a.
Techniques: Throws the reader into the story
(via another story). Abrupt scene switch. Comparison of NY to San Diego. Tons
of examples. Super-short summation of entire childhood. Gun as metaphor for
unimportant crime of the past.
b.
Words / Phrases: “Another.” “When I wasn’t the only
white person at the events…” ‘Perhaps now that we believe nurture plays at
least as much a part in child development as nature, we simply take children
away from black women instead of sterilizing them.’ ‘I’m not sure at exactly
what point I lost heart…”
c.
Form: Loosely chronological, story-oriented.
Less obvious sections. The story about Ms. Johnson carries throughout and her
interjections about things as a whole appear spread throughout.
d.
I will take from this: The power of getting
angry about something. The fluidity of writing when you’re vulnerable and open
about the injustice you’ve seen. We’ve all seen injustice somewhere. Some of us
have lost heart because we’ve seen so much. I can talk about that.
e.
Voice: Angry. Fast paced and emotional. Honest
and vulnerable. Showing the loss of heart.
f.
Questions: Did she ever seek justice on her own
for these people? What were the levees?
g.
Group discussion Q’s: 1. This was a very
emotional and angering piece. At what point did you feel most connected emotionally
to Biss and her experience? Try to give a section and then a specific quote
that stood out. 2. What did you think of the weaving structure of Ms. Johnson’s
story? Was it powerful done in this way? 3. What do you think the tone and
voice were like? Angry, downtrodden, rebellious, critical? 4. Here we find out
more about Biss’s childhood and family past than we do in all the other essays
combined, and she gives it in one page length. What about this form made the background
effective? What (if anything) made it hard to follow or seem dysjunct?
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