What Is the Biggest Obstacle to Reaching the American Dream?

Transcription

1 The DBQ Project Mini-Q"s in Literature Unit 2 TM The House on Mango Street: What Is the Biggest Obstacle to Reaching the American Dream? MINI-QTM LESSON PLAN NOTE: Time required to do a Mini-Q varies greatly with skill level, grade, and DBQ experience. Time range is generally two to five 45-minute class periods. 1 to 2 DAYS: minutes Step One: Hook Refer to the Step One teacher notes in the Mini-Q. Read the directions aloud. The purpose is to get students engaged, talking, and wanting to do the Mini-Q. Step Two: Background Essay Refer to the Step Two teacher notes in the Mini-Q. Students can write out answers to the BGE questions or the questions can simply be discussed. Step Three: Understanding the Question and Pre-Bucketing The task of recognizing and defining key words in the question is a crucial habit of mind. The second task of pre-bucketing based on clues in the question is an important categorization skill. 2 DAYS: 90 minutes Step Four: Document Analysis Model Document A with the whole class, showing the kind of thinking and detail you expect in student answers to the Document Analysis questions. Working in pairs or groups of three, students proceed to examine the remaining documents, writing answers to the Document Analysis questions. 1 DAY: 45 minutes Step Five: Bucketing and Chickenfoot Have students complete the bucketing and chickenfoot work page. This step will help students clarify their thesis and road map. Then do a Thrash-out. 1 DAY: 45 minutes (Optional) Step Six: Essay Writing Conduct an in-class writing workshop. You may want to use the Essay Outline Guide or the Guided Essay in the Toolkit. The Guided Essay is especially helpful for students needing extra support. MINI-Q LESSON PLAN: CLEAN VERSION OPTION If students are ready, use the Clean Version of the Mini-Q, which requires them to handle more of the analysis on their own. Estimated time to complete is 2 to 3 class periods. D 2013 The DBQ Project 47

2 TEACHER DOCUMENT LIST (EV) There are four documents in this Mini-Q. Students are provided with a document list, but it is not divided into analytical categories or buckets. Students may develop categories that are different from these. Poverty: Document A: "The House on Mango Street" Document B: "A Smart Cookie" Language: Document C: "No Speak English" Discrimination: Document D: "Geraldo No Last Name" The DBQ Project

3 The House on Mango Street: What Is the Biggest Obstacle to Reaching the American Dream? Overview: Sandra Cisneros wrote The House on Mango Street in the early 1980s. The book presents a series of related short stories, spun from observations and memories of the Latino neighborhoods of Chicago where Cisneros grew up. The characters on Mango Street may be unique, but their hopes and dreams are versions of a larger American Dream which has shaped this country since its creation. The Documents: Document A: "The House on Mango Street" Document B: "A Smart Cookie" Document C: "No Speak English" Document D: "Geraldo No Last Name" A Mini Document Based Question (Mini-Q) The DBQ Project This page may be reproduced for classroom use 49

4 The House on Mango Street Mini -Q Step One: The Hook Teacher Note: The purpose of the Hook is to create some initial interest in the Mini-Q. Working in pairs or groups of three, students will examine and answer questions about a cartoon that relates to the American Dream. The whole class can then have a brief discussion during which they share their answers. Throughout, it is important that students know they are being asked to make observations and guesses, so there are no wrong answers. While a clearer understanding of the American Dream may emerge during the Hook, please note that this term will be explicitly defined in the Background Essay which follows. Sample responses to Hook questions: 1. Focus on the left side of the cartoon and the box of "American Dream Helper" on the shelf. What are the "ingredients" of the American Dream? The "ingredients" of the American Dream include a house in the suburbs, children, a minivan, leisure time, healthcare, and security. 2. Now focus on the right side of the cartoon and the woman holding the box. What's the catch? In other words, what's the fine print on the back of the box? The catch is that you need money in order to get the American Dream. 3. Does this cartoon portray the American Dream positively or negatively? Explain your thinking. I think the cartoon portrays the American Dream negatively. Based on the box of "American Dream Helper," the American Dream seems really great. The Dream is in such easy reach; in fact, the woman is holding it in her hand. However, based on the surprised and anxious expression on her face, she realizes how much attaining the Dream will cost The DBQ Project

5 The House on Mango Street Mini -Q Hook Exercise: The American Dream Directions: Below is a cartoon which deals with an idea called the American Dream. In pairs or groups of three, examine the cartoon and answer the questions that follow. Use evidence from the cartoon to explain your thinking. *Coor.miwAtel LIA-15ryie * Ha15E SISOMS * 2.5 ICP5 ANP MIVIV4Ai * Carlige RiaarioN *XFAL:HCA2wh SeCOnr9 1. Focus on the left side of the cartoon and the box of "American Dream Helper" on the shelf. What are the "ingredients" of the American Dream? Now focus on the right side of the cartoon and the woman holding the box. What's the catch? In other words, what's the fine print on the back of the box? Does this cartoon portray the American Dream positively or negatively? Explain your 2013 The DBQ Project This page may be reproduced for classroom use 51

6 Step Two: Establishing the Context General Instructions Find Chicago on a map. Pre-teach the boldfaced vocabulary. Have students read, or read aloud to them, the Background Essay. Have students answer the Background Essay questions on the next page. Specific Considerations The main purpose of the Background Essay is to create a context for the Mini-Q exercise. Its job is to set the backdrop for the question, and introduce important vocabulary and concepts. Doing this well gives all students a more equal chance to succeed with the Mini-Q. We recommend that it not be rushed. Also, consider reading the Background Essay aloud. We believe it is good for many students, even good readers, to hear the words as they see them. For many it is important to hear the cadence of the language, to experience pauses and emphasis. Vocabulary and Concepts You may want to pre-teach the three boldfaced terms in the essay, but the term "American Dream" is directly defined in the essay itself. Our feeling about vocabulary is that some pre-teaching is good but keep the word list short. Even for English language learners, see how much they can get from context. Understanding vocabulary is another reason for reading aloud The DBQ Project

