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| Grammar | Syntax/Writing | Punctuation | Vocabulary | Pronunciation | ESL Station | |
Suggested Activities While Reading Breaking Through
1. Writing a Reflective Journal: Your instructor may challenge you to think more deeply about particular chapters and write down your reflections. For content you might take any of the following approaches to writing:
A. Express your own personal reaction to a character. How did his/her actions make you feel about this character? What effect do you think his/her words, actions, beliefs, etc. had on others in the story?
B. Analyze a decision made by an important character. First, tell what the decision was and then indicate what you think was the motivating factor(s) for the decision. Was it a good or bad decision? Explain why.
C. Describe an aspect of setting (time and/or place) and explain its effect on Francisco and/or other characters, particularly family members.
D. Identify a turning point in Francisco's life. Describe the external and internal changes he (or another character) is experiencing due to a conflict, problem, or new circumstance. Predict the personal effects this change will have on Francisco or another character.
E. Quote a particularly meaningful passage and relate it to a recurring theme in the text, e.g., family heritage, identity, racism, coming of age, friendship, loneliness, etc. In other words, what important idea or message is implied by the quote?
Recognizing Collocations: Certain words often go together and make up what are known as common expressions or phrases. These expressions are called collocations by linguists. Get accustomed to looking for set phrases so that you don't waste time learning words in isolation but learn to actively use them with words and other phrases that often accompany them. It's a good idea to keep a list of common collocations. Some examples are forced out, to offer helpful comments, to break through barriers, the barbed-wire fence, the old jalopy, dilapidated army barracks, barefoot children in tattered clothes rummaging through waste bins, etc. You can see by the last example three phrases that fit well together.
3. Posting your Reflections and Vocabulary Journals: Your teacher may ask you to share your reflective journal or your list of collocations with classmates either in class or on the Discussion Board in WebCT. This gives students the opportunity to share their insights and build their vocabulary together.
