Progression Packet

#2
Text and Social Issues

Miguel Noh
ENGLISH 114A

Progression #2
Text and Social Issues
As we embark in the second progression, you will be reading and engaging
with Everyday by David Levithan. While the final essay will not be an analytical essay of the
book, you will need to choose a social issue that the book touches upon, and explore the
issue within the exercises and within the final essay. The social issue can deal with gender, to
sexuality, to religion, to body image, to substance abuse, to ethnicity, to immigration, etc. (as
long as the book mentions addresses the social issue, you can use the social issue).. Your
objective will be to use the literature as a platform to talk about the issue, and explore it through
contemporary and current events. As with the previous progression, there are three exercises to
help you better understand your topic, and help you become an expert on your social issue.
Exercise 1B: Point of view 750-1000 words

________/25 points

A awakens in the body of a different teenager every day. This phenomenon has allowed
A to be extremely open to multiple interpretations of everyday life through different
points of view, and A accounts his memories in extreme details. In 750-1000 words, you
are to create a narrative of memories associated with your social issue (good or bad)
through the eyes of three different people: one event, three accounts. The points of
view must include an adult (1), a person of the opposite sex/gender (2), and that of your
best friend (3). The memory must be the same (to an extent) for all three characters, but
they most encompass the voice and tone of the characters youve chosen to write as.
Additionally, give a brief bio of your character, and introduce them. Make sure you
include important information of your character such as age, occupation, sex, gender, any
pertaining information that the reader should know. Also, make sure the account of your
memory includes sensory detailsmake it interesting for your reader! The accounts
should be able to make the reader understand the feeling involve within the emotion
behind the memory; you will be working with pathos in order to convey your anecdote.
This Exercise is design to help you understand different points of view, and different
tones within literature. Additionally, the creative aspects of the exercise allows for
creative writing, and how rhetorical means change between accounts. Lastly, you will
engage with the genre of narrative and used its conventions to accomplish this exercise.
*See appendix A for an example

Exercise 2B: Social Issues and Historical Content 250-500 words

________/25 points

Everyday touches upon many themes as A wakes up in a new body every day. Choose
one theme that A discusses, and showcases how this theme manifest in a social issue.
In 250-500 words, explain the historical content of the issue, and showcases a
current event that has happened within a 6 month period. You must give background
information to your social issue such as any political occurrences, or how the social issue
came about. You must also include a work cited page. In essence, you are reporting what
injustice has led to the social issue.
This Exercise is design for you to understand the historical background of the social issue
(logos), and to build you credibility (ethos) on the subject. Additionally, this exercise will
help build your research skills and allows you to engage with expository writing.

*See appendix B for an example

Exercise 3B: Choosing a side of the argument and sources.

________/25 points

During your last exercise you collected data and information on your social issue. For
this exercise you will create a chart addressing your social issue, and showcase both
sides of the argument that you have selected, through the use of evidence an
support.. The chart must contain viable and intelligent arguments from both sides of
your issue. Additionally, you should also explain what side of the issue do you fall upon,
and why?

This exercise is designed to assist you in research and developing counter arguments to
your social issue. Additionally, it draws from rhetorical devices in order for you to create
a valuable argument,
*See Appendix C for an example

Final Essay:

________/100 points

Either a gift or a curse, A is able to embody different bodies of teenagers for one day,
every day. This has allowed A to see multiple perspectives, and provide us with multiple
accounts of teenagers who deal with personal and social struggles. While a fictional
account, A has lead us into a journey where we, as readers, experience the struggles of
multiple characters in one book. Needless to say, while the characters are important, it is
the experiences and the struggles of these character which shed light into our world. In
essence, the book draws from real world experience, and showcases how multiple social
issues are at play within our community.
For your essay, you will need to choose one of the themes explored in the book, and
explain how this theme is manifested in social issues while arguing your position on such
issue. Such issues can deal with immigration, race/ethnicity, sexuality or gender, body
image, drugs, suicide, or any other theme that is touched upon within Everyday By
Nathaniel Levithan .

Prompt: How is a social issue addressed in Everyday being

manifested in a contemporary community, and to what extent
is this social issue being created, emphasized, or developed
within a community?

