5a group #1

1. Write the story title and author name. .25 point

The Line written by Ruben Martinez

2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph; be specific in your summary. Remember that your classmates will rely on you for this information. 2 percent

Martinez uses his own personal experiences with being a Mexican minority in the state of California to illustrate the oppression and abuse that the Mexican people have undergone. According to Martinez in the past the Mexican American boarder in Tijuana was not the same as it is today. In the past it was a line that was easily broken and did not inflict fear on people. During the deep recession of the 1990's Governor Pete Wilson focused his frustration towards the Mexican people who he blamed for the poor economic conditions. He will forever been known as "pito" or better known to the Mexican people as "penis"Wilson. Pete Wilson began a war on immigration that has affected immigrants until today and is reflected in the perceptions of the American culture. The new wall that was built at the boarder has only made the journey for immigrants a much more dangerous and lonely journey.

3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph (include entire quote; use quote marks and page number)? 1 percent

"The border wasn't a border. The line was broken. It was an idea, not a thing," (129).

4. What did the reading make you think of? (be specific eg "There is a bridge in SF that spans 4 miles from SF to Oakland and in the middle of the bridge it crosses an island called Treasure Island. This story makes me think of that specific little island where I can see the entire city and bay area. That city was also in the news recently where .... ) .75 percent

My parents were both immigrants when they originally came to this country. Ever since I was young my father in particular would tell me stories about crossing the boarder as a child. They were more like horror stories as a child and I never really understood what my dad wanted me to get out of these stories. I now know that my parents wanted me to appreciate everything that I have and understand where I came from. My father has now become a citizen and my parents own their own home. This story reminded me of the stories my father used to tell me because it represents the struggles that the Mexican culture has suffered.

5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know (again, be specific using concrete examples)? 1 percent

Before reading this story I did not understand why Pete Wilson was referred to as "pito". My mother has actually called him that in my presence before and I did not understand why she called him that. I find it interesting that he has become the personification of our struggles and our difficulties in this country of opportunity.

1. Write the story title and author name. .25 point

909 written by Percival Everett

2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph; be specific in your summary. Remember that your classmates will rely on you for this information. 2 percent

Everett writes this story in which he describes the town where he lives. A town the tends to be very quite close to the loud Los Angeles area. He talks about what is valued in his town and how those values differ from those that are valued by the people in Los Angeles. Known as the Badlands the town is the space between Los Angeles and Palm Springs. Everett talks about how when he wants to get away he mounts his mule and rides him up the mountains where there is no one for miles. In the far distance all you can see is the multitudes of traffic, and people waiting to get from or to Los Angeles.

3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph (include entire quote; use quote marks and page number)? 1 percent

"Technically, the Badlands is chaparral. The hills are filled with sage, wild mustard, fiddleheads and live oaks,"(122).

4. What did the reading make you think of? (be specific eg "There is a bridge in SF that spans 4 miles from SF to Oakland and in the middle of the bridge it crosses an island called Treasure Island. This story makes me think of that specific little island where I can see the entire city and bay area. That city was also in the news recently where .... ) .75 percent

When I read this story it reminded me quite a bit of the town I grew up in. The town of Cotati is very small and covered by farmers rather than people. I grew up next to a pumpkin field and down the street from an old dairy farm. At heart I have always wished that I could live on a farm and for my retirment that is what I plan to do. Cotati also was a town that you would go through only in an attempt to get elsewhere. The town of cotati and my home in paticular also oversaw the highway. It is very funny to look out and see all the busy highways from a quiet and peaceful place.

5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know (again, be specific using concrete examples)? 1 percent

Everett talks about the weather in the Los Angeles area when he states that in August the temperature will hit that of one hundred and eight degrees. I did not know that it got that warm in south California that early in the year.

1. Write the story title and author name. .25 point

Waters of Tranquility written by Carolyn See

2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph; be specific in your summary. Remember that your classmates will rely on you for this information. 2 percent

Carolyn See is an interesting writer, I have read a number of different pieces written by See and she never fails to use her very descriptive and eclectic language. This particular short story is regarding a personal place that See visits near her home. She and her husband love Lake Shrine and all of its scenery and religious displays. When See's husband was ill and decided to die at home See would visit Lake Shrine regularly to escape the stress of her life with her dieing husband.

3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph (include entire quote; use quote marks and page number)? 1 percent

"Everything else can wait, but our search for god cannot wait,"(144).

4. What did the reading make you think of? (be specific eg "There is a bridge in SF that spans 4 miles from SF to Oakland and in the middle of the bridge it crosses an island called Treasure Island. This story makes me think of that specific little island where I can see the entire city and bay area. That city was also in the news recently where .... ) .75 percent

My grandfather is very sick and this story definitely reminded me that life is very short. My family is very family orientated and therefore I can really understand why some one would rather die at home. Even though it is very painful for a family to endure watching a loved one die slowly I would rather have them with me than not. See has a way of making us think of the smallest things in life and therefore this short story can be very moving.

5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know (again, be specific using concrete examples)? 1 percent

At the entrance of the Rose gardens are monuments for religions like Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.

1. Write the story title and author name. .25 point

Flirting with Urbanismo written by Patt Morrison

2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph; be specific in your summary. Remember that your classmates will rely on you for this information. 2 percent

Morrison explains what differentiates the city of Los Angeles from other cities. The suburban areas are an outlet for people of like races, ethnicity's and class level to cling together. The down town areas are as fake and phony as plastic. The industrialization and law enforcement in the city do nothing to help alleviate the situation. Some how Morrison loves and enjoys the confusion of the city.

3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph (include entire quote; use quote marks and page number)? 1 percent

"The demographics of other cities were poor, foreign, working class, immigrant. New York's tenements, Chicago's crammed with Jewish and Irish and Polish newcomers, clinging to those of like culture and language,"(136)

4. What did the reading make you think of? (be specific eg "There is a bridge in SF that spans 4 miles from SF to Oakland and in the middle of the bridge it crosses an island called Treasure Island. This story makes me think of that specific little island where I can see the entire city and bay area. That city was also in the news recently where .... ) .75 percent

When I went to Los Angeles for the first time this year I encountered the worst culture shock ever. I hated everything about the city that Morrison seams to love and enjoy about the city. This story made me think of all the things that I saw and disliked about the city when I first encountered it. I do not enjoy loud cities, bumper to bumper traffic or large crowds of people. I find it difficult to feel as though I can breath in a city like LA. But obviously there are people who enjoy everything that makes me scared.

5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know (again, be specific using concrete examples)? 1 percent

The central library in Los Angeles was restored after the fire of 1986, caused by arsonists.