Say, Mean, Matter Journal:

1
Say, Mean, Matter Journal

• The House on Mango Street
• by Sandra Cisneros

2
Rationale (why we do this)

• Writing is a medium that allows authors to
  express their thoughts, experiences and
  life-views.
• Sandra Cisneros gives her narrator a voice and by
  the end of this unit, you will find your voice
  and tell your story.
• You will reflect on life and the world around you
  as you, like Esperanza, consider the role you are
  willing to play.

3
Rationale cont.

• You will write your thoughts in a series of
  vignettes similar to the ones in The House on
  Mango Street.

4
While reading, you will keep a
journal

• Right Side Journal Directions
• SAY what does the story say find an
  interesting quote
• MEAN What does it mean to you? What do you have
  to say?
• 2-3 MATTERs Why does it matter to the story,
  you, life, humanity, the theme,
• This needs to be in the form of 3 column chart

5
Directions cont.

• Turn your SMM entries into 1 Paragraph per day
  (choose from the 3 chapters) - Either
• Personal Connections
• (What the author says)
• Literary Analysis
• (How the author says it)
• Try to balance each type of response so that you
  do not have ALL personal connections and no
  literary analysis.

6
Your means matters might include

• Predictions
• Evaluations
• Analysis
• Personal connection to the passage
• Reflections
• Ask a question
• Clarify the passage in your own words

7
Left Side Directions

• You will create your own novel by the end of this
  unit.
• Choose one of the questions from the House on
  Mango Street handout.
• Write your response to the question on the left
  side of the journal.
• You do not have to respond to every chapter. You
  will need 20 responses (pages) for your book.

8
Theme

• Esperanza is a girl becoming a woman. She is
  transitioning from childhood to womanhood and is
  realizing that growing up has certain
  requirements. One of the main requirements is
  choosing your role in society.

9
Reflection Answer the following question in your
journals

• In the future, what role are you willing to play
  in society? What role are you not willing to
  play? How will you decide and ensure you are who
  you want to be?

10
Example from The House on Mango Street
11
SAY, MEAN, MATTER parag. example for The House on
Mango Street

• There are numerous members of Esperanzas
  family. For example, by the time we got to Mango
  Street we were six---Mama, Papa, Carlos, Kiki, my
  sister Nenny and me. Having this many family
  members might present a challenge for Esperanza.
  On the other hand, her large family might be a
  source of strength and support. This matters
  because her character will be shaped by her
  experiences. She might look up to each member or
  be the role model. Because of this it changes the
  way she might act in the story. Her family, like
  most peoples, is important to her.

12
Example from The House on Mango Street

• Passage
• You live there? The way she said it made me feel
  like nothing

• Response
• A nun, a person in a position of power, made her
  feel that way? That is unacceptable. This nun may
  represent all of society looking down on
  Esperanza.

13
Example from Hairs

• Passage
• pin curls

• Mean / Matter
• Descriptions of each characters hairs is a
  description of their personalities

14
Example from Hairs

• Passage
• And me, my hair is lazy.
• Everyone in our family has different hair.

• Response
• She does not like her hair. Her family members
  have better hair.
• Symbolically the diff. descriptions of hair
  represent the diff. personalities of her family
  members

15
Example from Hairs

• Passage
• But my mothers hair, my mothers hair, . . .
  and Papa snoring.

• Response
• This is stream of consciousness b/c it is her
  mind just flowing with ideas. Her mom is the most
  imp. In her family and her source of comfort.