Essay 3 draft:

________/50 points

*In Class Peer Review Essay #3

________/25 points

*Final Draft of Essay #3

________/100 points

Appendix A
Students Name
Professor Noh
English 114A
23 November 14
Coming Out: Three Parts to the Same Story
Jonathan Reyes:
My name is Jonathan Reyes, and Im a 23 year old, master student at USC. I was born in
Mexico and then immigrated to the US when I was one. While being raised in a Catholic
household, I was always told to do the righteous thing. I was told to always mind my please
and thank you, to work hard and I could achieve anything. I was told be a leader, and
overcome difficulties in order to succeed. I was told to become someone, to become important,
and to become successful.
Needless to say, my parents were surprised when I told them I was gay. As a Mexican,
first born, Catholic male, I was supposed to get married and have children. This news, did not
only upset my parents, but it also brought forth their ideologiesmistaken ideologiesabout
gay culture. There ideas where that I would not be able to succeed, or progress. But why would
they think this way? Was it true? Would I not be able to succeed as a gay male? And why were
my parents thinking this way?
Upon reflecting, I came to the realization that my parents mentality was not only there
fault. There ideas are socially cultivated and embossed by a cultural misunderstanding on the
subject of homosexuality. Additionally, my parents only had one singular view that created this

vision of my identity. This is the problem. My community, my family, only had a singular view
of gay culture, and assumed that such stigmas must also apply to me. They saw me, not as their
son whom they taught and stilled values, but as gay male. They unintentionally stripped my
identity, and placed the stereotypes of the gay male upon me. But I understood this; they
didnt.
So, were they to blame for their ideas? Yes, and no. I do blame them for not questioning
those ideas and branding me as only a gay male. However, they only fell pray to these stigmas
because they only had one single story. As Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie says in her Ted Talk,
that we are impressionable and vulnerable in the face of a story (1:43). As such, my parents
only fall prey to the singular story. Luckily my parents now have a second story, another version
that they are looking develop before their eyes. They are looking at my story. And they finally
see me as not a gay male, but as their sonwho happens to be gay.

Laura Leon:
My best friend came to me crying about five years ago. He had recently come out to his
parents and they did not approve of his sexuality. Sure I knew he was gay, so it did not surprise
me when he told meyet there was still a shock to see him admit his sexuality. He, however,
was surprised when I hugged and told him how much he means to me. You have to understand, I
was in no means ready for this, and to an extent it was shocking to see him admit something he
so long denied. Unlike his parents, however, I knew that his sexual preference did not change his
identity as a person.
I remember during that time that he came out to me and his family, our friends had
planned a trip to a Big Bear lake. On this trip there was this guy that I had a crush on: Michael.

He was a Latino with curly hair, brown eyes, about 6 tall, and muscular physique. Every time
we would talk and dance I would get nervous. Michael so happened to be in the trip with our
other friends. However, while Johnny was telling me what happened, Michael walked in. He
looked at Johnny crying, and closed the door again.
Later that evening, Michael was talking to me and asks if everything was ok with Johnny.
I told him that it was not my place to say what happened but he is going through a tough time.
Michael replied with, well, I hope hes ok. I would be embarrassed if someone saw me crying. I
wouldnt want them to think Im gay or something. I did not know what to say, so I stood up
and told him that I needed to check on Johnny.
As I was walking towards Johnny, I came to the realization of how close minded some of
our friendsfriends that at that point we trustedmight be. It would be a parallel with his
parents. Yet I did know one thing: Johnny needed me. Not to protect him, he could take care of
himself. He just needed someone to show him that they understood him. He needed to know that
there are people who see beyond the vail of society, and the label that our community places
upon an individual. He needed to know, that he was not alone in this, that I too, stood next to
him. Luckily, he still is standing next to me and his story goes on.

David Reyes:
When Johnny first came out, I was angry and devastated. I turned to his mom, her brown
eyes sparkling and tears shouting out through the lashes. I had thought that I raised a good boy, a
boy that would turn into a man. Now I know that was no longer an issue.
I had placed him in little league, and I became to coach so we could bond more as father
and son. Yet I knew since then that he was that he was different. But I never wanted to come

to terms with it. His mother always said, its just a phase. Dont worry; he will grow out of it.
But Johnny never outgrew his flamboyant mannerism. If anything, those mannerisms were
persistent.
I had huge plans for him to become a great dad, and it all change when he said those three
words: I. Am. Gay. How was I supposed to respond? I have heard stories of guys that only have
sex all the time, and I did not want that for my some. I heard how many turn to drugs and get
STDs, and I did not want that for my son. I heard that many of them wound up on the streets
with no one to love them, and I did not want that for my son. No. What I wanted was for him to
continue becoming that man that I knew he could be.
However, now I do know one thing. My son is gay, and thats ok. He continues to shock
me and his mother, by constantly achieving new heights academically and also to improve his
career as an engineer. Above all, he is still proud of us. He is proud that his mother and I
continuously encourage and stand next to him.
Now I see that he is creating his own story. Stereotypes do not apply to him since he is
constantly showing me the other side of the story. He shows me that being gay is not much
different than being straight. And that being gay doesnt mean the he wont succeedand this is
all that I want for him.