7 Background Essay The House on Mango Street Mini-Q The House on Mango Street: What Is the Biggest Obstacle to Reaching the American Dream? Cathy claims to be related to the queen of France. Meme Ortiz jumps out of a tree and breaks both arms. Sally marries a marshmallow salesman before eighth grade. And so go the lives of the people on Mango Street. The stories in The House on Mango Street, says author Sandra Cisneros, come together to "tell one big story, each story contributing to the whole like beads on a necklace." Some of the stories are very short a few are only two or three paragraphs and the language Cisneros uses can make them feel like poetry. With so many little stories being told, what is the "big story" about? For one, it is a coming-ofage story that has parallels to Cisneros's own childhood. Esperanza, the narrator of Mango Street, is a Mexican- American girl growing up in a poor Chicago neighborhood. She tells us of her life, her family, her neighbors, even people she hears about second-hand. Some of the people on Mango Street are Mexican-American like herself, and some are recent immigrants from Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries. Their stories are filtered through Esperanza's eyes and told in Esperanza's voice. The "big story" is also about the quest for the American Dream and the obstacles that get in the way. The American Dream has many Photograph of Sandra Cisneros variations, but basically it is the chance for equal opportunity. According to the American Dream, people of all backgrounds come to America and receive a good education, a well-paying job, and a house with a white-picket fence. They create a better life for themselves and their children. Many of the characters on Mango Street have worked hard to reach this dream, but their stories are often marked by disappointment. As Cisneros writes, "Here there is too much sadness and not enough sky." Why can't the characters on Mango Street simply leave behind their sadness and achieve their dreams? Is Esperanza longing for too much when she says: "Do you wish your feet would one day keep walking and take you far away from Mango Street, far away and maybe your feet would stop in front of a house, a nice one with flowers and big windows and steps for you to climb up two by two upstairs to where a room is waiting for you"? For the people on Mango Street, it seems that the American Dream has been replaced with sadness and a wish for more sky. Why has this happened? What has gotten in the way? As you read the four documents that follow, consider the question: The House on Mango Street: What is the biggest obstacle to reaching the American Dream? 2013 The DBQ Project This page may be reproduced for classroom use 53

8 Step Two: Establishing the Context (continued) Answers to Background Essay Questions 1. Who is the author of The House on Mango Street? Sandra Cisneros 2. According to the author, how are the stories in The House on Mango Street "like beads on a necklace"? All the stories contribute to the telling of one big story. 3. Who is the narrator of The House on Mango Street? Esperanza (Note: "Esperanza" means "hope" in Spanish.) 4. In what ways is the narrator similar to the author? Esperanza and Cisneros are both Mexican-American and female and both are from Chicago. (Note: Make it clear to students that although there may be aspects of the book that are autobiographical, it is still a work of fiction.) 5. What are many of the characters in The House on Mango Street pursuing? Many characters in The House on Mango Street are pursuing the American Dream. 6. Write your interpretation of the line: "Here there is too much sadness and not enough sky." Answers will vary. The key to the line is figuring out what "sky" might symbolize or represent freedom, maybe? If so, then: On Mango Street, there is so much sadness because nobody is free to pursue their dreams. 7. Define these terms: immigrant: A person who leaves one country to live in another American Dream: The belief that regardless of background, everyone in America has an equal opportunity to get an education, make money, and have a better life obstacle: Something that gets in the way of a desired goal The DBQ Project

9 The House on Mango Street Mini -Q Background Essay Questions 1. Who is the author of The House on Mango Street? 2. According to the author, how are the stories in The House on Mango Street "like beads on a necklace"? 3. Who is the narrator of The House on Mango Street? 4. In what ways is the narrator similar to the author? 5. What are many of the characters in The House on Mango Street pursuing? 6. Write your interpretation of the line: "Here there is too much sadness and not enough sky." 7. Define these terms: immigrant American Dream 2013 The DBQ Project This page may be reproduced for classroom use 55

10 The House on Mango Street Mini -Q Step Three: Understanding the Question and Pre-Bucketing Understanding the Question 1. What is the analytical question asked by this Mini-Q? The House on Mango Street: What is the biggest obstacle to reaching the American Dream? 2. Which terms in the question need to be defined? American Dream (and possibly obstacle) 3. Rewrite the question in your own words. What is the biggest problem that prevents the characters in The House on Mango Street from achieving a better life in America? Pre-Bucketing Teacher Note: As students suggest their bucket labels, draw bucket sets on the board. At this stage, students are simply looking for generic labels that provide a framework for organizing the essay. Obstacle #1 Obstacle #2 Obstacle #3 (Biggest Obstacle) The DBQ Project

11 Understanding the Question and Pre-Bucketing Understanding the Question 1. What is the analytical question asked by this Mini-Q? 2. Which terms in the question need to be defined? 3. Rewrite the question in your own words. Pre-Bucketing Directions: Using any clues from the Mini-Q question and the Background Essay, think of possible analytical categories and label the buckets The DBQ Project This page may be reproduced for classroom use 57

