_X_ 1. completion of Train Go Sorry
_X_ 2. answer questions regarding Train Go Sorry
_X_ 3. create a blog post week 6
_X_ 4. essay tips -- essay questions
_X_ 5. 5 page double spaced essay re Deaf Culture as a Language-Minority and Cultural Group of the U.S.
_X_6. Reference Library and MLA citation in reference section of essay using week 5 info
_X_ 7. 10 Multiple choice questions regarding classmate work previous assignment
_X_8. Sample Dialogue
_X_9. submit assignment to class LOGIN
Answer questions regarding Train Go Sorry
(This will help you with your essay. Feel free to use any of this in your essay)
Questions Book:
1. What does Train Go Sorry mean (who in the book is this referring to; there is a specific person, include his name and his outcome. Remember that good college writing assumes no one has read the information and you must present it or 'teach' it by giving us details.)?
In American Sign Language, Train Go Sorry means "missing the boat", which is appropriate since the book Train Go Sorry features many missed opportunities for the students of the Lexington School of the Deaf. One student in particular, James Taylor, is quite familiar with missing opportunities. On top of being Deaf, James has had a tough upbringing and now lives in an impoverished neighborhood with an unsupportive family who remain emotionally distant. Because of his unfortunate situation, James misses out on quite a few "boats", or opportunities. One opportunity in particular takes place when James goes to visit his brother in jail. Jame's brother is in jail for robbery, and unfortunately after a long day of traveling, James learns that his brother is in court that day and James will be unable to see him, thus James misses out on yet another opportunity. This situation represents yet another boat James has missed in his life, and he reflects on his train go sorry type of luck as he waits for the bus ride home.
2. What does it mean to 'walk in some one's shoes'? What pair of 'shoes' do you think the main person in the book is walking in and what did this person learn? In other words, who or what culture does this person want to belong to and why?
To 'walk in some one's shoes' entails putting yourself in someone else's situation to better understand that person. It is a very selfless way of thinking and requires a completely open mindset. 'Walking in some one's shoes' allows people to better understand the actions and mindset of others. In Train go Sorry the main character, Leah Hager Cohen, is attempting to walk in the shoes of a deaf person. She first starts out with her grandfather's "shoes", continues with James' and ends with Sofia's. Growing up at Lexington School for the Deaf, Leah has frequently felt alienated because of her ability to hear. As a child, she even thought of her ability to hear as a "mean gift" and put pebbles in her ears to imitate her peer's hearing devices (Cohen 11). Leah eventually grows out of this mindset, however she longs for a place amongst deaf people and continues to envy the bond that brings together her Deaf peers.
3. What is one image you won't ever forget? Draw us a picture in words to explain this. What chapter is it in?
One image that I won't ever forget occurred in chapter 18. This is the final chapter of the book and takes place during graduation. As the students all anxiously await their diplomas, Leah takes a minute to reflect upon James. James, once a troubled teen who rarely attended school, is now sitting on the bleachers as one of Lexington's true success stories. He had overcome his unfortunate past and the idea of college for James had transformed from nonexistent to reality. James is the last to receive his diploma and while on stage he spots his family. James flashes a smile. The title of the book, Train Go Sorry, had at one point encompassed James' luck. His life had been a series of missed "boats", or opportunities. However, his luck finally changed. He began taking up on opportunities rather than watching them pass. James finally receives the happy ending he so greatly deserves.
4. What are 5 facts about ASL or Deaf culture you think everyone should know after your reading of this book? Provide an example of how language and culture interact with one another using an example from the book.
Train Go Sorry offers several facts about ASL or Deaf culture that I think everyone should know.
