1. How does each writer begin his / her piece? With a metaphor? With an event? How does each end? Why are the beginnings and the endings important?
2. Before or as you read think about the context for each piece (you don’t need to post a response to this question): Who is the audience for each (the original intended audience, most likely)? What’s the purpose of each piece? What are the historical events that bear on each piece? In the case of Malcolm X, when was the piece published? When was he assassinated? Why is this important? What autobiographical events in Amy Tan’s life have bearing on this piece she wrote?
3. Think about the style of writing in each. How would you characterize Malcolm X’s writing style? What about Amy Tan’s style? Which kind of English does she write in, using her terminology?
4. What did you take from these pieces in terms of the relationship of language and identity? Can you relate to them in any way?
5. If you had to pose a question or point out an insight you had for the class about either of these pieces (or both), what would it be?

What does being a critical reader mean to you?

Respond to the questions on page 4: How do you usually approach a text that you want or need to understand? Do you usually practice critical reading habits? Why, or why not?

Get active with the handout for this text: underline key passages, circle key terms and define them in the margin, put a question mark beside anything that’s confusing (or whatever your usual active reading practices are). We’ll discuss your notes in class and I’ll ask that you turn in the hard copy of this text with your critical reading notes. (Please put your name at the top for this reason.)

1. How would you have defined metaphor before reading this text?
2. Comment on this passage from page 3: “We have found…that metaphor is pervasive in everyday life, not just in language but in thought and action. Our ordinary conceptual system, in terms of which we both think and act, is fundamentally metaphorical in nature.” What do they mean by this?
3. What is a key sentence, passage, or idea from this text you’d pick to discuss in class?
4. What is one question this reading raises for you that you’d pick to discuss in class?