Lesson Plan
As a culminating activity, host a Puerto Rican meal and book discussion. Students may research recipes in the library or on the Internet and each prepare something for the dinner. For the discussion, prepare some questions to get the discussion going, but allow students to make their own comments on the book outside of the their rhetorical reading and analysis. For example, ask if they would they recommend the book to a friend and why or why not?
The planning and research of recipes should take one class period, and the breakfast or lunch should be held on the following class day.
Sample Discussion Questions –
What do you think is the Esmeralda’s opinion of herself at the start of the memoir? Does her opinion change as the story progresses. How? Why?
What is the most difficult problem Esmeralda faces in the memoir?
Does she solve this problem? If so, how? If not, how does she deal with the problem?
Who are the most important people in the Esmeralda’s life? How do you know?
Select an incident from the memoir that you perceived as insignificant. Why do you think this incident was included in this memoir? What meaning could it have possibly held for Esmeralda?
Assessing Reliability
“Oh man, these teachers. I mean, they got it in for me. Four different teachers send me to the dean in the same month. It must be a conspiracy. And, I tell you, I don’t deserve it. Nope. This is just another example of discrimination.”
Do you think this is a case of discrimination?
What makes the narrator believable or not believable?
What do you think is the truth of the situation?
“The buildings – they are so beautiful. We have nothing like them in my country. And the sun, it shines on the windows, it is golden. Even the – what are they called – sidewalks. They glisten. Perhaps they have diamonds in them. I am so lucky to be here in Milwaukee. It is surely the most beautiful city in all the world.
Is Milwaukee the most beautiful city in all the world?
What makes the narrator believable or not believable?
What do you think is the truth of the situation?
“Well, today’s the day. I have to break up with her. I’m getting kidded all the time by the guys. They say she’s not cool enough for me. Just because she dresses a little differently and is so involved in school. And I like her. A lot. But I can’t stand the kidding. I’m afraid everyone will start to think I’m not cool enough for them. So I’ll have to tell her I can’t see her anymore.”
Does the narrator like the girl a lot?
What makes the narrator believable or not believable?
What do you think is the truth of the situation?
“I am worried because my daughter Joan’s English teacher is way too hard. Joan brang home her homework yesterday and I can’t even understand it and I’m an adult! I think that teacher should be fired!
Should the teacher be fired?
What makes the narrator believable or not believable?
What do you think is the truth of the situation?
@Text:“I owe it to the shareholders of this company to make as big a profit as possible. And if that involves forcing aging and expensive employees into quitting, well, that’s just the way of the world. Can you believe that one of them sued me? And hired a female lawyer to boot! Of course, my time is too valuable to waste in court. Maybe a bribe. A little cash will certainly make that lady lawyer handle this case, shall we say, a little less aggressively. One thing you can count on – everyone has a price.”
Is it certain that the opposing lawyer will handle the case less aggressively?
What makes the narrator believable or not believable?
What do you think is the truth of the situation?
Exercise found in:
Smith, Michael W. Theory and Research into Practice: Understanding Unreliable
Narrators. NCTE, 1991, p16.
