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Unit 4 Essay Prompt
In this Unit we have looked at ways that literacy is viewed and then shaped by schools. We’ve explored this notion from the vantage point of an international student learning a new discourse in composition class, an American studying French abroad, and students studying in public schools. Min-zhan Lu tells us how controlling multiple languages and literacies was for her accomplished initially “with no apparent friction” but became problematic when those literacies took on increasingly political overtones. Eleanor Kutz writes that “folk theories govern much of our schools’ instruction in English and foreign language” (140) and that these folk theories are then used to marginalize certain groups of students.
We have chosen to study Educational Literacies for our last unit in Englwrit 111 because school is very often the place where literacies (home, street and other) collide with the “standard” and this collision can underscore the relationship between language and power. Often the most rigid views about language, literacy and the role of diverse discourse patterns show up in educational settings, and these rigid views serve to marginalize students whose literacies don’t fit the “norm.”
For this essay, you should explore the notion of how educational literacies rub up against home or other literacies and how this friction affects students and the languages they bring to school. You should integrate one or more of the readings we have explored in this chapter and other chapters, if applicable. You are encouraged to bring in personal experience and to incorporate other writing you have done in previous units.
Possible ideas for specific essay topics include:
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integrating Kutz’ article and the idea of folk theories with what Portes has to say about misunderstandings about multilingualism
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exploring Lu's ideas about expanding notions of school literacy
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investigating the struggle created by conflicting approaches to language or composition, as in “The Classroom and the Wider Culture”
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discussing the conflict between home and school language practices as outlined in Paul Tough’s article “What it Takes to make a Student”
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integrating the idea of “privilege” ( as discussed in unit 3) with one of the unit 4 readings
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other topics gleaned from the exploratory writings or your own ideas
Any of these ideas may include previous writing from this class or your own personal experience. All of these topics should include your ideas on multiple literacies and the power that each form holds (or lacks).
Minimum length: 1000 words
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