Exploring Identity: American Born Chinese

Lesson 4
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ELA

Unit 5

7th Grade

Lesson 4 of 22

Objective


Identify several pervasive stereotypes about Asian Americans and explain how stereotypes can impact a person’s behavior and beliefs.

Readings and Materials


  • Article: “That's Not Who I Am: Calling Out and Challenging Stereotypes of Asian Americans” by Whitney Pow  — paragraphs 1-19 and "How do we Fix These Things?"

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Target Task


Writing Prompt

How has the prevalence of stereotypes about Asian Americans impacted the way that others view (and treat) author Whitney Pow? Support your answer with two pieces of specific evidence from the text.

Sample Response

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Key Questions


Close Read Questions

  • What is the author’s purpose in this article? Provide evidence from the text to support your answer.

  • What central, pervasive stereotype about Asian Americans does Pow identify and analyze in this article? Explain this stereotype in your own words.

  • How do these stereotypes about Asian Americans "erase" Pow’s own identity and experience as an Asian American? Provide evidence from the article to support your answer.

Discussion Questions

  • What similarities do you see between Pow’s experience with stereotypes and Jin’s?

Exit Ticket

Assess student understanding and monitor progress toward this lesson's objective with an Exit Ticket.

Vocabulary


Text-based

caricature

n.

a picture, description, or imitation of a person in which certain characteristics are exaggerated in order to create a comic or disturbing effect (paragraph 15)

pervasive

adj.

 distributed or spreading widely through an area or a group of people (paragraph 5)

perceive

v.

 to interpret or look at something/someone in a specific way (paragraph 14)

Notes


  • Today’s lesson asks students to think and talk about stereotypes about East Asian people. As always, it is important to set ground rules about speaking respectfully about people— whether or not you have students who identify as Asian in your classroom.

Homework


To ensure that students are prepared for the next lesson, have students complete the following reading for homework. Use guidance from the next lesson to identify any additional language or background support students may need while independently engaging with the text.

  • Book: American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang  pp. 43 – 52

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • Who is the protagonist in this chapter?

  • Who is Chin-Kee?

  • How does the main character feel about Chin-Kee?

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Common Core Standards


  • RI.7.3 — Analyze the interactions between individuals, events, and ideas in a text (e.g., how ideas influence individuals or events, or how individuals influence ideas or events).

Supporting Standards

L.7.6
RI.7.1
RI.7.2
RI.7.4
RI.7.6
RI.7.10
SL.7.1
SL.7.6
W.7.1
W.7.1.a
W.7.1.b
W.7.4
W.7.9
W.7.9.b
W.7.10

Next

Explain how Yang uses the structure of a sitcom to create meaning American Born Chinese.

Lesson 5
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