First of all, everyone should realize the importance of opportunities. Opportunities are infinite. For every one that is missed, another one will come along. Perhaps it will not be the same opportunity as the one before, but it is still another chance for success and accomplishment. In life, it is extremely important to seize any possible opportunities. Characters of Train Go Sorry, such as James Taylor, demonstrate how easily opportunities can be missed. However, James also demonstrates how to take advantage of future opportunities; such as when he seizes the opportunity to play the lead in the senior class play or moves into the Lexington student housing to escape his impoverished neighborhood. Although James seemed to have missed many "boats", or opportunities, in his life and seemed to have a sort of train go sorry type of luck, opportunities still came his way. Thus proving the point opportunities are endless and it is important for everyone to take advantage of this.
Secondly, being Deaf is by no means any form of disability. The characters of this book illustrate this point throughout their experiences at Lexington School for the Deaf. Even though they are unable to hear, they are certainly not handicapped or impaired. They learn the same content as any hearing students would, however the way they learn just so happens to be a little different (hearing students may learn through audio while Deaf students learn more visually). In chapter 3 of the book, the characters even put on a play. Throughout the book, the characters continue to function just as hearing ones would. They are equally capable and intelligent as hearing students so labeling them as disabled, handicapped or even impaired because of their inability to hear is not only incorrect, but extremely ignorant. It is important that everyone knows that the inability to hear is not a disability.
Thirdly, it's important that everyone recognizes the different means of communication. Growing up able to hear, speaking has always been my prominent mode of communication. However, speaking is jut one of many ways to communicate. Communication can certainly be audio, but is can also be visual. The students of Lexington School for the Deaf demonstrate this not just with their ability to sign and speak ASL, but with their expressions, gestures and hand movements. All of these represents different ways to communicate outside of speaking that are just as effective and also allow a way for the Deaf to communicate with the hearing world. If people became more aware of these means of communication, we'd all be able to understand each other a little bit better.
Fourthly, it is important that people realize that not all of the Deaf community wishes to hear. Being Deaf gives people a minority culture to belong to. It gives them a sense of identity and somewhere to belong. The characters of Train Go Sorry are able to cope with their deafness in a hearing world which gives them all a certain bond they are able to share. With the invention of the cochlear implant and other hearing devices, some people have become so focused on enabling the Deaf to hear that the neglect the culture and community the Deaf have created. This by no means no Deaf people wish to hear, however people should recognize the Deaf culture and realize that some of these people are content to this community to which they belong and may not necessarily want to change. It is extremely important for people to understand and accept peoples' differences without trying to change them.
Finally, it is important that people change their perception of the "norm" of society. This "norm" entails many different factors, but hearing is the one fact that can be applied to this book. Society's perception of normal is hearing, therefore the inability to hear is seen as some sort of abnormality. Consequently, "mainstreaming" occurs. Deaf people are forced out of their culture and into one of the hearing world. Leah Hager Cohen raises the argument of whether or not deaf children should be taught ASL or if they should be "mainstreamed" into a hearing culture. Train Go Sorry illustrates the bond that Deaf people are able to share. As a child, Cohen became so envious of this bond that she put pebbles in her ears to try to belong. Learning ASL gives Deaf people a connection to share. It helps them form their own identity. I believe that "mainstreaming" the Deaf strips them of this identity. If people can alter their perception of deafness, Deaf culture can truly thrive. It's extremely important that everyone recognizes this culture and stops trying to "mainstream" the Deaf into another one.
Essay tips -- Essay questions
Fact 1:
Five Writing Steps:
1. For the introduction, write the thesis statement and give some background information.
2. Develop each supporting paragraph and make sure to follow the correct paragraph format.
3. Write clear and simple sentences to express your meaning.
4. Focus on the main idea of your essay.
5. Use a dictionary to help you find additional words to express your meaning.
Fact 2:
How do I write them? (Supporting Paragraphs)
1. List the points that develop the main idea of your essay.
2. Place each supporting point in its own paragraph.
3. Develop each supporting point with facts, details, and examples.
Fact 3:
How do I write one? (Summary Paragraph")
1. Restate the strongest points of your essay that support your main idea.
2. Conclude your essay by restating the main idea in different words.
3. Give your personal opinion or suggest a plan for action.
Fact 4:
Body - First paragraph
The first paragraph of the body should include the strongest argument, most significant example, cleverest illustration, or an obvious beginning point. The first sentence should contain the "reverse hook" which ties in with the transitional hook at the end of the introductory paragraph. The subject for this paragraph should be in the first or second sentence. This subject should relate to the thesis statement in the introductory paragraph. The last sentence in this paragraph should include a transitional hook to tie into the second paragraph of the body.
