Transition to Common Core Standards
Grade 7
English Language Arts Module 2
Student Packet
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Hispanic or Latino? Debate Stirs Pride, Emotion
By Darryl Fears
The Washington Post
On a recent summer's day, Sandra Cisneros walked into Valenzuela's Latino Bookstore and thought she
had discovered a treasure. It was one of the few independent booksellers in her hometown of San
Antonio, and on top of that, she said, its name appealed directly to her.
But within minutes, her mood changed. A clerk innocently used a word to describe a section of books,
and it made Cisneros' skin crawl. "She used the word Hispanic," Cisneros said, her voice dripping with
indignation. "I wanted to ask her, 'Why are you using that word?'”
"People who use that word don't know why they're using it," said Cisneros, a Mexican-American poet and
novelist. "To me, it's like a slave name. I'm a Latina."
That declaration "I'm a Latina" is resounding more and more through the vast and diverse Spanishspeaking population that dethroned African Americans as the nation's largest ethnic minority a few
months ago.
It is also deepening a debate over how the group should identify itself as Hispanics or Latinos. The
subject is increasingly popping up wherever Spanish speakers gather.
It was raised last month at the National Council of La Raza's convention in Austin. The Internet is littered
with articles and position papers on the issue. Civic organizations with Hispanic in their titles have
withstood revolts by activist members seeking to replace it with the word Latino.
Some have called the argument an insignificant disagreement over words, which is being blown out of
proportion. But others believe such labels can change the course of a people, as advocates of "black
power" showed when they cast aside the term Negro during the 1960s civil-rights movement.
"I think the debate reflects the flux this community is in right now," said Angelo Falcon, a senior policy
executive for the Puerto Rican Legal and Education Fund.
Although the terms Latino and Hispanic have been used interchangeably for decades, experts who have
studied their meanings say the words trace the original bloodlines of Spanish speakers to different
populations in opposite parts of the world.
Hispanics derive from the Iberian Peninsula, which includes Spain and Portugal, while Latinos are
descended from indigenous Indians of the Americas south of the United States and in the Caribbean,
conquered by Spain centuries ago.
Latino-Hispanic is an ethnic category, in which people can be of any race. They are white, like the
Mexican-American boxer Oscar de la Hoya, and black, like the Dominican baseball slugger Sammy Sosa.
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They can also be Indian and Asian. A great many are mixtures of several races. More than 90 percent of
those who said they are of “some other race" on the 2000 Census identified themselves as Hispanic or
Latino.
"As a poet, I'm especially sensitive to the power a word has," Cisneros said. "It's not a word; it's a way of
looking at the world. It's a way of looking at meaning."
Duard Bradshaw has a different opinion. "I'll tell you why I like the word Hispanic," said the Panamanian
president of the Hispanic National Bar Association. "If we use the word Latino, it excludes the Iberian
peninsula and the Spaniards. The Iberian Peninsula is where we came from. We all have that little thread
that's from Spain."
A survey conducted in 2002 by the Pew Hispanic Center of Washington, D.C., found that nearly all people
from Spanish-speaking backgrounds identify themselves primarily by their place of national origin. When
asked to describe the wider community, 53 percent said both Hispanic and Latino define them. A
substantial but smaller group, 34 percent, favored the term Hispanic. The smallest group, 13 percent,
said they preferred Latino.
But advocates for the term Latino were unfazed. "The very fact that it's called the Pew Hispanic Center
tells you something," said Fernando Guerra, the Mexican-American director of the Center for the Study of
Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University. "The fact that Hispanic is in the name of the organization ...
biased the question."
The term Hispanic was given prominence by the Nixon administration more than 30 years ago when it
was added to the census questionnaire in 1970. By the 1980 census, Hispanic had become fixed as the
official government term. It appeared not only on census forms but also on all other federal, state and
municipal applications for employment, general assistance and school enrollment.
Mexican-American activists in California and Puerto Rican activists in New York favored a term that
included the indigenous Indians who they believe are the source of their bloodline.
"Hispanic doesn't work for me because it's about people from Spain," said Luis Rodriguez, author of The
Republic of East L.A. "I'm Mexican, and we were conquered by people from Spain, so it's kind of an
insult."
The disagreement over the terms is an annoyance to some. When the subject came up at the National
Council of La Raza's annual meeting, Lisa Navarette, the group's Cuban-American spokeswoman,
dismissed it. "We've got so many real important issues to work on; we can't be bothered with this nitpicking."
At the Latino bookstore Cisneros visited, owner Richard Martinez said: "I don't know which is correct. I'm
a Mexican, a Latino, a Hispanic, whatever. Be who you are. Be proud, like everyone else."
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Use this graphic organizer to support a close reading of “Hispanic or Latino? Debate Stirs Pride, Emotion” written about Sandra Cisneros,
the author of House on Mango Street. It can be completed individually, in small groups, or as a whole class assignment.