12 The House on Mango Street Mini -Q Step Four: Document Analysis Document A: "The House on Mango Street" Content Notes: It may take some time for students to get used to Sandra Cisneros's writing style. Style refers to the aspects of a writer's work that are distinctive and recognizable. Style can refer to the kind of words a writer uses (simple or sophisticated?) or even sentence length (short and choppy or long and complex?) One aspect of Cisneros's style is that she does not use quotation marks. This is something you can "get away with" in creative writing. It is important for students to know the difference between writing which requires rule-following and writing which allows for rule-breaking. In student answers to question three, the following passage might come up: The house on Mango Street is described as having "windows so small you'd think they were holding their breath." This is an example of personification (giving human qualities to something not human) and could be pointed out to students. Ask students to think about this image. How do you feel when you hold your breath? What does this tell us about the house on Mango Street? Teaching Tips: Discuss the Document Analysis questions: 1. Describe "the house Papa talked about when he held a lottery ticket." Papa describes "a real house...like the houses on T.V...with trees" and "a great big yard." 2. Why do you think he holds the lottery ticket when he describes this house? He holds the lottery ticket when he describes this house because the only way they'll be able to afford it is if they win the lottery. The lottery ticket could be seen as a symbol of the American Dream in this story literally, a "ticket" to a better life. 3. What does Esperanza mean when she says, "the house on Mango Street is not the way they told it at all"? The house is small and run-down, not like the house Papa described. 4. Count the number of times the word "there" appears at the end of the story. Count how many times it is written in italics. Why is the word repeated so many times? Why are italics used? The word "there" appears six times; it is italicized all but the first time. The word is repeated to emphasize Esperanza's feelings of shame in living in a place she is not proud to "point to." The italics show the tone with which the nun says the word "there." Esperanza points to her apartment in a matter-of-fact way, but the nun changes her feelings, and the apartment also changes from "there" to "there." 5. The last line of the story is, "But I know how those things go." What does Esperanza "know"? Esperanza knows they will never get their dream house. 6. What obstacle to reaching the American Dream is most evident in this story? Are there others? The biggest obstacle in this story is poverty. Papa knows he will never get his dream house without winning the lottery, and Esperanza knows that this will never happen. The nun's reaction to where Esperanza lives could also be evidence of discrimination, another possible obstacle to reaching the American Dream The DBQ Project

13 Document A: "The House on Mango Street" We didn't always live on Mango Street. Before that we lived on Loomis on the third floor, and before that we lived on Keeler. Before Keeler it was Paulina, and before that I can't remember. But what I remember most is moving a lot. Each time it seemed there'd be one more of us. By the time we got to Mango Street we were six Mama, Papa, Carlos, Kiki, my sister Nenny and me. The house on Mango Street is ours, and we don't have to pay rent to anybody, or share the yard with the people downstairs, or be careful not to make too much noise, and there isn't a landlord banging on the ceiling with a broom. But even so, it's not the house we'd thought we'd get. We had to leave the flat on Loomis quick. The water pipes broke and the landlord wouldn't fix them because the house was too old. We had to leave fast. We were using the washroom next door and carrying water over in empty milk gallons. That's why Mama and Papa looked for a house, and that's why we moved into the house on Mango Street, far away, on the other side of town. They always told us that one day we would move into a house, a real house that would be ours for always so we wouldn't have to move each year. And our house would have running water and pipes that worked. And inside it would have real stairs, not hallway stairs, but stairs inside like the houses on T.V. And we'd have a basement and at least three washrooms so when we took a bath we wouldn't have to tell everybody. Our house would be white with trees around it, a great big yard and grass growing without a fence. This was the house Papa talked about when he held a lottery ticket and this was the house Mama dreamed up in the stories she told us before we went to bed. But the house on Mango Street is not the way they told it at all. It's small and red with tight steps in front and windows so small you'd think they were holding their breath. Bricks are crumbling in places, and the front door is so swollen you have to push hard to get in. There is no front yard, only four little elms the city planted by the curb. Out back is a small garage for the car we don't own yet and a small yard that looks smaller between the two buildings on either side. There are stairs in our house, but they're ordinary hallway stairs, and the house has only one washroom. Everybody has to share a bedroom Mama and Papa, Carlos and Kiki, me and Nenny. Once when we were living on Loomis, a nun from my school passed by and saw me playing out front. The laundromat downstairs had been boarded up because it had been robbed two days before and the owner had painted on the wood YES WE'RE OPEN so as not to lose business. Where do you live? she asked. There, I said pointing up to the third floor. You live there? There. I had to look to where she pointed the third floor, the paint peeling, wooden bars Papa had nailed on the windows so we wouldn't fall out. You live there? The way she said it made me feel like nothing. There. I lived there. I nodded. I knew then I had to have a house. A real house. One I could point to. But this isn't it. The house on Mango Street isn't it. For the time being, Mama says. Temporary, says Papa. But I know how those things go. Document Analysis 1. Describe "the house Papa talked about when he held a lottery ticket." 2. Why do you think he holds the lottery ticket when he describes this house? 3. What does Esperanza mean when she says, "the house on Mango Street is not the way they told it at all"? 4. Count the number of times the word "there" appears at the end of the story. Count how many times it is written in italics. Why is the word repeated so many times? Why are italics used? 5. The last line of the story is, "But I know how those things go:' What does Esperanza "know"? 6. What obstacle to reaching the American Dream is most evident in this story? Are there others? 2013 The DBQ Project This page may be reproduced for classroom use 59

14 Step Four: Document Analysis (continued) Document B: "A Smart Cookie" Content Notes: Cisneros dedicates The House on Mango Street a las mujeres" "to the women." This story is built around an allusion (a reference to another artistic work) to the opera, Madame Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini. Esperanza's mother "is Madame Butterfly" while she cooks oatmeal, and says to her daughter, "That Madame Butterfly was a fool." In the opera version, an American naval officer marries a 15-year-old Japanese girl (nicknamed "Butterfly"), intending to divorce her and marry an American woman as soon as it is convenient to do so. Butterfly loves him, though, and sacrifices everything to him including her religion and her son before tragically killing herself in the third act. The victimization of women and loss of culture in America are also themes of The House on Mango Street. Grammar and Writing Notes: When discussing student answers to questions 1 and 2, note the way that Cisneros employs parallel structure. When listing the things that her mother can do, she writes four simple sentences in a row that start with the word "She." When listing the things that her mother wants to do, she writes two almost identical sentences that both begin, "Someday she would like to..." Parallel structure is a device writers use when they want to create emphasis. Why are Esperanza's mother's skills and desires emphasized in this story? (Perhaps to highlight her disappointments. She can do so much, but is unable to pursue her dreams.) Teaching Tips: Discuss the Document Analysis questions: 1. What are some things that Esperanza's mother can do? She can speak two languages, sing an opera, and fix a T.V. 2. What are some things that Esperanza's mother would "someday" like to do? She would like to go to the ballet or see a play. 3. Why do you think Esperanza's mother doesn't do the things she would like to do? Going to the ballet or a play costs money, while borrowing records from the library is free. Going to the ballet or a play also takes time, and Esperanza's mother has four children to take care of. 4. Why did Esperanza's mother quit school? Because she didn't have nice clothes and she was ashamed. 5. What obstacle to reaching the American Dream is most evident in this story? Are there others? Although Esperanza's mother blames her own sense of shame, poverty again seems to be the biggest obstacle to reaching the American Dream in this story. Esperanza's mother couldn't afford nice clothes so she didn't want to go to school. Because she didn't get a good education to improve her station in life, she is still too poor to go to the ballet or to see a play. Gender-based discrimination could also be viewed as an obstacle here. The stories of Madame Butterfly and the comadres, Izaura and Yolanda, reveal ways in which women must depend upon men. (Note: In fact, gender and poverty are often linked. In 2012, one study showed that 14.1% of women in the US were living in poverty, compared to 11.1% of men.) The DBQ Project

