For Weds. Sept. 20th

For Wednesday, Sept. 20th read Amy Tan's essay "Mother Tongue." You can click the link to read it online. But if possible, print it out and bring it to class with you. You should also print out the questions I list below.

Class on Weds. will meet in the library in your small (blog) groups. Find an area in the library where your group can meet without disturbing others who are studying quietly. There are several study areas throughout the library that are designed specifically for this purpose.

Each class member must sign-in on the sign-in sheet that I will give to one member of each blog group. One person in the group should be designated the "note-taker." And record some of the answers that group members give. The answers should be posted to your blog by midnight on Weds. Try to make sure everyone contributes to the conversation at least once.

In your blog groups discuss the following questions:

1. What troubles Tan about the labels "broken," "fractured," and "limited" for her mother's English (paragraph 8)? How do these labels contrast with the way she views her mother's speech?

2. Who do you think is the audience that Tan had in mind when she wrote this essay?

3. Does Tan ever define "standard English?" How do YOU define it? In your opinion, are there any occasions when standard English is absolutely required? Are there occasions when nonstandard Enlish is entirely appropriate? What are the benefits of standard and non standard English?

4. It has been said that "all language is political." Respond to this statement. Do you see any evidence of this at all in Tan’s piece? In what ways might this statement be true?