RI.7.1: Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
RI. 7.2: Determine 2 or more central ideas in a text and analyze their development over the course of the text; provide an objective summary of the text.
Essential Question/Central Idea: How do we resolve the tension between community and individual needs?
SPECIFIC PHRASE OR SENTENCE
HOW IT SUPPORTS THE CENTRAL IDEA:
COMMUNITY OR INDIVIDUAL?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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Persephone and Demeter
adapted from Thomas Bulfinch
A sudden earthquake roused Hades from his underworld kingdom. Worried that his dark world
might be laid open to the light of day, he mounted his chariot with the four black horses and came to
the earth's surface to investigate.
In the midst of his travels, he was observed by Aphrodite, who immediately noticed his lack of a
wife or lover, something she interpreted as a personal affront being that she was the goddess of love!
Not wasting a second, Aphrodite called for her son, Eros (though most of us now refer to him on
Valentine's Day as Cupid). She said: "My son, take your darts with which you conquer all, even Jove
himself, and send one into the breast of yonder dark monarch, who rules the realm of the underworld.
Why should he alone escape? Seize the opportunity to extend your empire and mine. Do you not see
those who despise our power? Athena the wise, and Artemis the huntress, are still single; and there is
that daughter of Demeter, who threatens to follow their example. I want you to join these two in one."
The boy unbound his quiver, and selected his sharpest and truest arrow; then, straining the bow
against his knee, he attached the string, and, having made ready, shot the arrow with its barbed point
right into the heart of Hades.
As Hades was shot, his chariot passed directly over Persephone, who was playing with her
companions, gathering lilies and violets, and filling her basket and her apron with them. When Hades
saw her from his chariot, it was love at first sight, and in the blink of an eye he carried her off to be his
wife and queen. Of course, from Persephone's perspective, she was being kidnapped by a complete
stranger. She screamed for help to her mother and her companions and begged Hades to let her go.
Text from Persephone to her mother, Demeter:
Reply text from Demeter to her daughter, Persephone:
Deaf to her pleas, Hades urged his steeds on. In fright, Persephone dropped the corners of her
apron and let fall her gathered flowers, their loss an addition to her grief. Then Hades' chariot plunged
towards earth and, though terrified, Persephone hoped death might release her from her kidnapper. But
at the very last instant, before the chariot smashed into the ground, the earth opened up to Hades,
clearing the way for him to return to his dark kingdom.
Demeter sought her daughter all the world over. Bright-haired Aurora aided the search when she
came forth in the morning, and Hesperus looked as well when he led out the stars in the evening. Even
though Persephone was with companions, no one told Demeter about Hades' brutal act of abduction or
how the earth opened and then shut its greedy mouth upon them both. All of the bystanders were afraid
of Hades' wrath were they to tell the truth. At length, weary and sad, Demeter sat down and wept,
believing her daughter was gone forever.
May be photocopied for classroom use. Texts and Lessons for Teaching Literature by Harvey "Smokey" Daniels and Nancy Steineke,
©20l3 (Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann). Reprinted with permission.
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Text from friend of Persephone's to other mutual friend:
Reply text from mutual friend to friend of Persephone's:
Donning the colors of mourning, Demeter's sorrow gave way to anger. She blamed everyone for
the loss of her daughter. Always known for her nurturing since she was the goddess of the harvest,
Demeter decided that mankind would suffer her loss with her. She broke the farmers' ploughs and
bade the fields to betray their trust. Young crops died, destroyed by violent rain, unending drought,
or freezing cold.
Just as it appeared mankind might perish from starvation, the waters of a stream took pity on the
grieving mother and revealed Persephone's whereabouts. Describing its journey through fissures,
crevices, and hidden channels, the stream revealed that Persephone was the prisoner of Hades,
trapped in the darkness of the underworld.
Alarmed beyond belief, Demeter went straight to Zeus and demanded that he intervene.
"The daughter I have sought so long is found. Her theft I'll bear if Hades will but bring her back; a
thief, a kidnapper is no proper husband for my child."
Secretly, Zeus was deeply concerned over the fate of his worshippers. If mankind became
extinct, the gods would be robbed of their sacrifices. But being the supreme god, Zeus was not about
to reveal his fears and cede the upper hand to Demeter. Instead he countered, "The only crime I see
from Hades is one of love and passion. Such a son-in-law should not disgrace you. To be Zeus's
brother, what a splendid thing! But if your heart's so set to part them, Persephone shall reach the sky
again on one condition, that her lips have touched no food."
Text from Zeus to his brother, Hades:
Reply text from Hades to his brother, Zeus:
Demeter readily agreed since she had warned Persephone never to partake of any food from
strangers. Zeus immediately dispatched Hermes with a message demanding Persephone's immediate
release.
