CONTENT



A.P. Language and Composition

Responding to Gloria Naylor’s “The Meanings of a Word”

Discussion Questions

© Copyright Academic Year 2006- 2007, by M. Chavez. All Rights Reserved.

March is Woman’s History Month

Questions on Meaning 20 pts due Thursday, March 8 2007

1.Why does Naylor think that written language is inferior to spoken language (par. 1)? 2 pts

2.In paragraph 15, Naylor says that although the word nigger had been used in her presence many times, she didn’t really “hear” it until a mean little boy said it. How do you explain this paradox? 3 pts

3.What is Naylor’s primary purpose in this essay? 2 pts

4. Describe the author's maternal grandparents in as much detail as you can. 3 pts

5. What meanings does the author say the word girl has? How does this word's meaning change as the context changes? 3 pts

6. Where, according to Naylor, does dialogue get its power? 2 pts

7. What was the "unforgivable sin" among the black adults around whom Naylor grew up? What things were forgivable to them? Why? 5 pts

Questions on Language 20 pts due in class Friday, March 9

1. What is the “chicken and egg issue” (par. 2)? 2 pts

2. What does the “chicken and egg issue” dispute say about the reality between language and reality? 3 pts

3. Naylor suggests that different words—even offensive words —mean different things to different people. Would you agree or disagree, and why? 5 pts

4. Describe the author's view of the relationship between language and reality. 4 pts

5. Why does Naylor put the word bad in quotation marks in paragraph three? 3 pts

6. How does the author’s use of “bad” in quotation marks relate to her ideas about the consensual nature of language? How might this usage differentiate her teacher from her mother? 4 pts

Questions on Writing Strategy 30 pts due Monday, March 12

1. Is the introduction effective or not? Why? 2 pts

2. In her first two paragraphs, Naylor discusses language in the ABSTRACT. How are these paragraphs connected to her stories about the word nigger? 2 pts

3. Why do you think she begins the essay this way? 2 pts

4. GO through Naylor’s essay and note which paragraphs discuss the racist uses of “nigger” and which discuss the non-racist uses. Create a chart to illustrate the differences. 10 pts

5. Look back at the last two sentences of Naylor’s essay. What is the effect

of ending on this idea? 3 pts

6. Naylor says that writing has given her at least two very valuable things. Name and discuss them. 5 pts

7. In terms of rhetorical mode, is this essay better classified as "cause and effect" or "definition"? Does it have to be one or the other? Explain, with specific references to the text. 4 pts

8. Naylor starts her essay on a personal level, relating a personal specific incident. She goes on to generalize her experience to show that she is not the only one affected. Describe the reasoning she is using. In other words, is she using inductive or deductive reasoning? 2 pts[pic]

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