15 I Document B: "A Smart Cookie" could've been somebody, you know? my mother says and sighs. She has lived in this city her whole life. She can speak two languages. She can sing an opera. She knows how to fix a T.V. But she doesn't know which subway train to take to get downtown. I hold her hand very tight while we wait for the right train to arrive. She used to draw when she had time. Now she draws with a needle and thread, little knotted rosebuds, tulips made of silk thread. Someday she would like to go to the ballet. Someday she would like to see a play. She borrows opera records from the public library and sings with velvety lungs powerful as morning glories. Today while cooking oatmeal she is Madame Butterfly until she sighs and points the wooden spoon at me. I could've been somebody, you know? Esperanza, you go to school. Study hard. That Madame Butterfly was a fool. She stirs the oatmeal. Look at my comadres. She means Izaura whose husband left and Yolanda whose husband is dead. Got to take care all your own, she says shaking her head. Then out of nowhere: Shame is a bad thing, you know. It keeps you down. You want to know why I quit school? Because I didn't have nice clothes. No clothes, but I had brains. Yup, she says disgusted, stirring again. I was a smart cookie then. Note: Madame Butterfly is an opera about a young Japanese girl who marries an American man with tragic results."comadres"is a Spanish term used for close female friends. Document Analysis 1. What are some things that Esperanza's mother can do? 2. What are some things that Esperanza's mother would "someday" like to do? 3. Why do you think Esperanza's mother doesn't do the things she would like to do? 4. Why did Esperanza's mother quit school? 5. What obstacle to reaching the American Dream is most evident in this story? Are there others? 2013 The DBQ Project This page may be reproduced for classroom use 61

16 The House on Mango Street Mini-0 Step Four: Document Analysis (continued) Document C: "No Speak English" Content Notes: Mamacita is the man's wife, not his mother. Students are often confused on this point. We never find out where Mamacita is from only that she is from "that country." Perhaps Cisneros intended to make this a more universal story by not specifying Mamacita's home country. There is a lovely example of alliteration in this story (when several words in a row all begin with the same sound) "Push, pull. Push, pull. Poof!" Especially because they are short and therefore quite manageable, it is a good idea to read these stories aloud prior to discussion. Cisneros self-identifies as a poet, and you can hear the poetry in her language in passages like this one. "Mamacita" and "Mamasota" are translated in the note as "Little Mama" and "Big Mama." "-ita" is a suffix added to Spanish words meaning "little" and "-ota" is a suffix meaning "big." Thus, Rachel is able to easily change Mamacita's name in order to make fun of her size in the opening paragraph. Teaching Tips: Discuss the Document Analysis questions: 1. How does the man across the street manage to bring Mamacita and their baby to Mango Street? The man worked two jobs and saved his money in order to pay for his wife and baby to come to the United States. 2. Why doesn't Mamacita ever leave their apartment? Some people say she's too fat or there are too many stairs, but Esperanza thinks she is afraid to speak English. 3. Why does Esperanza's father eat only "hamandeggs" for three months? "Hamandeggs" is really "ham and eggs." Esperanza's father originally thought it was one word, calling it the only "word" he knew when he came to the US, so he ordered ham and eggs at every meal. 4. What does Esperanza's father have in common with Mamacita? Both Esperanza's father and Mamacita could not speak English when they first arrived in the US. 5. "No speak English" appears in the middle of the story as well as the end, but it means different things each time. What are the two different meanings of this phrase? When the phrase "No speak English" first appears, it is one of the things Mamacita can say if anybody comes to the door. It seems to mean, "I don't speak English." When her son starts singing the Pepsi commercial on T.V., she says "No speak English" to him, meaning "Don't speak English." 6. What obstacle to reaching the American Dream is most evident in this story? Are there others? Language seems to be the biggest obstacle in this story. Mamacita does not want to stay in the United States because she cannot speak the language, and that is affecting her husband's ability to stay and improve his family's opportunities. The baby boy has the best chance of speaking English and is learning to do so by watching American television. This horrifies his mother, perhaps because having a shot at the American Dream comes at the price of one's language and culture. There is also evidence of poverty as an obstacle to reaching the American Dream. The second paragraph emphasizes the work and sacrifice required for the man to bring Mamacita and the baby to the US The DBQ Project