200
May be photocopied for classroom use. Texts and Lessons for Teaching Literature by Harvey "Smokey" Daniels and Nancy Steineke,
©20l3 (Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann). Reprinted with permission.
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A good six months had passed between Persephone’s sudden abduction and her mother’s
negotiations with Zeus. Though frightened and despondent at first, Persephone slowly became
accustomed to her new surroundings and her new husband. In fact, a love for Hades began to stir
within her heart.
Text from Persephone to her BFF:
Reply text from BFF to Persephone:
For the longest time, Persephone refused any food Hades proffered, tempting though it was,
hoping that she would soon be returned to her mother. Finally, her hunger became over-whelming,
the likelihood of ever leaving the underworld became ever distant, and her distrust of Hades became a
faded memory. When offered a pomegranate, her favorite fruit, she ate six seeds. Embracing his
beloved queen, Hades now knew that their betrothal was eternal.
Text from Persephone to her mother, Demeter:
Reply text from Demeter to her daughter, Persephone:
Upon Hermes' arrival, Hades told him of the pomegranate seeds. At first, it appeared that Persephone
would never see her mother again, but Hades softened and a compromise was made, by which she was
to pass half the time with her mother, and the rest with her husband. Demeter allowed herself to be
pacified with this arrangement, and restored the earth to her favor.
Text from Persephone to her husband, Hades:
Reply text from Hades to his wife, Persephone:
May be photocopied for classroom use. Texts and Lessons for Teaching Literature by Harvey "Smokey" Daniels and Nancy Steineke,
©20l3 (Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann). Reprinted with permission.
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Texting Shorthand
404
I Haven’t A Clue
MTF
More To Follow
AAMOF
As A Matter Of Fact
NIMJD
Not In My Job Description
AFAICS
As Far AS I Can See
NTA
Not This Again
AITR
Adult In The Room
NUFF
Enough Said
AWHFY
Are We Having Fun Yet?
ONNA
Oh No, Not Again
BBIAF
Be Back In A Few
POV
Point Of View
BIO
Bring It On
PTMM
Please Tell Me More
BTD
Bored To Death
RU
Are You?
BTDTGTS Been There, Done That, Got The T-Shirt
SUP
What’s Up?
BWTM
But Wait, There’s More
THX
Thanks
BYKT
But You Knew That
TISL
This Is So Lame
CSL
Can’t Stop Laughing
TNTL
Trying Not To Laugh
CWOT
Complete Waste Of Time
WBS
Write Back Soon
DKDC
Don’t Know Don’t Care
WBU
What ’Bout You?
DYJHIW
Don’t You Just Hate It When . . .
WDDD
Woopie Doo Da Dey
G2G
Got To Go
WE
Whatever
HHOK
Ha Ha, Only Kidding
YGLT
You’re Gonna Love This
IJS
I’m Just Saying. . .
YKW
You Know What?
IYKWIM
If You Know What I Mean
YKWIM
You Know What I Mean
JK
Just Kidding
YSIC
Why Should I Care?
LOL
Laughing Out Loud
ZZZ
Sleeping, Bore, Tire
LONH
Lights On, Nobody Home
TEXTING SHORTHAND
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AT THE COMMUNITY GARDEN, IT'S COMMUNITY THAT'S THE HARD PART
by Dan Charles, March 20, 2012 5:44 PM
One of the community gardens
divided up into individual plots run
by Denver Urb Gardens.
Courtesy of Denver Urb Gardens
1
You may think that the great historic debate between communism and private property is over.
Well, it's not. Not at your local community garden. Take, for example, the experience of Campos
Community Garden in Manhattan's East Village. Eight years ago, the garden was decrepit and abandoned.
Beverly McClain walked by it all the time, on the way to her daughter's school. And one day, she and a
motley group of fellow gardeners decided to revive it. "It was neighborhood people; it was parents from
the school; people from the project across the street who had seen it be a hellhole for way too long," she
says.
2
After they carted in lots of fresh, clean soil, they decided that they were not going to stake out little
individual garden plots. They'd work on the whole thing together. "I liked that people could just show up
and join the garden, as opposed to being on a wait list," says McClain.
3
But there were debates about this over the years. McClain wanted to keep it a community enterprise —
as Karl Marx once put it, "From each, according to his ability, to each, according to his need." But others
thought there were too many days when it seemed that because everybody owned the garden, nobody
really did. And there were days when it seemed that too many people assumed that somebody else would
do the work.
4
"It's just really hard when you've got a whole lot of stuff going on and only one or two people have shown
up [at the garden], and they're expected to take care of everything," says McClain. "In August, when it's
really hot out, it's just kind of hard."
5
So last year, the Campos Community Garden laid out some boundaries of personal responsibility:
Individual plots where people get to plant and pick their very own vegetables. McClain says she has to
admit that it's helped.
