Reading Response #2
First, complete the reading for today’s assignment. You will read three short poems, and you will also watch the authors read the poems in a YouTube video. Next, complete the reading response following the steps below.
Reading #1: Watch and read “Hair”
Reading #2: Watch and read “Dinosaurs in the Hood”
Reading #3: Watch and read “I Give You Back (A Poem to Get Rid of Fear)”
Step 1: Answer the following questions in your initial post. Your entire post needs to be 600+ words, and you can choose to focus on some questions more than others. Remember to practice “they say” (meaning, trying to figure out the author’s point of view, even if you disagree).
1. Do a quick Google search on all three authors. What did you learn about them? Next, do a quick Google search on “systemic racism.” What did you learn?
2. “Hair”: What do you think the author’s message or argument is? How did watching the video of them reading the poem convey that message? Themes to think about or consider: culture, language, race, heritage, family. How does the poem connect to today’s society or cultural moment? Use direct quotes to demonstrate your point.
3. “Dinosaurs in the Hood”: What do you think the author’s message or argument is? How did watching the video of them reading the poem convey that message? Themes to think about or consider: culture, language, race, heritage, family. How does the poem connect to today’s society or cultural moment? Use direct quotes to demonstrate your point.
4. “I Give You Back (A Poem to Get Rid of Fear)”: What do you think the author’s message or argument is? How did watching the video of them reading the poem convey that message? Themes to think about or consider: culture, language, race, heritage, family. How does the poem connect to today’s society or cultural moment? Use direct quotes to demonstrate your point.
Step 2: What poem are you going to choose to write on for Sunday’s essay (Essay 1)? If needed, you can review the essay prompt for Essay 1Links to an external site. or the essay overview video. Remember, your options are any of the readings from Reading Response 1 or Reading Response 2. After you select your poem, choose 4 golden lines from that poem that standing out as interesting or meaningful and share in your post why you chose them and what you think they mean. (This will also be a head start on your essay!)