17 Document C: "No Speak English" Mamacita is the big mama of the man across the street, third-floor front. Rachel says her name ought to be Mamasota, but I think that's mean. The man saved his money to bring her here. He saved and saved because she was alone with the baby boy in that country. He worked two jobs. He came home late and he left early. Every day. Then one day Mamacita and the baby boy arrived in a yellow taxi. The taxi door opened like a waiter's arm. Out stepped a tiny pink shoe, a foot soft as a rabbit's ear, then the thick ankle, a flutter of hips, fuchsia roses and green perfume. The man had to pull her, the taxicab driver had to push. Push, pull. Push, pull. Poof! All at once she bloomed. Huge, enormous, beautiful to look at, from the salmon-pink feather on the tip of her hat down to the little rosebuds of her toes. I couldn't take my eyes off her tiny shoes. Up, up, up the stairs she went with the baby boy in a blue blanket, the man carrying her suitcases, her lavender hatboxes, a dozen boxes of satin high heels. Then we didn't see her. Somebody said because she's too fat, somebody because of the three flights of stairs, but I believe she doesn't come out because she is afraid to speak English, and maybe this is so since she only knows eight words. She knows to say: He not here for when the landlord comes, No speak English if anybody else comes, and Holy smokes. I don't know where she learned this, but I heard her say it one time and it surprised me. My father says when he came to this country he ate hamandeggs for three months. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Hamandeggs. That was the only word he knew. He doesn't eat hamandeggs anymore. Whatever her reasons, whether she is fat, or can't climb the stairs, or is afraid of English, she won't come down. She sits all day by the window and plays the Spanish radio show and sings all the homesick songs about her country in a voice that sounds like a seagull. Home. Home. Home is a house in a photograph, a pink house, pink as hollyhocks with lots of startled light. The man paints the walls of the apartment pink, but it's not the same, you know. She still sighs for her pink house, and then I think she cries. I would. Sometimes the man gets disgusted. He starts screaming and you can hear it all the way down the street. Ay, she says, she is sad. Oh, he says, not again. i,cuando, cuando, cuando? she asks. ;Ay, caray! We are home. This is home. Here I am and here I stay. Speak English. Speak English. Christ! ;Ay! Mamacita, who does not belong, every once in a while lets out a cry, hysterical, high, as if he had torn the only skinny thread that kept her alive, the only road out to that country. And then to break her heart forever, the baby boy, who has begun to talk, starts to sing the Pepsi commercial he heard on T.V. No speak English, she says to the child who is singing in the language that sounds like tin. No speak English, no speak English, and bubbles into tears. No, no, no as if she can't believe her ears. Note: The translation of "Mamacita" is "little mama"; "Mamasota" is "big mama." "ecuando?" means "when?" Document Analysis 1. How does the man across the street manage to bring Mamacita and their baby to Mango Street? 2. Why doesn't Mamacita ever leave their apartment? 3. Why does Esperanza's father eat only "hamandeggs" for three months? 4. What does Esperanza's father have in common with Mamacita? 5. "No speak English" appears in the middle of the story as well as the end, but it means different things each time. What are the two different meanings of this phrase? 6. What obstacle to reaching the American Dream is most evident in this story? Are there others? 2013 The DBQ Project This page may be reproduced for classroom use 63

18 Step Four: Document Analysis (continued) Document D: "Geraldo No Last Name" Content Notes: There are layers of narrative perspective in this story which get rather complicated. First of all, Esperanza is our narrator, so we presume that we get this story as Marin, her neighbor, told it to her. However, towards the end of the story (as pointed out in Document Analysis question #5), the pronoun "they" appears and we begin to learn things about Geraldo that Marin doesn't know. We could call this a shift to an omniscient (all-knowing) perspective. Then, there is a final shift to a 1st-person perspective in the last sentence of the story "...we never heard from him again" where the reader hears the voice of the people Geraldo left behind when he came to the United States. Teaching Tips: Discuss the Document Analysis questions: How did Marin and Geraldo meet? They met at a dance. 2. What kind of accident did Geraldo have? It was a "hit-and-run" accident. That means a car hit him and then drove away. 3. Guess the meanings of the words "brazer" and "wetback" from the context. Students should be able to tell from the context that the two words are meant to be derogatory. "Brazer"is a term for a migrant worker. It is derived from the Spanish word, brazo meaning "arm" because migrant workers were assumed to work with their arms, i.e. manual labor. "Wetback" is also an offensive term referring to illegal Mexican immigrants. It originates from the assumption that a Mexican immigrant would have to cross the Rio Grande the river separating the United States from Mexico and would therefore have a wet back upon arrival in the US. 4. It is implied that Geraldo might have survived "if the surgeon would've come." Using evidence from the story, explain why you think the surgeon did not come. The surgeon might not have come for several reasons. First of all, the story tells us that there is "an intern working all alone" in the emergency room. This is a clue that the hospital may be in an impoverished area and is underfunded and understaffed. Second, Geraldo is said to have "nothing in his pockets" that means no identification, no money, and no insurance. He would therefore be a lower priority to the hospital. Finally, in the previous paragraph, Geraldo is described as "just another brazer" and "just another wetback" this makes him seem very unimportant and even disposable in the eyes of white America. The surgeon perhaps did not bother to come for someone like Geraldo. 5. In the second to last paragraph, the pronoun 'they" appears: "They never saw the kitchenettes. They never knew...about the weekly money orders sent home." Who are "they"? "They" could mean the police, the hospital personnel, or anybody who labeled Geraldo a "brazer"or "wetback." In other words, "they" wrote him off as an insignificant freeloading immigrant. They did not know what a hard worker he was and how much he was sacrificing in order to improve his own life and the lives of the people in his home country who depended on the money he sent to them. 6. What obstacle to reaching the American Dream is most evident in this story? Are there others? There is evidence in this story that discrimination against Latinos is a huge obstacle to reaching the American Dream. Because of discrimination and the feeling that he was "just another wetback," Geraldo was dismissed as unimportant and was left to die. An additional obstacle is poverty- Geraldo had "nothing in his pockets" and the hospital where he was taken was underfunded. He had begun to establish himself in this country with a job and a place to live, but because of discrimination and poverty, his life was cut short and his dream of advancement could never be realized The DBQ Project

