Week 3
What's Left Unsaid: The Power of Language

Requirements: Answer each question with at least 5 sentences and references to the text to receive full credit.

1. How does the story’s structure (shifts in time and memory) affect the reader’s understanding of Jack’s relationship with his mother? Choose at least two memories to compare in your response.

2. How does Jack’s limited perspective as a child affect his understanding of his mother’s sacrifices? How does the reader’s understanding differ from Jack’s? Find a moment where the reader can see the situation clearer than Jack.

3. How can we see the paper animals (or any one in particular, say, Laohu for example) as symbol in the story? If you are stumped, you can think about how the paper animals may be connected to Jack's conflict with his identity or mother.

1. The story's structured in a way in which Jack's relationship with his mother is...

2. Jack's limited perspective is due to him being (naive, childish, self-centered, etc.) and cannot grapple with...

3. The paper animals act as a symbol of _______ in which...

Someone's mother tongue is the first language a person learns from birth, typically spoken by their family and community. It is the language in which a person is most fluent and comfortable expressing themselves. In the context of immigrant experiences, it can be a source of both connection and conflict, as individuals navigate between their home language and the dominant language of their new country.

Requirements: Answer each question with at least 5 sentences and references to the text to receive full credit. Be sure to directly address the prompt in your response. 

1. Exploring how Tan's mother is treated because of her English, how does the way we speak—or the way others perceive our language—shape our identity or how we are treated in society? 

2. Tan mentions that standardized tests and academic advisors pushed her toward math and science rather than writing. What does she suggest about why these stereotypes exist about Asian American students and other immigrant groups? 

Definition: An adage is a short, traditional saying that expresses a general truth, wisdom, or practical experience. It is often metaphorical and has been passed down through generations. Adages tend to be widely recognized and accepted as conveying common sense or universal truths. 

Adages and proverbs are similar in that both are short, traditional sayings that express a general truth or piece of wisdom. However, there are subtle differences between them:

• Adage: A widely recognized and time-tested saying that expresses a general truth or common observation. Adages tend to be old and well-established.

  • Example: Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. (Implying that rumors often have some truth behind them.)

• Proverb: A more specific type of adage that often provides advice or a moral lesson. Proverbs tend to be more prescriptive in nature.

  • Example: A stitch in time saves nine. (Encouraging people to take care of problems early before they get worse.)

In short, all proverbs are adages, but not all adages are proverbs—proverbs usually offer advice, while adages can simply state a general truth.

In "The Paper Menagerie," Liu uses a well-known Chinese proverb:

“子欲养而亲不待” (zǐ yù yǎng ér qīn bù dài)
Translation: “A child wishes to care for their parents, but they are no longer there.”

This proverb expresses the deep regret of wanting to care for one’s parents but realizing too late that they have passed. It’s a poignant reflection on duty, love, and the fleeting nature of time, which ties into the story’s themes of cultural heritage and familial connection.

           He picked up his old hatchet from his grandfather’s shed. It was one of those tools that had been handed down in the family, generation after generation. He wasn’t one to whistle while at work—he took each swing as a sign of survival, as an act of overcoming the elements.

           It was rhythmic, he’d place a log on the moss-infested stump, look up almost as if being watched, then strike the chopped lumber, splitting it in two. His thoughts were often focused on his family—he was a firm believer of the old adage: “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.” And when it came to family, his son was always the link in question.

           Adam would watch his father chop the wood for the fireplace—he might have helped if his father would allow it, which unfortunately for him was forbidden. He’d still sit outside, though. Waiting for a chance, waiting for the opportunity to butt in.

           “D-Dad,” the son courageous broke the silence, while log after log was split in halves, quarters even.

           He did not reply. He was focused on the task at hand and what he did with his hands.

           The boy, who was sitting on his hands, lest they fidget in a manner which would warrant chastisement, felt entranced by each log, jealous of their time on the stage—the touch of his father—before the ultimate unraveling.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu was called to testify before the U.S. House Oversight Committee due to Boston's designation as a "sanctuary city," a status that limits local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The committee, led by Chairman James Comer, is investigating how such policies impact public safety and the enforcement of federal immigration laws. Mayor Wu, along with the mayors of New York City, Chicago, and Denver, was invited to provide insights into their cities' approaches to these issues. 

Sanctuary cities are that limit their cooperation with federal immigration enforcement agencies, often to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation. These policies vary but typically include refusing to detain individuals solely based on immigration status or declining to share certain information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

Supporters argue that sanctuary policies foster trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement, encouraging cooperation in reporting crimes. 

Critics, however, claim these policies undermine federal law and may compromise public safety. Sanctuary city policies have been a contentious issue in national politics, often sparking debates over state versus federal authority in immigration enforcement. 

1. Mayor Wu argues that immigrants are... 

or

One of Mayor Wu's crucial points is...

2. Wu utilizes _________ to make the argument that...

or

By drawing attention to  _________ , Wu makes the argument that...