Activities for reading "Harrison Bergeron" and "Dyaspora."

1. Vocab Practice Use a dictionary to define the following. Use a thesaurus to find one synonym and one antonym. Connotes Erupt Marvel Concessions Aberration What is the root in “methodically?” What does that mean? What do you think this word means? Use your context clues to define the meaning of the underlined words and write down the words that lead you to that definition. The choice of the neighborhood is a condition of the reality of living here in this city with its racially segregated neighborhoods. You cleave to these other Haitian girls out of something that begins as solidarity but becomes a lifetime of friendship. Through your writing they will see you, dyasporachild, the connections and disconnections that have made you the mosaic that you are.

2. Can you be from two cultures at once? What cultures do you identify with? What are some characteristics of those cultures? How do you define your cultural identity?

3. While you read: How does Hyppolite’s attitude toward her own cultural identity change during the course of the essay? Support with evidence from the text. Does Hyppolite effectively show how difficult it is for many children to adapt to two cultures while holding onto both? Support with evidence from the text.

4. After you read: This memoir is written in second person (you, your, yours, etc.) instead of first person (I, me, mine, etc.). Why would the author choose to write from this particular point-of-view? Is it effective? How has this essay made you reconsider your thoughts about your own culture or other cultures?

5. Define Harrison’s Culture Define Hyppolite’sCulture

6. Study this picture.

7. What is this picture saying about culture? About identity? About belonging? About America?

8. Common Characteristics Picture’s Culture

9. Exit Ticket Use three vocabulary words, from either or both stories, correctly in original sentences without referring back to a dictionary. What is something new you’ve learned about culture? How might you be able to use something we discussed these past two days in your research paper? How can you apply, or use, what you’ve learned in your life?