19 Document D: "Geraldo No Last Name" She met him at a dance. Pretty too, and young. Said he worked in a restaurant, but she can't remember which one. Geraldo. That's all. Green pants and Saturday shirt. Geraldo. That's what he told her. And how was she to know she'd be the last one to see him alive. An accident, don't you know. Hit-and-run. Marin, she goes to all those dances. Uptown. Logan. Embassy. Palmer. Aragon. Fontana. The Manor. She likes to dance. She knows how to do cumbias and salsas and rancheras even. And he was just someone she danced with. Somebody she met that night. That's right. That's the story. That's what she said again and again. Once to the hospital people and twice to the police. No address. No name. Nothing in his pockets. Ain't it a shame. Only Marin can't explain why it mattered, the hours and hours, for somebody she didn't even know. The hospital emergency room. Nobody but an intern working all alone. And maybe if the surgeon would've come, maybe if he hadn't lost so much blood, if the surgeon had only come, they would know who to notify and where. But what difference does it make? He wasn't anything to her. He wasn't her boyfriend or anything like that. Just another brazer who didn't speak English. Just another wetback. You know the kind. The ones who always look ashamed. And what was she doing out at three a.m. anyway? Marin who was sent home with her coat and some aspirin. How does she explain? She met him at a dance. Geraldo in his shiny shirt and green pants. Geraldo going to a dance. What does it matter? They never saw the kitchenettes. They never knew about the two-room flats and sleeping rooms he rented, the weekly money orders sent home, the currency exchange. How could they? His name was Geraldo. And his home is in another country. The ones he left behind are far away, will wonder, shrug, remember. Geraldo he went north...we never heard from him again. Note: Marin is featured in other stories as a resident of Mango Street. Uptown, Logan, etc. are dance clubs in Chicago. "Cumbias," "salsas," and "rancheras" are all Latin dance styles. Document Analysis 1. How did Marin and Geraldo meet? 2. What kind of accident did Geraldo have? 3. Guess the meanings of the words "brazer" and "wetback" from the context. 4. It is implied that Geraldo might have survived "if the surgeon would've come." Using evidence from the story, explain why you think the surgeon did not come. 5. In the second to last paragraph, the pronoun "they" appears: "They never saw the kitchenettes. They never knew...about the weekly money orders sent home." Who are "they"? 6. What obstacle to reaching the American Dream is most evident in this story? Are there 2013 The DBQ Project This page may be reproduced for classroom use 65

20 Step Five: Bucketing Getting Ready to Write Task One: Bucketing Language Discrimination Poverty (Biggest Obstacle) Teacher Note: Above is one bucketing option. There may be others. A scary transition lies between document analysis and writing the essay. Bucketing eases the transition but more can be done. At this point a Thrash-out is often a good idea. The purpose of a Thrash-out is to let students hear ideas, test their own thinking, and thereby discover a thesis they care about. Thrash -out: Assign a different area for each of the three obstacles to reaching the American Dream listed above. Invite students to stand in the area representing the obstacle they think is the biggest. In turn, they should speak and make a case, referencing lines from the text whenever possible. After a few minutes, students may switch areas if they have changed their minds. Task Two: Thesis Development and Road Map The Chickenfoot Although language and discrimination are also obstacles, poverty is the biggest obstacle to achieving the American Dream in The House on Mango Street. \asvgllage Poverty discrimination The DBQ Project

21 The House on Mango Street Mini -Q Bucketing Getting Ready to Write Bucketing Look over all the documents and organize them into your final buckets. Write final bucket labels under each bucket and place the letters of the documents in the buckets where they belong. It is okay to put a document in more than one bucket. Remember, your buckets are going to become your body paragraphs. Thesis Development and Road Map On the chickenfoot below, write your thesis and your road map. Your thesis is always an opinion and answers the Mini-Q question. The road map is created from your bucket labels and lists the topic areas you will examine in order to prove your thesis. C 2013 The DBQ Project This page may be reproduced for classroom use 67

22 The House on Mango Street Mini -Q Step Six: From Thesis to Essay Writing Mini-Q Essay Outline Guide Unit Title: The House on Mango Street: What Is the Biggest Obstacle to Reaching the American Dream? Paragraph #1 Grabber: People say to "dream big," but dreaming big can lead to big disappointment. Brief and relevant plot summary: The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros tells many stories of people living in a mostly Latino neighborhood in Chicago. Restating the question with key terms defined: These characters always seem to fall short of attaining their dream for a better life, so the question is, what is the biggest obstacle that stands in their way? Thesis and Road Map: Language, discrimination, and poverty are all obstacles to reaching the American Dream, but poverty is the hardest to overcome. Paragraph #2 Baby Thesis: Language is one obstacle to achieving the American Dream. Evidence: Mamacita cannot speak English and wants to go back to her home country "Cuando, cuando, cuando?" (Doc C) Mamacita's son is learning to speak English, but this upsets Mamacita "no speak English, and bubbles into tears" (Doc C) Argument: Not speaking English makes it too hard to stay in America to fight for the American Dream Paragraph #3 Baby Thesis: Discrimination is also an obstacle to achieving the American Dream. Evidence: Geraldo is a hard worker ("kitchenettes" and "money orders sent home"), but he is labeled as "just another braze," and "just another wetback" (Doc D) Geraldo loses his life because of these labels and the surgeon never comes (Doc D) Argument: Geraldo is clearly working towards the American Dream when discrimination at the hospital leads to his death. Paragraph #4 Baby Thesis: Poverty is the biggest obstacle of all. Evidence: Esperanza's family does not have the money to buy their "dream" house have to rely on winning the lottery "I know how those things go" (Doc A) Esperanza's mother quits school and doesn't pursue her dreams due to her shame of being poor "Shame is a bad thing, you know. It keeps you down." (Doc B) Argument: Poverty prevents Esperanza's parents from getting their version of the American Dream a house and an education Paragraph #5 Conclusion: Although language barriers and discrimination may contribute to poverty, poverty is still the biggest obstacle to reaching the American Dream. All four stories illustrate the obstacle of poverty The DBQ Project

23 From Thesis to Essay Writing 411/ Mini-0 Essay Outline Guide Unit Title Paragraph #1 Grabber Brief and relevant plot summary Restating the question with key terms defined Thesis and Road Map Argument: Paragraph #2 Baby Thesis for bucket one Evidence: Supporting detail and quotation from document with document citation Connecting evidence to the thesis Paragraph #3 Baby Thesis for bucket two Evidence Argument Paragraph #4 Baby Thesis for bucket three Evidence Argument Paragraph #5 Conclusion: "Although" statement and restatement of main 2013 The DBQ Project This page may be reproduced for classroom use 69

