SPRING 2012- WEEK 6 (4/15/12)
Post Interview Discussion and OpEd Tutorial
Here was our agenda:
1. Icebreaker: Human Knot
2. Jeopardy game (Linda)
3. Family History Timeline discussion (Bernice)
4. Reflection on interviews with Chinatown workers (Nick)
5. OpEd Tutorial (Jeffrey)
6. Reflection writing
7. Announcements
Game Description:
Human Knot:
Props: None
Purpose: Teambuilding, bending the personal space bubble, Communication
Procedure: Get the group in a tight circle. Have the members of the group reach in with their tight hands and grasp one of the right hands available. Repeat with left hands. Then ask them to unravel the knot. People may not let go. The circle of hands is to remain unbroken. However, it may be necessary to change grips due to the angle of arms and bodies. One
variation is for the group to stay silent during the entire activity. Note: This activity may serve as a metaphor for community activism, illustrating anopportunity for broad perspectives to work together towards a common goal.
Source:
Props: None
Purpose: Teambuilding, bending the personal space bubble, Communication
Procedure: Get the group in a tight circle. Have the members of the group reach in with their tight hands and grasp one of the right hands available. Repeat with left hands. Then ask them to unravel the knot. People may not let go. The circle of hands is to remain unbroken. However, it may be necessary to change grips due to the angle of arms and bodies. One
variation is for the group to stay silent during the entire activity. Note: This activity may serve as a metaphor for community activism, illustrating anopportunity for broad perspectives to work together towards a common goal.
Source:
Freechild Project Guide to Cooperative Games for Social Change | |
File Size: | 701 kb |
File Type: |
Jeopardy: This game has a unique answer-and-question format in which contestants are presented with clues in the form of answers, and must phrase their responses in question form. We had two teams (Farytopia: Ke Xin, Suzanne, Terran; Untitled: Bernice, James Ru). One team picked the question and either team had 20 seconds to answer or else the points of the team who picked the question would be subtracted from them, if they didn't answer or gave the wrong answer, the other team had a chance to steal without losing points. Our questions were based on what the students have learned so far in the first five sessions. (*This game is a fun and great way for reviewing the topics that the students have learned.)
* To test your knowledge on what we have done this semester, click here to play.
Reflections on Interviews with Chinatown Workers
Nick led the discussion on the student interviews. Students were asked to come up with answers to the following: 1. one interesting fact from the interviewee about his or her personal life and one about Chinatown; 2. One thing the students thought they did well and one thing to improve.
What students thought they did well:
- No single voice
- Paid attention
- Made eye contact
What student felt they need to improve:
- More specific in questions (follow-up questions)
- Clarify interviewee responses
- Remembering facts
- Ask more questions about personal life
Then Nick explained that it is important to gather people's personal stories to use in a campaign (advocacy work), to get people to support your cause (For example: the DREAM Act. Many undocumented youth have come out to speak about their experiences and struggles of being an undocumented immigrant to get people to support the DREAM Act.)
OpEd Tutorial
By: Jeffrey
This semester, based on what the students have gathered from their interviews, students will write a single OpEd based on a theme they have uncovered.
Information on OpEd:
- Means "opposite editorial page"
- Opinion piece by guest contributor
- Why use it? To gain support for a cause
- Generate discussions; target "movable middle"
- Suggest course of action
- Between 750-1500 words
What is the structure of an OpEd?
- Lede- "hook"
- Thesis- "main idea"
- Argument- "evidence" (personal stories, interviews, statistics)
- Counter- "protection"
- Conclusion- "emphasize" or "call to action"
Tips:
- Establish credibility
- Stay current
- Use plain language
- Respect your readers (don't underestimate intelligence; Don't overestimate information)
- Be genuine
For an activity, this article, "Do-It-Yourself Deportation," was handed to the students to find each of the structure of the OpEd.
Reflection Writing
Write in your notebooks your reflections on what we did today.
Homework: Answer the following questions: 1. Why are immigration stories important? 2. How have immigrant stories impacted you as an individual? Write one paragraph for each question. Please send answers to: [email protected]. Be prepared to discuss in the next session.