Instructions:
Rewatch the powerful scene in which Mrs. Erin Gruwell teaches her students about the "most famous gang in history," the Nazis.
Then, pick one question below and respond in the comments section in at least 3-5 sentences. Note: please read over your post and check spelling, punctuation, and grammar before you hit "publish!" This is a summative exercise on L2, "I can demonstrate grade-appropriate command of the English language including spelling, capitalization, and punctuation."
L2 Rubric (click here)
Discussion Questions:
At the beginning of the school year, Erin is deeply disturbed by a racial caricature of one of her students that she finds being passed around the room.
- Why does Erin compare this drawing of an African-American student to the drawings of Jewish men during the Holocaust?
- Why do you think Erin refers to the Nazis as the most famous gang in history? Why does this comparison make the students begin to listen to her?
- Why are the students so unwilling to associate with anyone outside their ethnic/racial groups? Where does this intolerance come from?
I think Erin refers to the Nazis being the most famous gang in history because it was a big event. Maybe at first she said it, thinking everyone knew what the Holocaust was and how different races hated eachother. I think the main reason she brought it up is because it gets everyone's attention. The students begin to listen to Erin because she started talking about gangs, and a lot of them are in gangs.
ReplyDeleteThen reason that Erin compares the drawing of an African-Amreican student to drawings of the Jewish men is because it is really the same thing it all started the same way, one group of people hating another and then escalating to something terrible, granted the Holocaust was a lot different than gang wars but its the same concept and the pictures really prove that. Its a scary subject to so it is a real wake up call to some people.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this, cause these teenagers needed to understand how big of a deal this kind of stuff can actually lead to.
DeleteI think that Erin refers to the Nazis because they were the most well put together and accomplished gang in history. And that might kinda show these guys how big of a deal this kind of stuff really is because they think their all big taking over neighborhoods and stuff like that, and looking back in history to what actual gangs have done just makes them feel kinda weak inside and might bring them down and calm them a little bit. By doing that it might show them that after all that the Nazis did didn't accomplish that much to make the world a better place and that means that these gangs are not making the world any better.
ReplyDeleteI agree it can be a real wake up call to some of these kids and what all of these gang wars can lead to.
DeleteI belive that Erin thinks that by calling the Nazis the most famous gang in history is going to get there attention because each one of those students are in a certain gang so the story is going to interest them. The Nazis thought they were making a good name for themselves but ended up making a terrible name for themselves which is exactly what these students are doing. Erin thinks if the students see how powerful the Nazis were and how much havoc the spread throughout the world that they will see how each gang is slowly doing that to their hometown.
ReplyDelete2) I think Erin refers to the Nazis as the most famous gang because, the Nazi were the ones who killed most of the Jews. The Nazis were the ones who started the Holocaust because they had the most power over everyone because of their race. I think this comparison to African Americans and whites today made the students listen because thats how the world seems to be today, it seems to be African Americans are out for white blood and vice versa.
ReplyDeleteErin refers to the Nazis at the most famous gang in history because of what they did to the world and anyone who was different from them. She made the students listen to her by comparing the gangs the students are in to the Nazis. She tried to grab their attention and show them what can happen to the world if the students continue with what they are doing.
ReplyDelete2. Why do you think Erin refers to the Nazis as the most famous gang in history? Why does this comparison make the students begin to listen to her?
ReplyDeleteErin refers to the Nazis as the most famous gang in history because of what they did to the different racial groups, and how big the event was. They were called "Hitler's gang of thugs" and the gang started out almost like these kids are, and then it got worse. Erin wanted to make this comparison because a lot of these kids are in different gangs hurting many different people with many different races. If they keep doing what they are doing, the world may turn on them. Their behavior is very similar to the people in the Holocaust, and she wanted to make the talk about the picture of a black guy very harsh and eye opening so that will make them listen to her and understand what they are becoming.
3) Why are the students so unwilling to associate with anyone outside their ethnic/racial groups? Where does this intolerance come from?
ReplyDeleteI believe that the students are so unwilling to associate with anyone outside of their "cliche" because they are afraid of getting judged and what others may think of them. They act like they're all big and tough but honestly I think they are acting like this because it's the easiest way for them to feel like they fit in with everyone else in their school.