Canadian Berries

Choose one character from “The Joy Luck Club” and write a short essay (500 words) on how strong that character is (e.g., mentally, spiritually, emotionally, etc.), giving examples (including page number references) from the novel. 

Be sure to clearly explain how the passages you refer to illustrate the strength or weakness of the character.

Post your essay on this blog as a comment to this entry.

DUE DATE:  Wednesday, May 10, 2006 — by the beginning of class

You will be given a rubric for this assignment.

PROJECT DUE DATE: Monday, May 22

Your assignment is to research a topic related to the historical and cultural background of early 20^th century China, e.g.,

• Marriage practices  [Amrita]
• Child-rearing practices [Minako]
• Confucianism
• The role of women [Bolun]
• Astrology (12 animals + 5 elements) [Maelle / Chin Zi]
• Superstitutions [Jean]
• Chinese myths and legends [Bong Seung]
• Death customs [John / Ludmila]
• Feng shui  [Nicole / Hiroko]

and explore how it influences the early lives of the four mothers in “The Joy Luck Club”.

All research results will be presented orally to the class. You may choose the format of your presentation, e.g.,

• a formal essay
• a multi-media presentation (e.g., Powerpoint or a poster)
• a speech based on a collection of artefacts where you explain their meaning and importance

Be ready by Friday, May 5^th, to say what topic you have chosen and what format you are planning to present your research findings in.

You will be given a rubric for this assignment.

We talked about our different personal definitions of luck in class.  Now I’d like you to consider the concept of “happiness”.

Please tell me your personal definition of happiness – by posting a comment to this entry — BY TUESDAY, May 2.

Here are some definitions I found on the Internet to get you thinking:

• * Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory. [Albert Schweitzer]
• * Knowledge of what is possible is the beginning of happiness. [George Santayana]
• * Happiness belongs to the self-sufficient [Aristotle]
• * Happiness comes when your work and words are of benefit to yourself and others. [Buddha]
• * Unhappiness is best defined as the difference between our talents and our expectations. [Edward de Bono]
• * There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved. [George Sand]
• * Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. [Gandhi]
• * Independence is happiness. [Susan B. Anthony]

Once you have read Amy Tan’s essay “Mother Tongue” (on page 303 in your edition of “The Joy Luck Club”), consider your own language autobiography.

Trace the history of your own voice — in different languages — and the influences upon it.

Please post your language autobiography as a comment to this post — at least 500 words — by the start of class on Thursday, April 27th.

Total = 289 pages, consisting of 4 sections, each containing an introductory allegory and 4 short stories.

Reading schedule:

• By Monday, April 24: up to page 32 (the allegory “Feathers from a thousand li away” and “Jing-mei Woo: The Joy Luck Club”)
• By Tuesday, April 25: up to page 40 (“An-mei Hsu: Scar”)
• By Wednesday, April 26: up to page 59 (“Lindo Jong: The Red Candle”)
• By Thursday, April 27: up to page 77 (Ying-ying St. Clair: The Moon Lady”)
• END OF 1st SECTION
• By Friday, April 28: up to page 93 (the allegory “The Twenty-Six Malignant Gates” and “Waverly Jong: Rules of the Game”)
• By Tuesday, May 2: up to page 125 (“Lena St. Clair: The Voice from the Wall” and “Rose Hsu Jordan: Half and Half”)
• By Wednesday, May 3: up to page 139 (“Jing-mei Woo: Two Kinds”)
• END OF 2nd SECTION
• By Thursday, May 4: up to page 159 (the allegory “American Translation” and “Lena St. Clair: Rice Husband”)
• By Friday, May 5: up to page 180 (“Waverly Jong: Four Directions”)
• By Monday, May 8: up to page 207 (“Rose Hsu Jordan: Without Wood” and “Jing-mei Woo: Best Quality”)
• END OF 3rd SECTION
• By Tuesday, May 9: up to page 239 (the allegory “Queen Mother of the Western Skies” and “An-mei Hsu: Magpies”)
• By Wednesday, May 10: up to page 251 (“Ying-ying St. Clair: Waiting Between the Trees”)
• By Monday, May 15: to end of book on page 289 (“Linda Jong: Double Face” and “Jing-mei Woo: A Pair of Tickets”)

As a transition between “A Raisin in the Sun” and “The Joy Luck Club”, we’re going to take a look at the concept of social justice — and what it can mean in theory and in practice in the realm of education.

Based on our class discussion, please post a comment (one good long paragraph) on how well you feel social justice is implemented or supported here at CIS, based on your own experience.

Do you feel CIS effectively teaches social justice? Do you feel CIS effectively models social justice?

Try to give me at least one positive example as well as one negative example (meaning an area where CIS could improve, in your opinion).