Student Blogs

 As the unit progresses, every Monday students will have computer lab time to post new blogs. These blogs will be approximately a paragraph reacting to the readings so far. For each day, the students will have a guided prompt to follow regarding the plot/themes so far and then will be given the class period to work on their own as well as respond to two of their classmates' posts.
One post will address the specific conceptual themes discussed in the previous week. The second post will be plot-oriented in order to ensure student understanding and knowledge on the assigned reading material.

Blog Prompt #1 (Week 2)

Jin is introduced to us in the onset of the graphic novel as a first generation, Americanized Chinese student. His encounters with the traditional, stereotypical F.O.B. Wei-Chan and Susie function as a symbolic representation of his identity (or resistance of identity) with his own cultural heritage. Explain in your own words what you think this means. Reflecting on your own experiences with stereotypes, how do you predict Jin's views will change, if they even will change, as the text progresses?

Blog Prompt #2 (Week 3)

Two major events occur in last week's assigned reading: Jin asks Susie on a date, and Danny introduces his cousin Chin-Kee to his class (and to us). What do you make of Chin-Kee (notice the racial pun on his name) and his exaggerated F.O.B. persona (he is evidently the most extreme stereotype we have seen so far)? What is the purpose of this, and why do you think he was introduced to us so late in the novel? Also, reflect on Wei-Chan's description of his brotherly relationship with Jin. From what you have read so far, would you agree or disagree with his comments?

Blog Prompt #3 (Week 4) 

The final section of American Born Chinese centers around the idea of disguise versus revelation. Wei-Chan transforms from the stereotypical F.O.B. to an Americanized, whitewashed American Born Chinese while Chin-Kee is unveiled as his actual father, the Monkey King. Do either of these revelations surprise you? Why or why not? Discuss these in detail, noting the obvious references back to stereotypes (ex: Chin Kee's karate moves.) Consider your free-write on your reactionary responses to stereotypes before the novel, during the novel, and now after finishing the novel. 

Extra Credit Blogging Opportunity
If you finish early and have some remaining time at the end of the period, you can choose to post an additional blog response for extra credit. What is your favorite part of this graphic novel, and why? Can you think of any real life examples to support this?