Fact 5:
The first sentence of the third paragraph (second paragraph of the body) uses the words "sense of sight" and "sense of feeling" to hook back into the previous paragraph. Note that in the second paragraph "feeling" came first, and in this paragraph "sight" comes first. The first sentence also includes the topic for this paragraph--imagery in a dynamic scene. Again, a quotation is taken from the story, and it is briefly discussed. The last sentence uses the words "one blind eye" which was in the quotation. This expression provides the transitional hook for the last paragraph in the body of the paper.
5 page double spaced (2.5 pages single spaced, or 250 words per page) essay re Deaf Culture as a Case Study of a Language Minority and Cultural Group of the US and Train Go Sorry from your perspective as a hearing or deaf or HH or Deaf or blind individual
I am a hearing student assigned the book Train Go Sorry in my Introduction to Humanities Class in which we examine cultural contributions of diverse minority groups in the U.S. Other readings assigned in this class include Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed, diverse theoretical frameworks in studying the Humanities, several essays from the book My California. My California is an example of a microcosm of the U.S.; and the U.S. forms a microcosm of the world. In this essay regarding Deaf culture and Train Go Sorry, I will explain why Deaf culture should be treated with respect as one of the many cultures of the U.S. as provided by a hearing student's perspective.
First of all, Deaf culture can only be treated with respect if it is in fact recognized as a culture. Because it is not a religious or ethnic group, it is often ignored as a culture. This ignorance results in the general denial of respect for the Deaf community as a culture. Once this ignorance is ended and the identification of Deaf culture begins, this culture can finally receive the respect it deserves. The deaf community has its own language and customs just as any other culture does. Sign language, the dominant language of the Deaf, is a full language which has existed in the United States for centuries and dates all the way back to the first English colonists in the 1600’s as according to Week 5 Instructor Facilitator Lecture Notes (Guerrini). Deaf culture also has its own customs as would any culture. Deaf culture features a myriad of visual arts. For example in the book Train Go Sorry, the Lexington School for the Deaf puts on a play in ASL (American Sign Language). Deaf culture has a language and customs originating from and specific to its people. Consequently, Deaf culture should be treated with respect because it is in fact a culture.
Now that the Deaf community as a culture has been defined, it is important that people understand what having respect for this culture actually entails. Respect is generally perceived as a positive feeling towards another person or entity. It in no way permits any sort of negativity or discrimination against that alternate person or group. This can be applied to Deaf culture in many ways. Society unknowingly discriminates against the Deaf community, thus violating respect for their culture. For example, sign language is often omitted in many public places. Federal Law requires Deaf people to receive the same type of access to public functions as hearing people, however according to a personal essay by an actual Deaf person on About.com, hospitals, doctors offices and many public schools do not provide sign language interpreters (Colclasure). Society also has a nasty habit of referring to the Deaf as disabled or impaired. According to the previously mentioned Week 5 Instructor Facilitator Lecture Notes, because both language and culture exist in Deaf adults, it is not a disability to have hearing loss, so labeling a Deaf person as disabled or impaired would be “like saying to the French person in the U.S. that they are disabled because they speak French” (Guerrini). This misconception of hearing loss as a disability or type of impairment must be ended for Deaf culture to receive the full respect it deserves. Finally, Equal Opportunity Rights ensure that no one can be denied employment based upon disabilities, however many people are denied employment based solely on their inability to hear. Respect for the Deaf culture certainly does not entail this type of discrimination, so it must be eliminated. Conclusively, respect for the Deaf culture requires the elimination of any sort of discrimination or negativity towards this community.
