PPE Paragraph Reflection

Looking back at our first unit dealing with Perception, we tied a reading skill (imagery, dynamic
character, theme, and symbol) to each chunk of reading with The House on Mango Street by asking you to
make connections to the text and find evidence to back up your point.

Follow the directions listed below in order to reflect on your PPE paragraphs, but READ EVERYTHING first. :)

Step 1 - Paste all four of your PPE paragraphs into the chart below. (2/23, 3/2, 3/9, 3/12)

In the box below, paste in your Imagery + Perception PPE Paragraph.

Cisneros uses imagery in the vigne called “My Name” to help show Esperanza’s perception of
her life. In this chapter, Esperanza explains how she does not like the name that she was given
at birth. “I would like to baptise myself under a new name, a name more like the real me, the
one nobody sees.” (11). You can find this quote on page 11 in the book. This quote is focusing
on the fact that Esperanza is not happy with the name she was given at birth, like I stated
before, and she doesn’t believe that it describes herself. This quote from the text helps to show
that Esperanza is trying to show us her perspective on her life.

In the box below, paste in your Dynamic Character + Perception PPE Paragraph.

Esperanza’s role as a dynamic character in the vignette “Papa Who Wakes Up Tired in
the Dark” by changing her perspective of her father. In this vignette, Esperanza
explains an experience were she hears her dad cry for the first time. “Está muerto, and
then as if he just heard the news himself, crumples like a coat and cries, my brave
papa cries. I have never seen my papa cry, and I don’t know what to do.” (56). This
gives us an example of how Esperanza changed her perception of her father. He is
most likely still her hero, but at the same time, she has now learned that he does get
sad, and does show more emotion than happiness and stress.

In the box below, paste in your Theme + Perception PPE Paragraph.

The theme of the vignette “Four Skinny Trees”(74-75) is that no matter how bad things may seem,you
should always look for the light through the darkness. “When I am too sad, and too skinny to keep
keeping, when I am a tiny thing against so many bricks, then it is I look at the trees.”(75). We can learn
from this text that Esperanza uses the trees almost as a morale booster. If she is sad, she always looks to
the trees and thinks about how hard it must have been for them to grow. They had to grow through
concrete, and all the shade provided by the surrounding buildings must have made it practically
impossible to grow. But, they somehow grew. Esperanza looks towards the trees as a means of
inspiration, letting her know that she can get through whatever hardships she may come across.

In the box below, paste in your Symbol + Theme PPE Paragraph.

Cisneros utilizes the symbol of the monkey in “The Monkey Garden” vignette. She uses the
symbol of the monkey to give Esperanza and her friends something that prevents them from
being able to reach their destination and/or goal. “And it was then we took over the garden we
had been afraid to go into when the monkey screamed and showed its yellow teeth.”(94)
“Things had a way of disappearing in the garden, as if the garden itself ate them, or, as if with
 its old-man memory, it put them away and forgot them.” (95) “This, I suppose, was the reason
why we went there. Far away from where our mothers could find us.” (95) These quotes help
to show, or describe, the fact that the monkey represented an obstacle to overcome to gain
freedom. I think that this could relate to african american segregation, and the freedom that
they wanted. The obstacle that prevented them from doing this were laws, and not having
anyone to stand for them. The time came that the obstacle had been defeated by people who
stood for the cause. So to Esperanza, the monkey was in the way of their freedom, so once the
monkey had moved, they were able to go into the garden.

Step 2 - Using the rubric below, give yourself a score (out of 10) for each category (Point, Prove, Explain,
and Content) based on your writing in all four PPE paragraphs. A zero would represent something that
wasn’t attempted; a ten represents something that is high quality and above what is expected of the
standard.

Point Prove Explain Content

Topic sentence with Specific example(s) Clear discussion of Reading Skill (imagery,
clear purpose that from the text with examples that supports dynamic character,
answers the prompt corresponding page your argument theme, symbol +
numbers theme)

8 10 10 9

Step 3 - Looking at your paragraphs, answer the following questions regarding your writing in your
FlipGrid video (directions below) - do NOT type your answers on this document. Instead, your
responses will be included in your video. For each question, be sure to provide specific examples (at least
2) and provide an explanation of your response.

1. What’s one thing you did consistently well in your paragraphs? Be sure to reference a specific
skill from your rubric.
I would say Both prove and explain. I used the scores that Mrs. Mounce gave me for each of the
PPE paragraphs and graded what I thought was appropriate based on her scores.
2. What’s one area where you saw growth in your paragraphs? Be sure to reference a specific skill
from your rubric.
I improved on my reading skill the most.
3. What’s an area you would like to improve for future PPE paragraphs? Be sure to reference a
specific skill from your rubric.
The skill that I would like to improve on in the future is the Point.
4. What was the most challenging part of creating your paragraphs? Be sure to reference a specific
skill from your rubric.
I think that the hardest part for me was finding good quotes to back my point up properly. I was
eventually able too, but it usually took me a bit to find the right quotes for each.
5. What’s one thing you would change about any of your paragraphs? Be sure to reference a specific
skill from your rubric.
In my first PPE paragraph, I feel like I should/could have explained the quotes, and why they proved my
point better and more thoroughly.
FlipGrid - Create a video to talk through your reflection elements above. Click HERE to create/submit your video!

➔ Be sure you have pasted your paragraphs into the document and filled in the rubric.
 ➔ When you open the FlipGrid link to add your response, you’ll need to choose the OPTIONS, then
choose RECORD SCREEN. Choose the blue START SCREEN RECORDING button. Then
choose the option that says YOUR ENTIRE SCREEN. Choose the blue SHARE button. At this
point, you will see a countdown. Choose the tab that has this document opened and then talk
through your reflection. Sharing your screen allows you to reference specific pieces of your
paragraphs and showcase your work visually while reflecting.
➔ Be sure to answer each of the 5 questions above regarding your PPE paragraphs. Then talk
through why you scored yourself the way you did in the rubric. Be sure to address each skill -
Point, Prove, Explain, and Content (reading skills).
➔ When you are done, submit the FlipGrid video, and then download a copy. If you aren’t given an
option to download immediately, go to my.flipgrid.com, login, and you will see all of your
FlipGrid videos there. Under ACTIONS, choose download.
➔ Upload the video to your portfolio!

PPE Paragraph Reflection Rubric

Criteria Points Feedback

Strengths | I can reflect on my learning by 4 Prove and explain

providing specific examples of my
strengths.

Growth | I can reflect on my learning by 4 Content - understanding the prompts

providing specific examples of my growth.

Improvement | I can reflect on my 4 Point - misunderstood the prompts/change wording

learning by providing specific examples of
where I want to improve.

Challenges | I can reflect on my 4 Finding quotes that correspond with your point.
experiences by identifying specific
challenges.

Revisions | I can reflect on my learning by 3 nothing?

identifying specific areas of revision.

Self-Assessment | I can reflect on my 4 Gabe, this is a good reflection, but I think you
learning by assessing my work. could’ve been a bit more detailed by assessing specific
parts of your writing and referring to your
paragraphs. Other than that, good work!
2 = not attempted; 3 = needs work; 4 = meets standard; 5 = above standard