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Ongoing Assignments While Reading
Dreams From My Father

1. Reflective Journal: Write a reflective journal after each chapter. Your reflection should be one to two paragraphs. The content of this journal can be any of the following:

     a. Express your personal reaction to a character. How did his/her words or actions make you feel about the character? What effect do you think these words or actions had on another character or characters in the story?

     b. Analyze a decision made by an important character in the story. First, tell what decision was made and then indicate what you think was/were the motivating factor(s) for the decision. Do you think it was a good or bad decision? Explain why.

     c. Describe a particular aspect of setting (time and/or place) and explain its effect on Obama himself, on his family or any particular member of his family.

     d. Identify a turning point in Obama's life. Describe the external and/or internal changes he is experiencing due to a conflict, problem, or new circumstances in his life. Predict the effect this change will have on him.

     e. Quote a passage that you found particularly meaningful. Then relate the passage to a recurring theme in the text, e.g., family heritage, identity, racism, coming of age, etc. In other words, what important idea or message is conveyed by the quote?

2. Writing Collocations: Keep a list of expressions that consist of words that you may have often heard together. In other words, don't gloss individual words, but words that are often used together and sound natural together. Some examples are grassroots organizing, affirmative action, a flood of memories, don't fault people for...etc.

3. Posting your Thoughts: Always be prepared to share your journals and your list of collocations with classmates in class and on the Discussion Board. Groups will be asked to post theirs at different times.