24 The House on Mango Street Mini -Q Mini-Q Sample Essay: Non-Proficient The House on Mango Street: What Is the Biggest Obstacle to Reaching the American Dream? The House on Mango Street is about people who don't get any of their dreams. Dreaming is really important, and in America, dreaming is called the American Dream. There are a bunch of things that make people not get their dreams. First, you need money to get your dreams. Esperanza wants a house but she doesn't get it because her dad never wins the lottery. If he could buy more lottery tickets, maybe they'd win and get a new house. Also, if you're discriminated against, you can't reach your dreams. There was discrimination at the hospital, so Geraldo died (Doc B). I'm not sure what he was dreaming about in the first place. It's a mysterious story. The last reason you don't get dreams is if you don't speak English. Mamacita was scared to even leave her house (Doc C). I understand how Mamacita felt. The American Dream is really hard to get, and there are lots of things that can mess you up. Poverty is probably the biggest one. Mini-Q Sample Essay: Proficient The House on Mango Street: What Is the Biggest Obstacle to Reaching the American Dream? People say to "dream big," but dreaming big can lead to big disappointment. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros tells many stories of people who can't reach their dream for a better life. The question is, what is the biggest obstacle that stands in their way? Language, discrimination, and poverty are all obstacles to reaching the American Dream, but poverty is the hardest to overcome. Language is one obstacle to reaching the American Dream. In "No Speak English," Mamacita can't speak English and wants to return to her country. She asks, "Cuando, cuando, cuando?" meaning "When can we go back?" Her son is learning to speak English, but she can't understand, so she tells him to "no speak English, and bubbles into tears" (Doc C). Because Mamacita can't speak English, she doesn't want to stay in America, keeping the American Dream out of her family's reach. Discrimination is also an obstacle to achieving the American Dream. In the story, "Geraldo No Last Name," Geraldo is a hard worker, but when he gets in an accident, people at the hospital think he is "just another wetback" so they never call a surgeon and he dies (Doc D). Geraldo is clearly working towards the American Dream, staying in "kitchenettes" and sending "money orders...home." However, because of discrimination, both he and his American Dream die. Poverty is the biggest obstacle to reaching the American Dream. In the title story, Esperanza's family can't buy their "dream" house. They rely on winning the lottery to get the house they truly want, but this is very unlikely (Doc A). In "A Smart Cookie," Esperanza's mother quits school because she is ashamed of being poor. She says that shame "keeps you down" (Doc B). Poverty prevents Esperanza's family from getting the house and the life they want, and they never achieve the American Dream. Esperanza and other people on Mango Street dream of a better life, but they don't get it. Language and discrimination are part of the reason, but the biggest reason that they can't reach the American Dream is poverty The DBQ Project

25 Student Mini-Q Lined 2013 The DBQ Project This page may be reproduced for classroom use 71

26 The House on Mango Street Mini -0 Mini-Q Sample Essay: Higher Proficiency The House on Mango Street: What Is the Biggest Obstacle to Reaching the American Dream? People say to "dream big," but dreaming big can lead to big disappointment. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros tells many stories of people living in a mostly Latino neighborhood in Chicago. These characters always seem to fall short of attaining their dream for a better life, raising the question of what obstacles stand in their way. Language and discrimination make it difficult for the characters on Mango Street to achieve the American Dream, but poverty makes it impossible. For the recent immigrants living on Mango Street, language is a substantial obstacle to achieving the American Dream. In the story, "No Speak English," Mamacita's husband brings her to America as part of his American Dream of a better life for his family. However, she cannot speak English and longs to return to her home country. She asks her husband, "Cuando, cuando, cuando?" meaning "When can we go back?" Meanwhile, Mamacita's son is learning to speak English from watching TV, but this is also a sign that he is losing his culture and it upsets Mamacita. She begs him to "no speak English, and bubbles into tears" (Doc C). To Mamacita, the cost of the American Dream is her culture. This is a price that she and many others are unwilling to pay, making language a real obstacle to reaching the American Dream. Discrimination aimed at immigrants is another obstacle to achieving the American Dream. In the story, "Geraldo No Last Name," Geraldo is a hard worker, but when his life is on the line after a hit-and-run accident, he is labeled as "just another braze( and "just another wetback." The police and hospital personnel assume that Geraldo is an illegal alien and therefore treat his life as worthless. Geraldo waits for a surgeon who never comes, and he loses his life. Geraldo is clearly working towards the American Dream, staying in "kitchenettes" and sending "money orders...home" (Doc D). Because of discrimination, he receives poor care after his accident, and his life and American Dream both end. Although language and discrimination can be very difficult to overcome, poverty is the biggest obstacle of all for those on Mango Street who are trying to realize the American Dream. In the title story, "The House on Mango Street," Esperanza's family does not have the money to buy their "dream" house. Instead, they move to Mango Street and have to rely on winning the lottery in order to get the house they truly want. Esperanza knows this dream will not come true, saying "I know how those things go" (Doc A). In "A Smart Cookie," Esperanza's mother reveals why she did not go to school to pursue her dreams. It was because of her shame at being poor. She says, "Shame is a bad thing, you know. It keeps you down" (Doc B). No education leads to low-paying jobs and more poverty. Because Esperanza's family is locked into this cycle of poverty, they are locked out of the American Dream. Poverty is clearly the biggest obstacle to reaching the American Dream. In fact, all four stories illustrate the obstacle of poverty. It is poverty that keeps Esperanza's family from their dream house and Esperanza's mother from her education. Poverty also contributes to the situation that Mamacita and her husband are in; he has to sacrifice greatly and "worked two jobs" (Doc C) to bring her to America, so it is not so easy to send her back home. Finally, Geraldo might not have received treatment at the hospital because of discrimination, but the fact that he had "nothing in his pockets" (Doc D) is also a major factor. Language barriers and discrimination may contribute to poverty, but poverty is still the biggest obstacle to reaching the American Dream on Mango Street and beyond The DBQ Project

27 The House on Mango Street Mini -Q Student Mini-Q Lined Paper 2013 The DBQ Project This page may be reproduced for classroom use 73

