Unit 1: Culture Clash > Five-Paragraph Essay
 “Hair” from The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley (African-American)
 “Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine” by Jhumpa Lahiri (Indian-American)
 Deer Dogs, Glengarry Glen Ross, and Race by David Mamet (Jewish-American)
 “Indian Education” from The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven and Smoke Signals by Sherman Alexie
(Native American)
 “The No-Guitar Blues” by Gary Soto (Mexican-American)
 “Two Kinds” from The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan (Chinese-American)
PROMPT: Using textual evidence from ANY THREE stories, explain and analyze the culture clashes and how they
reveal a universal theme.
All short stories posted on web page under ‘2016-2017 English Honors II - Unit 1: Culture Clash’
http://berkeley.schoolwires.net/Page/24098
(Click on ‘More’ at the bottom of page to expand it)
Transcript for Smoke Signals by Sherman Alexie
https://lhsmcliterature.wordpress.com/smoke-signals-transcript/
Examples of Universal Themes:
Unit 1: Culture Clash > Five-Paragraph Essay
 “Hair” from The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley (African-American)
 “Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine” by Jhumpa Lahiri (Indian-American)
 Deer Dogs, Glengarry Glen Ross, and Race by David Mamet (Jewish-American)
 “Indian Education” from The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven and Smoke Signals by Sherman Alexie
(Native American)
 “The No-Guitar Blues” by Gary Soto (Mexican-American)
 “Two Kinds” from The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan (Chinese-American)
PROMPT: Using textual evidence from ANY THREE stories, explain and analyze the culture clashes and how they
reveal a universal theme.
All short stories posted on web page under ‘2016-2017 English Honors II - Unit 1: Culture Clash’
http://berkeley.schoolwires.net/Page/24098
(Click on ‘More’ at the bottom of page to expand it)
Transcript for Smoke Signals by Sherman Alexie
https://lhsmcliterature.wordpress.com/smoke-signals-transcript/
Examples of Universal Themes:
Unit 1: Culture Clash > Five-Paragraph Essay
 “Hair” from The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley (African-American)
 “Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine” by Jhumpa Lahiri (Indian-American)
 Deer Dogs, Glengarry Glen Ross, and Race by David Mamet (Jewish-American)
 “Indian Education” from The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven and Smoke Signals by Sherman Alexie
(Native American)
 “The No-Guitar Blues” by Gary Soto (Mexican-American)
 “Two Kinds” from The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan (Chinese-American)
PROMPT: Using textual evidence from ANY THREE stories, explain and analyze the culture clashes and how they
reveal a universal theme.
All short stories posted on web page under ‘2016-2017 English Honors II - Unit 1: Culture Clash’
http://berkeley.schoolwires.net/Page/24098
(Click on ‘More’ at the bottom of page to expand it)
Transcript for Smoke Signals by Sherman Alexie
https://lhsmcliterature.wordpress.com/smoke-signals-transcript/
Examples of Universal Themes:
Unit 1: Culture Clash ­ Five Paragraph Essay
“Hair” from The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley (African­American)
“Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine” by Jhumpa Lahiri (Indian­American)
Deer Dogs, Glengarry Glen Ross, and Race by David Mamet (Jewish­American)
“Indian Education” from The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven and Smoke Signals by Sherman Alexie (Native American)
“The No­Guitar Blues” by Gary Soto (Mexican­American)
“Two Kinds” from The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan (Chinese­American)
PROMPT: Using textual evidence from ANY THREE stories, explain and analyze the culture clashes and how they reveal a universal theme.
Transcript for Smoke Signals by Sherman Alexie
https://lhsmcliterature.wordpress.com/smoke­signals­transcript/
Introduction Paragraph
Begin with a general statement about cultures, diversity, multicultural literature.
Transition to sentences that state title, author, and a one sentence summary of what the story is about.
EX: "No­Guitar Blues" by Gary Soto focuses on a young Mexican­
American boy who wants to be a rock star and discovers the limits of his morality. Conclude the introduction with the thesis (rewording the prompt on which you are writing)
res, ut cultu e
o
b
a
t n
r
stateme
literatu
general , multicultural y
diversit
Transition to sentences that state title, author, and a one sentence summary of what the story is about
Conclude the introduction with the thesis (rewording the prompt on which you are writing)
Body Paragraphs (2, 3, & 4)
There are many different ways to begin body paragraphs:
The theme of friendship is best displayed in the screenplay Smoke Signals by Sherman Alexie. Culture clashes help reveal the true friendship between Victor and Thomas....
The theme of ...
The theme of... The first example of culture clash and theme comes from the short story "Two Kinds" by Amy Tan. In this story...
The second (next) example of...
The last (final) example...
Citation
Author's Last Name and page number
For Smoke Signals
(Alexie 174). (Keller).
(Lahiri 459).
BODY PARAGRAPH EXAMPLE:
topic sentence
The first example of culture clash and the theme of disappointment comes from the short story “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan. In this story, Jing­Mei evidence
says, “My mother believed you could be anything you wanted to be in America” (Tan 95). Her mother wants her to succeed in playing the piano analysis
because she knows America is a place that gives many opportunities. Jing­
Mei's mother will do anything to get Jing­Mei to become a prodigy. For example, Jing­Mei says, “My mother had traded housecleaning services for weekly lessons and a piano for me to practice on every day, two hours a day, from four to six” (98). . .
citation
d analysis
s of evidence an
Need two ­ three piece
Conclusion Paragraph
Restate titles and authors again
CONCLUSION PARAGRAPH EXAMPLE:
In conclusion, these stories explain that when it comes to being the minority of a population, people have to be careful. They have to be able to persevere like Junior in “Indian Education” by Sherman Alexie through any doubt or harsh judgements from different communities. People need to be able to forgive the way Fausto forgives himself in “No­Guitar Blues” by Gary Soto. Forgive everyone no matter the action; it is the only way to live with no regrets. Most importantly though, people need to put their families first the way young Jing­Mei forgets to do in “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan. Families give needed support, they provide back­up when no one else will, they never allow solitude, and they will never judge without a good intention at heart. All of these stories show excellent ways of portraying positive results of culture clashes, and from these stories, everyone can learn how to get through life and get along with other people.