Appendix B
Students Name
Professor Noh
English 114A
23 September 2015
The Immigration Debate or Mexicans are the Problem
In Everyday by David Levithan, A wakes up as a young Hispanic girl who needs to go to
work. What is surprising is that this is a 16 year girl who is a young maid alongside her mother.
The unfortunate side effect of this day is not that there is a 16 year old Mexican made, but the
fact that Levithan places this character in a singular story that has been perpetuating our country
today. Additionally, with the biggest voice on intolerance suggesting that all Mexicans, are not
only immigrants, but also rapist, Donald trump fails to see the complexity of the immigration
issue. Yet, Trump and Levithan only showcase a singular story; one story that promotes a single
view on immigration.
While Trump is continuously voicing his opinion on immigration, he fails to see how
immigration is constantly decreasing. It is unfair to assume, that the US has an immigration
problem without showcasing the stats and data for those numbers. Rogelio Saenz, dean of the
public policy in University of Texas San Antonio, is reported by Jim Forsyth, that the number
of immigrants coming from Mexico peaked in 2003, and has fallen by more than half since
then reasons include fewer construction jobs due to the 2007-2009 recession and a Mexico's
growing economy and a falling birth rate (Forsyth). Between these years, immigration from
Mexico has decreased by 57%. While immigration is still prevalent in our country, it is unfair to

say that is a problem caused by Mexicans when Mexican immigration has continuously
decreased drastically from year to year. Thus Mexican Immigrants are decreasing exponentially
in the US.
Additionally, Trump and Levithan only portray undocumented immigrants as only on
race and one culture. This could be further from the truth. While Mexicans are the largest source
of immigration in America, they are not the only source. Wilamette Weeks Beth Slovak reports
on Morgan, who is nonchalant about his [citizenship] status for the most part, unconcerned
about not paying U.S. taxes and indifferent to the fact that hes stealing the job of a U.S.
citizen. Morgan passes though Portland mostly untouched by the spittle spewing from the sealour-borders-now camp, Slovak reports. And why would this be? Why are there no pitchforks at
his door trying to condemn him to leave the country? Because he is Canadian. With his facial
features, including a fauxhawk, and being tall and white, he assimilates more with Portland and
thus repels immigrant stereotypes. While it is unfair, he does not fit the stereotypical immigrant
that our country has associated with Mexican and Mexican culture.
According to the 2009 finding of the Department of Homeland Security, Mexicans are
not the sole state of the immigration debate. Yes, we know Mexican immigrants far surpass any
other country, but the fact still remains that other countries also contribute to immigration. The
Department of Homeland Security states that El Salvador, Guatemalan, and Honduran
immigrants have increased up to 5% from 2000 to 2009. Additionally, Indian and Brazilian
immigrants have escalated to 64% and 49% from 2000 to 2009 (Hoefer 4). This further
complicates notions of immigration, and shatters that lies that all immigrants are Mexican in visa
versaas Levithan and Trump portray.

Ultimately, while Trump and Levithan fail to see the complexity of immigration, they are
only perpetuating a singular view. This view is not only narrow, but also limiting to the on views
of immigration. Hopefully, soon they will start to see the complications and understand the
density within this debate.

Works Cited
Hoefer, Micheal, Nancy Rytina, and Bryan Baker. "Estimates of the Unauthorized Immigrant
Population Residing in the United States: January 2009." Office of Immigration Statists
(2010): 1-8. Web.
Levithan, David. Every Day. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2012. Print.
Slovic, Beth. "Hes An... Illegal Eh-lien." Hes An... Illegal Eh-lien. Willamet Weekly, 20 Feb.
2008. Web. 23 Sept. 2015.

Argumement Against
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Argumement Against
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Argumement Against

Argument For

Argument For

Argument For

Appendix C

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