6
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Of course, if you're an economist like Russell Roberts at George Mason University, you can say that this
was completely predictable. "Collective farming does not have a great historical record," Roberts points
out. "Collective farming is probably the main reason why the Soviet Union had about 70 years of bad
harvests."
7
And even if you just talk to veteran community gardeners, many of them will warn you away from
communal arrangements. "Our experience is, it's an unequal participation, and an unequal sharing," says
Judy Elliott, who's the Education and Community Empowerment Coordinator for Denver Urban Gardens.
And Ryan Mitchell, with Friendship Gardens in Charlotte, N.C., says he has often seen how "when people
realize that they have to do a lot of hard labor in the middle of the summer when it's hot and humid, about
half the group just drops off." The rest then feel overworked, resentful, and discouraged. Some of them
may then leave, too.
8
So in Denver, Charlotte and across the country, in fact, most community gardens are divided up into
individual plots. It means less drama and less discouragement. If some of your neighbors start shirking their
responsibilities, it's not really your problem.
9
And still, the debate continues. Because there are still a lot of people doing communal-style gardens.
And they say it may be true that the most troublesome part of a community garden is the community. Yet if
you can pull it off, the community that forms around a garden is, in fact, far more valuable than the
vegetables.
10
In Detroit, 400 or 500 new community gardens have started over the past 10 years. Almost all of them
are communal. Ashley Atkinson, director of Urban Agriculture and Open Space for a nonprofit called The
Greening of Detroit, says people meet their neighbors at the gardens. "That's really, really, beneficial in a
city like Detroit, where neighbors are more and more isolated, as crime goes up and people feel less safe.
It's important for people to be outside getting to know each other, particularly elders and young people,"
she says.
11
Right outside Detroit, meanwhile, in the city of Grosse Pointe Park, Betsy Fortuna helped start two
gardens called Grayton Gardens and Backyard Community Garden, where everyone works together and all
the members can pick vegetables pretty much whenever they want.
12
Despite all the annoyances of community — "You know. It brings up a lot of almost childhood stuff —
you know, 'He took more than me!' " — Fortuna says it's completely worth it: "It really was a blighted
corner, and now there's action there, there's neighbors helping neighbors, people getting each other jobs,
and all kinds of good things." Just knowing everybody, she says — knowing that if she needs something she
can go ask anybody on the street: It changes everything.
13
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Source: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/03/20/148999066/at-the-community-garden-its-community-thats-the-hard-part
Dialectical Journal Template
Essential Question/Central Idea: _________________________________________________________
st
1 column: Write down a direct quote from the text
nd
2 column: Cite the paragraph number
rd
3 column: Explain why you selected this quotation. For example:
 Why is it important?
 How does it relate to the essential question or central idea?
 What do you not understand?
 Of what did it make you think?
Quotation From the Text
Paragraph
Number
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Response
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Partner Discussion: How do we resolve the tension between individual and community needs?
Read the quotes below by yourself. As you read them, think about the essential question above, and write down what you think each one means. Then
share and discuss your thoughts with a partner. Write down what he or she thinks about the quote in the second box (to the right).
[RI.7.1: Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.]
Source
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My thoughts…
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My partner’s thoughts…
Cooperation and Human Nature
by Arthur Dobrin
Published April 13, 2013
Cooperation is part of human nature, just as is competition. Under particular circumstances and
given certain personality traits, one or the other will prevail. These comments are simply making
the case that altruism is as natural to people as is competitiveness.
People will cooperate with one another even when they have nothing to gain. In experiments
conducted by Ernst Fehr of the University of Zurich, one person is given an amount of money and
then offers any amount of his or her choosing to a second person. They are told these rules: the
receiver can either accept the offer, in which case the cash is shared according to the offer made,
or the receiver can reject the offer, in which case neither person receives anything.
If people acted purely out of self-interest, the offers would always be low and receivers would
always take what is offered. Over more than two decades, the experiments have shown that
typically an offer is between 25-50% and the receiver rejects an offer of less than 25%. People
offer more than necessary and reject offers that they consider too little. What seems to motivate
both givers and receivers is a sense of fairness.
"The facts are clear," Fehr says. "Many people are willing to cooperate and to punish those who
don't, even when no gain is possible." Such behavior, Fehr and others reason, is best explained by
the fact that it leads to social cohesion. Working together had an evolutionary purpose in that it
allowed our ancestors to form strong groups thereby fostering maximal survival.
Source: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/am-i-right/201304/cooperation-and-human-nature
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Exit Slips
House on Mango Street
What decisions did characters make in the reading today? Why?
What do you think is going to happen next? Why?
What questions do you have about the story?
Non-Fiction Articles
What new information did you learn from the reading that was most fascinating?
What from today’s reading connects most to our essential question? Why?
What are you still confused about or would like to learn more about?
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