Deaf culture should be treated with respect because of the contributions and advancements of the Deaf. Some of the most extraordinary talent enjoyed by all cultures has emerged from the Deaf community. Ludwig Van Beethoven, for example, remains one of the most talented and well known composers to this day. Although he was not born Deaf, Beethoven experienced hearing loss at an early age. However, Beethoven worked through his deafness and his music prevailed. His music laid the groundwork for future music thus shaping classical music as we know it. Louis Frisino, Granville Redmond and Douglas Tilden are all extremely talented Deaf artists whose work is collected by many and enjoyed by the hearing. Linda Bove, C.J. hones, Amy Ecklund and Pyllis Frelich are all actors unable to hear but have contributed to the entertainment of many hearing cultures. Deaf culture has also contributed to Mathematics and Science for centuries. Raymond Atwood, unable to hear since age 11, has made significant contributions towards vitamins and antibiotics. Annie Jump Cannon, also unable to hear, identified hundreds and thousands of stars. Konstantin E. Tsiolkovsky who was also Deaf made extreme contributions to rocket science. Many other Deaf scientists have made contributions to horticulture, chemistry and much more, all according to an article on Deaf Scientists on About.com (Berke). Deaf culture should be treated with respect because they have certainly earned it through the contributions they have made.
Secondly, Deaf culture should be treated with respect because these people are just as intelligent and capable as any other culture. According to Week 5 Instructor Facilitator Lecture Notes, 60% of deaf have no special needs (Guerrini). That means that a majority of those born with hearing loss are born just as able and intelligent as other cultures. Week 5 Instructor Facilitator Lecture Notes also reveal that research has proven that children who grow up in an ASL-English or ASL program learn academic content just like their hearing peers (Guerrini). This again proves the capability of the Deaf community. The book Train Go Sorry takes place at the Lexington School for the Deaf and its exploration of the lives of some of the school’s students gives a first hand look at how similar Deaf students are to hearing students and how they are equally capable of learning the same material through different teaching styles. Deaf culture contains people ready and able to learn, to work and to succeed. This culture is a collection of contributing members to society. The Deaf community should not be looked upon as disabled or impaired, but rather as a group of perfectly capable learners and workers, thus another reason why Deaf culture should be respected.
Thirdly, Deaf culture should treated with respect because it has certainly earned it through the challenges it’s people have overcome. Unfortunately, for centuries Deaf people used to be viewed as incomplete because of their inability to hear. Many religious groups believed Deaf people need to be saved and some even believed they were demon-possessed because they were unable to speak. There were many biblical verses labeling the Deaf as dumb and mute, consequently the Middle Ages was a terrible time for the Deaf. They were hidden by their families, locked away and physically forced to try speaking. Later on in history during World War II, Adolf Hitler and his men would lock up the Deaf in concentration camps, conduct medical experiments on them and then castrate all of the men. To this day, contemporary religious leaders have attempted religious ceremonies to heal the Deaf of their “sickness” and when the ceremonies ended without success, they accused the Deaf of lacking faith. Fortunately, the Deaf have persevered through their difficult past and have overcome many of the obstacles of a hearing world. The American with Disabilities Act has been a milestone for Deaf culture. This act prohibits discrimination in employment, public services, public accommodations, telecommunications and the general mistreatment or threats to disabled people. Although the Deaf community still faces some modern obstacles, they have certainly come a long way. Their advancements in civil equalities, education and employment have certainly earned them respect.
Finally, Deaf culture should be treated with respect because of the unwritten but universal rule that all cultures should be treated with respect. It is not just important but also necessary in our world and even in our country of such diversity. America to this day continues to be a melting pot of different religions, ethnicities and cultures. Respect of these different cultures promotes equality and success. Members of the Deaf culture are all people; people who have feelings, who work hard and who deserve respect. Train Go Sorry is a great opportunity to connect with the Deaf culture and see them as individuals. After reading this book and seeing the Deaf culture less as a whole but more as a collection of individuals all deserving respect, it is much easier to give this culture the respect it deserves. Regardless of their ability to hear, the Deaf community is simply a collection of people with a shared language and shared customs, just like any other culture. So, just like any other culture Deaf culture should be respected.
