I. BEFORE READING: Activate your prior knowledge by doing the following: o Brief

I. BEFORE READING:
Activate your prior knowledge by doing the following:
o Briefly note what you know about Vietnamese refugees and the struggles they endured during and after the war as they resettled in the USA.
o Make a few predictions regarding what you anticipate you will learn about the character’s life in the USA.
II. DURING READING:
While reading Inside Out and Back Again, you will write content journals.
o The novel is divided into four sections: Part I Saigon; Part II At Sea; Part III Alabama; Part IV From Now On, including the author’s note and (in some versions) an interview with the author.
o Please write the following a minimum of one journal entry per section of the text (i.e. one journal entry for Part I, one for Part II, etc.). State section of text, followed by page numbers of text to which you are responding. As you write/journal, especially focus on text information that address the following aspects and write about them in your journal entries (each aspect should be covered/discussed at least once throughout the text, not once per section):
a) Aspects of her culture [deep and surface]. Consider noting ideas from the book that can help you to better understand your Vietnamese students.
b) Issues & examples of ethnocentrism affecting her life, family’s life, and her life at school. Consider noting ideas from the book that can help you to better understand the perspective of your students whom are immigrants and refugees.
c) Issues & examples of equity & social justice affecting her life, family’s life, and her life at school. Consider noting ideas from the book that can help you to better understand the perspective of your students whom are immigrants and refugees.
d) Her experiences as an English Learner.
o Briefly discuss what you learned, why you believe this information is important, and your reaction to this information.
o Journal entries do not have to be long, just thoughtful with evidence of deep critical reflection. Some entries may be longer than others depending on what you have chosen to write about.
III. AFTER READING:
After reading the novel, you will create an aesthetic response. The point behind aesthetic responses to literature is to tap into your feelings and emotions brought forth from the reading.
o Your aesthetic response will be written using the “Where I’m From” poem format (see below).
o You will choose one of the characters from this book to create your “Where I’m From” poem.
o You will share your “Where I’m From” poem with your peers in your discussion group.
Point distribution:
I. Before Reading: 10 points
II. During Reading: 20 points [5 points per section]
III. After Reading: 15 points
5 pts reserved for Professionalism [organization; spelling; grammar, proof reading etc.]
Total pts: 50
Where I’m From
State Name of Character
I am from _______ (specific ordinary item), from _______ (product name) and _______.
I am from the _______ (home descriiption… adjective, adjective, sensory detail).
I am from the _______ (plant, flower, natural item), the _______ (plant, flower, natural detail)
I am from _______ (family tradition) and _______ (family trait), from _______ (name of family member) and _______ (another family name) and _______ (family name).
I am from the _______ (descriiption of family tendency) and _______ (another one).
From _______ (something you were told as a child) and _______ (another).
I am from (representation of religion, or lack of it). Further descriiption.
I’m from _______ (place of birth and family ancestry), _______ (two food items representing your family).
From the _______ (specific family story about a specific person and detail), the _______ (another detail, and the _______ (another detail about another family member).
I am from _______ (location of family pictures, mementos, archives and several more lines indicating their worth).