28 The House on Mango Street Mini -Q TEACHER DOCUMENT LIST (CV) There are four documents in this Mini-Q. Students are provided with a document list, but it is not divided into analytical categories or buckets. Students may develop categories that are different from these. Poverty: Document A: "The House on Mango Street" Document B: "A Smart Cookie" Language: Document C: "No Speak English" Discrimination: Document D: "Geraldo No Last Name" The DBQ Project

29 The House on Mango Street: What Is the Biggest Obstacle to Reaching the American Dream? Overview: Sandra Cisneros wrote The House on Mango Street in the early 1980s. The book presents a series of related short stories, spun from observations and memories of the Latino neighborhoods of Chicago where Cisneros grew up. The characters on Mango Street may be unique, but their hopes and dreams are versions of a larger American Dream which has shaped this country since its creation. The Documents: Document A: "The House on Mango Street" Document B: "A Smart Cookie" Document C: "No Speak English" Document D: "Geraldo No Last Name" A Mini Document Based Question (Mini-Q) 2013 The DBQ Project This page may be reproduced for classroom use 75

30 Step One: The Hook Teacher Note: The purpose of the Hook is to create some initial interest in the Mini-Q. Working in pairs or groups of three, students will examine and answer questions about a cartoon that relates to the American Dream. The whole class can then have a brief discussion during which they share their answers. Throughout, it is important that students know they are being asked to make observations and guesses, so there are no wrong answers. While a clearer understanding of the American Dream may emerge during the Hook, please note that this term will be explicitly defined in the Background Essay which follows. Sample responses to Hook questions: 1. Focus on the left side of the cartoon and the box of "American Dream Helper" on the shelf. What are the "ingredients" of the American Dream? The "ingredients" of the American Dream include a house in the suburbs, children, a minivan, leisure time, healthcare, and security. 2. Now focus on the right side of the cartoon and the woman holding the box. What's the catch? In other words, what's the fine print on the back of the box? The catch is that you need money in order to get the American Dream. 3. Does this cartoon portray the American Dream positively or negatively? Explain your thinking. I think the cartoon portrays the American Dream negatively. Based on the box of "American Dream Helper," the American Dream seems really great. The Dream is in such easy reach; in fact, the woman is holding it in her hand. However, based on the surprised and anxious expression on her face, she realizes how much attaining the Dream will cost The DBQ Project

31 Hook Exercise: The American Dream Directions: Below is a cartoon which deals with an idea called the American Dream. In pairs or groups of three, examine the cartoon and answer the questions that follow. Use evidence from the cartoon to explain your thinking. *COAWAIRWARV LIF4STY6E * Kal5E IN 'ME R85 * K/P5 AA/P 4 MI All VAAl * MVO & RECRe.477ON * Car & SECINTIV 1. Focus on the left side of the cartoon and the box of "American Dream Helper" on the shelf. What are the "ingredients" of the American Dream? 2. Now focus on the right side of the cartoon and the woman holding the box. What's the catch? In other words, what's the fine print on the back of the box? 3. Does this cartoon portray the American Dream positively or negatively? Explain your thinking The DBQ Project This page may be reproduced for classroom use 77

32 Step Two: Establishing the Context General Instructions Find Chicago on a map. Pre-teach the boldfaced vocabulary. Have students read, or read aloud to them, the Background Essay. Have students answer the Background Essay questions on the next page. Specific Considerations The main purpose of the Background Essay is to create a context for the Mini-Q exercise. Its job is to set the backdrop for the question, and introduce important vocabulary and concepts. Doing this well gives all students a more equal chance to succeed with the Mini-Q. We recommend that it not be rushed. Also, consider reading the Background Essay aloud. We believe it is good for many students, even good readers, to hear the words as they see them. For many it is important to hear the cadence of the language, to experience pauses and emphasis. Vocabulary and Concepts You may want to pre-teach the three boldfaced terms in the essay, but the term "American Dream" is directly defined in the essay itself. Our feeling about vocabulary is that some pre-teaching is good but keep the word list short. Even for English language learners, see how much they can get from context. Understanding vocabulary is another reason for reading aloud The DBQ Project

33 Background Essay The House on Mango Street Mini-Q The House on Mango Street: What Is the Biggest Obstacle to Reaching the American Dream? Cathy claims to be related to the queen of France. Meme Ortiz jumps out of a tree and breaks both arms. Sally marries a marshmallow salesman before eighth grade. And so go the lives of the people on Mango Street. The stories in The House on Mango Street, says author Sandra Cisneros, come together to "tell one big story, each story contributing to the whole like beads on a necklace." Some of the stories are very short a few are only two or three paragraphs and the language Cisneros uses can make them feel like poetry. With so many little stories being told, what is the "big story" about? For one, it is a coming-ofage story that has parallels to Cisneros's own childhood. Esperanza, the narrator of Mango Street, is a Mexican- American girl growing up in a poor Chicago neighborhood. She tells us of her life, her family, her neighbors, even people she hears about second-hand. Some of the people on Mango Street are Mexican-American like herself, and some are recent immigrants from Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries. Their stories are filtered through Esperanza's eyes and told in Esperanza's voice. The "big story" is also about the quest for the American Dream and the obstacles that get in the way. The American Dream has many Photograph of Sandra Cisneros variations, but basically it is the chance for equal opportunity. According to the American Dream, people of all backgrounds come to America and receive a good education, a well-paying job, and a house with a white-picket fence. They create a better life for themselves and their children. Many of the characters on Mango Street have worked hard to reach this dream, but their stories are often marked by disappointment. As Cisneros writes, "Here there is too much sadness and not enough sky." Why can't the characters on Mango Street simply leave behind their sadness and achieve their dreams? Is Esperanza longing for too much when she says: "Do you wish your feet would one day keep walking and take you far away from Mango Street, far away and maybe your feet would stop in front of a house, a nice one with flowers and big windows and steps for you to climb up two by two upstairs to where a room is waiting for you"? For the people on Mango Street, it seems that the American Dream has been replaced with sadness and a wish for more sky. Why has this happened? What has gotten in the way? As you read the four documents that follow, consider the question: The House on Mango Street: What is the biggest obstacle to reaching the American Dream? 2013 The DBQ Project This page may be reproduced for classroom use 79