Overall, Deaf culture has come a far way. The Deaf have overcome a myriad of obstacles presented by the hearing world. They have made many contributions to the entertainment industry, mathematics, science, the medical field and much more. From their culture has emerged extreme talent that all cultures, hearing or not, can enjoy. They have certainly earned their respect as a culture and, like all cultures, deserve it. For these reasons, Deaf culture should certainly be respected.
Reference Library and MLA citation in reference section of essay
You will incorporate information I provide in Instructor Facilitator Lecture Notes of week 5.
Berke, Jamie. "Deaf People - Famous and Historic Deaf and Hearing People." Deafness and Hard of Hearing - Deaf - Sign Language - Hearing Aids - Hearing Loss - Cochlear Implants - Ear Wax. The New York Times Company, 12 Jan. 2010. Web. 22 July 2010.
Cohen, Leah Hager. Train Go Sorry: inside a Deaf World. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1994.
Colclasure, Dawn. "Discrimination Against the Deaf." Freelance Writing - Internet Article Marketing - Publish Articles Online - EduBook. EduBook.com, 06 Nov. 2009. Web. 22 July 2010.
Guerrini. "Week 5 Instructor Facilitator Lecture Notes." SRJC Human 7 Summer 2010. Blogger, 2010. Web. 22 July 2010.
Penilla, Adan R., and Angela Lee Taylor. "Facing the Challenges of the Deaf Community - For Dummies." How-To Help and Videos - For Dummies. Wiley Publishing Inc, 2010. Web. 21 July 2010.
1. What Percentage of the world is Deaf? (Ashley)
A. 10
B. 4
C. 17
D. 2*
2. Which California University does not recognize American Sign Language as a Language? (Carrie)
A. UCLA
B. UCSF
C. Cal Poly
D. Sonoma State
E. USC *
3. The first school for the deaf was in (Dana)
A. Boston, MA
B. Hartford, CT*
C. Sacramento, CA
D. Houston, TX
E. New York City, New York
4. The degrees of hearing loss are: (Daye)
A. mild, moderate, proximity, surround
B. mild, severe, profound, moderate,*
C. slight, severe, left, right
D. slight, severe, ochochlear, subcontaneous
E. mild, moderate, serve, pronounced
5. Who is/are the most important man/men who established the American School for the Deaf? (Kristine)
A. Thomas Gallaudet
B. Laurent Clerc
C. Mason Cogswell
D. All of the above **
E. A and B only
6. What does PSE stand for? (Natalie)
A. Perfect Signing Effort
B. Pidgin Signed English*
C. Put Signed Examples
D. Public Sign Economy
E. Personal Signing Example
7. How members of the American Deaf community marry other members of their cultural group? (Renee)
A. 2 out of 6
B. 6 out of 10
C. 9 out of 10*
D. 2 out of 3
8. American Sign Language (ASL) is an official full visual-spatial language that uses: (Daye)
A. facial expression
B. hand shape
C. Hand movement
D. hand placement and body to convey meaning
E. all of the above*
9. Which of the following is not a myth regarding ASL? (Kristine)
A. ASL is iconic
B. Reality must be word-based (i.e. signs refer to direct words)
C. ASL is not a code for English, it is concept based. **
D. ASL is ungrammatical
10. The first school for the deaf opened in: (Dana)
A. 1952
B. 1901
C. 1817*
D. 1860
E. 1883
Sample Dialogue
When I researched Deaf Culture I found that the parent's upbringing of a Deaf child determines that child's identity.
I noticed Dana had the same search style in that we both researched parenting of Deaf children and found that the way of the parenting is critical in the upbringing of that child.
I wonder if the topic we researched would have been different if it was Deaf parents raising hearing children in that perhaps the ways of parenting would change.
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