Mango Reflection

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Mango Reflection

• Identify one vignette from The House on Mango
  Street that affected you in some way.
• What life lesson do you think Cisneros is trying
  to convey to readers?

This isnt about me understanding the book. Its
about me understanding myself. Jose Oliver
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Life Lesson According to Cisneros

1. The world does not love you the way you are loved
   at home.
2. Pain gives you a special visiona vision to help
   others who are suffering.
3. Horrible experiences are there to guide you.
4. Welcome rage, shame, and grief especially if you
   have a reason to feel them.
5. Humility is essential to finding your voice and
   hearing others.

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I am the sum of all stories that pass through
me. Mind Mapping

• You are in the viewing room of your life
• Brainstorm a list of as many important moments
  (stories) in your life.
• Of that list, find 8 stories that may share a
  common thread.

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The Necklace

• Mango suggests from where that otherness comes
  and shows how it can become a cause for
  celebration rather than shame.

• You, the reader, are
• Esperanzayou cannot forget who you are.
• --Sandra Cisneros

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(No Transcript)
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Like Beads of a Necklace Sample

• Topic childhood memories, imagination, wonder
• Vignette Ideas
• As a child
• Potions in the bathroom with Carolyn Green
• Nearly driving Dads car into the Kishwaukee
  River at age 6
• Tree fort across river
• The bending tree
• Continuing Wonder through Adolescence
• Canoeing down Kish and not knowing where wed
  end
• Big wheel races in the rain at midnight
• Re-Experiencing the Wonder through the Eyes of My
  Sons
• Discovering Santas Cookies
• Lukes Laboratory
• Thesis Childhood memories spark the wonder and
  magic that lies within. OR
• Childhood memories help us hang on to the
  imagination and wonder that a child possesses.

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Like Beads on a Necklace

• Identify each of your 8 beads (vignettes) by
  filling in this stem Its about.
• Now, whats the topic that links all of these 8
  stories together?
• Ex otherness, traveling, community, growing up,
  identity, humor, pain, talent, loyalty, success.

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Whats your thesisthat unifying thread that
holds your 8 beads together?

• Formula Thesis
• Topic attitude or feeling about topic
• EX Mango suggests where that otherness comes
  and shows how it can become a cause for
  celebration instead of shame.
• My experiences have shaped me into the person I
  am.
• INSTEAD Name that person you are.

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Like Beads on a Necklace Thesis Ex.

• (Note topics are in bold)
• Fear is a clever illusion that inflicts
  unnecessary anxiety.
• Courage is not the absence of fear but the
  mastery of fear.
• The more generous we are, the more joyous we
  become.
• Curiosity leads to creativity.

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Like Beads on a Necklace Thesis Reminders

1. Your thesis should be written on the table of
   contents page.
2. An epiphany should be expressed in each vignette.
3. Build your thesis into your first and final
   vignette.
4. Your epiphany is like the topic sentence of each
   vignette.

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Writing Prompts Respond to the following topics
or questions with detailed responses. Dont just
tell me how you felt show me! Use sensory
imagery to help me develop a mental picture of
what you are describing.

1. What is it about your home or family that
   provides you with a sense of security?
2. Our own happiness is affected by how well we
   treat others. Describe a time when you felt
   great after doing something kind for another
   person.
3. Nobodys perfect! Identify two of your
   weaknesses. How can you improve in these areas?
   Reveal a time when one of your weaknesses caused
   you make a poor decision. What were the
   consequences?
4. Think of a friend. Describe his or her
   strengths. How do your strengths complement that
   persons strength? Use a specific incident to
   reinforce your conjecture.
5. Write a letter of apology to a person you have
   mistreated or offended.
6. Write about a situation in which you did not go
   along with the group. Explain why. Were you
   treated differently afterwards?
7. A well-known saying states that we should not
   judge a person until we walked in that persons
   shoes. Explain what this means. Apply it an
   experience in your own life.
8. What does your family mean to you? What are you
   responsible for in your family? Are you the
   comedian, the avoider, the care taker?
9. Under what circumstances would you be willing to
   sacrifice your own needs to help others?