities class we have discussed the different ways in which people choose to identify themselves and the challenges, decisions, and frustrations that go into creating one's "identity." You have made your personal identity collages and have explored various experiences that people have had coming to terms with their own identity.

One metaphor that we have discussed in relation to identity is the idea of the box---- the forces and obstacles that stand in the way of a person truly being able to be him or herself in some way. What are the forces that keep people inside of their boxes? What forces push them to escape?Think over the readings and discussions that we have had in class so far ("Theme for English B", "High Yellow White Trash", "Sylvia's Story", "American History", and "Crickets") and think about the similarities and differences between each person or character's experience.In your post, write three to four sentences about a connection that you have found between at least TWO of the experiences that we have discussed/read/listened to in class.

Some questions you may want to consider as you write your post are:
What boxes do some of these people find themselves in? Are the forces keeping them in the box external or internal? Do you think they will be successful in escaping their boxes? How are some people's boxes similar? How are they different?

In addition, you can also throw out relevant questions or observations to which other students can respond.

*** Remember to use your first name, teacher's name, and class period when you sign your post. (Example: Bill, Jacobs 3-4) Also, if you choose to respond to what another classmate wrote, please do so in a respectful manner.

Image source: http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/cm/goodhousekeeping/images/kY/7-WoodContactPaperBoxes-fb.jpg

A Follow-Up to "Escaping the Box: An American Girl Turns 18"

If you are interested in hearing an update about Sylvia's life after her 1998 radio show interview, here is a link to an interview three years later: American Limbo: Act Three. It's Julie Andrews World, Sylvia Just Lives In It.

Meet my advisory!

The 2009-10 school year has begun! I am so excited that I get to know and work with yet another group of students. I have fourteen new students in my advisory and we will spend the year discussing topics of interest, completing service projects, and undertaking different community building activities. Check out the photos below to see what we've been up to so far.

The Human Knot was challenging at first...

But by working together...

We succeeded in untying the knot!

Welcome to Ms. Jacobs' class blog!

Hello and welcome to my class blog for 7th grade Humanities! This blog will be a place where you can share your thoughts, observations, questions, and comments about topics and readings we discuss in class throughout the year. During the year, I will also post links to articles and websites that may be of interest to you. Sometimes I will also use the space for updates about events in school or in my advisory.

Your comments will be viewed by students in your own class as well as other 7th grade Humanities students at Lab. Please remember to show the utmost respect for other's ideas when making your posts. You may not always agree with what someone says in his/her post, but there is a way to challenge the ideas of others without disrespecting them.

Also, please be sure that when you make your posts you sign them with your FIRST NAME ONLY and with your HUMANITIES TEACHER'S LAST NAME and CLASS PERIOD (ex.- Patrick, Jacobs 3-4 or Sheila, Jacobs 8-9).

Remember, you don't have to wait for me to give you an assignment to post on the blog. If there is something related to our Humanities units of study on your mind, feel free to post!

See you in class and on the blog,
Ms. Jacobs

* Image from: http://asunews.asu.edu/files/images/humanities.jpg