For this assignment you may read Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, or listen to its recording. I am making recordings of the book, or you may find one you would rather listen to for the assignment. I will divide the book into five segments—Foreward/ Introduction; Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer. The first and the last recordings will be the shortest. You will find the recordings by clicking on the Module Tab and looking for The Bluest Eye.
As you read each section I want you to journal your thoughts. The Foreward provides some details about the authors thought process and what she wanted to convey. During the first part of the introduction you hear segments from a reading primer. When you hear the words from the primer, think about why they were repeated and why did the words start to run together? What did the family in the primer represent? Think about the parents in the primer, against the backdrop of Pecola’s situation and the other characters in the book. Why this juxtaposition?
As you continue through the book, think about the characters and what might you consider if they were students in your class? What things might you consider? What aspects of their culture, environment, family form their views about themselves and the world around them.
As you are putting together your journal, please name each segment. Include information about when you listened to the recording, what were your immediate thoughts? Remember there are no right or wrong answers to your opinions. After you complete all of the segments, please share your overall view of the book. How did analyzing the characters and critically thinking about their stories help you gain a better understanding of cultural diversity in the classroom.
This assignment should be at least three pages in length. Since it is a journal, I will be looking for content rather than grading for punctuation/grammar and formatting. You can earn up to 50 points for each segment and 50 for your overall review. Making the assignment worth 300 points.