Assessment: Writing. Essay Questions

Choose one and write a 2 - 3 page double spaced response. You will have the opportunity to revise your essay, so instead of focusing on perfection, focus on developing a strong argument. You can revise as many times as needed to get the grade you want.

1. Discuss the psychological development of Jin and the Monkey King. Using the answers to the reading questions above, develop a theory of about how each of these characters responded to their environment. How were they affected by the way they were treated by those around them? Look at what forces were at play to cause them to develop from beginning to middle to end of the story. Discuss the ways in which the development of the Monkey King serves as an allegory for the evolution of Jin.

or

2. Discuss the ways in which American Born Chinese demonstrates that in a work of art form follows function. Look at the formal techniques the author uses such as various speech balloons, interspersing character frames with atmosphere frames, use of the paint (splattered, blurred, blended), the layout and use of panels. Discuss how the visual language conveys emotion, tone, and characterization. Be sure to discuss creative decisions that the author made i.e. making the Chin-Kee chapters a TV show, making Melanie and Amelia the same character (note the similar letters in both names), the use of color ink on glossy paper.

Resources:
http://gse.uml.edu/rtah/docs/Morgensterndrivenout.doc
http://www.sotacad.org/attachments/029_Online%20Packet%20for%20ABC.doc

Driven Out On pages 256-290 are several photos, pictures and cartoons that can be used for this unit. In addition, many web sites give poems, pictures and drawings that can also be used. Two useful websites are listed below:
http://www.cetel.org/angel_poetry.htm
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/award99/cubhtml/cichome.html

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

This award winning graphic novel is accessible for students of all reading levels. The story is exciting and humorous, with very teenage-friendly themes.

Sources for Unit Plan

http://www.historians.org/teaching/policy/benchmarks.htm
http://www.facinghistory.org