WE'RE SETTING ABOUT sthe independent reading, The Other Wes Moore, a non-fiction memoir. While I will not be teaching the text, we will discuss your reading in class, and annotation is expected. For those who desire it, the following is a link to my version of the book audio: click here. You should have finished your reading of the text by the final. By the way...on the topic of finals. Ours is Monday, January 22nd at noon in the following locations:

Monday

Passing back both your copies of The Catcher in the Rye as well as your first draft of the annotated bibliographies on New York City in general and Central Park in general. Describing what R.I., Alpha, 1BL, Xurl, and other assorted symbols mean. Students will have the remaining time in class to work collaboratively on finishing a revision of the annotated bibliography.
HW: Finish reading part one of The Other Wes Moore.

Tuesday

What goes into a citation's annotation? It is not just information on the source. It's your evaluation of: a) the author: other works, education, expertise, rationale for publication; b) the document: why was it produced, who produced it, and what argument does it make?; c) the source's topical connections: what does it say about NYC or Central park, and how does it connect to Salinger's decision about setting?
HW: When reviewing your annotations, know that your audience includes past, current, and future students who either have or will read The Catcher in the Rye. And remember: what you think about the source > the source itself. The typed and stapled bibliographies are due at start of class. We will discuss part one of OWM tomorrow.

Wednesday

Discussion! We will begin in earnest with a Great-Books format reading of the non-fiction text. Can we ever truly know what life is like for another person? How effectively does Wes Moore capture both his life and the life of "the other" Wes? We will start by looking at "jobs" and discussing your life experience, making connections with the protagonists's life experience.
Continue reading The Other Wes Moore. Part two should be finished for class on January 15. Part three should be finished for class on January 20.

Thursday

Examining similarities and differences between Author-Wes and Other-Wes, emphasis on similarities. How to approach race-based discussions, acknowledging multiple, seemingly contradictory truths and the importance of using I-based statements.
HW: Continue reading The Other Wes Moore.

Friday

Looking further into both Weses' stories, looking for similarities. What are the fundamental and foundational experiences that make these two boys the young men that they become?
HW: Finish reading part two (chapters four through six) for Monday.