User:Chaunguyenle/sandbox

Draft of Revisions (final draft will have proper citation format)

Adding to “Reception”

Despite initial controversies surrounding the subject matter of Bluest Eye, Morrison was eventually recognized for her contributions to literature when she received the Nobel Prize in 1993, over 20 years following the original publication of the novel. (NobelPrize.org)

One African-American educator, founder of the IFE Academy of Teaching & Technology Shekema Silveri, has stated that, "Teaching novels like The Bluest Eye helps us break down barriers with students. After reading the book, I had a student who said that she is the product of incest. And I’ve had a student who said that she was molested by her uncle. Books allow us to help them heal in ways that we as educators couldn’t help them heal on our own." (PBS, BANNED: The Bluest Eye) (adding to balance the negative feedback from school districts)

In an interview, American Library Association editor Robert P. Doyle also recognized the potential of novels like "The Bluest Eye" to effect positive change within schools, stating that, “The book community realized that [they] have not only an opportunity, but a responsibility to engage the American public in a conversation about the First Amendment as it relates to books and literature.” The Bluest Eye is one of many novels on the ALA’s list of challenged books, appearing as 15th out of 100 of the most challenged novels in the most recent decade. (PBS: Books Behind Bars) and (http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/top-100-bannedchallenged-books-2000-2009)

Adding to “Black Girlhood”

Idols like Shirley Temple were models of a beauty standard that excluded Black girls. Temple was a child actress who rose to fame in the 1930s, becoming known for her musical talents and signature ringlets. She is referenced with disdain by Claudia MacTeer, who greatly dislikes the reverence that Temple received, and the white-centric industry that she represented. Though the novel addresses many issues relating to racism, Morrison’s main purpose was to address the intersection of racism and misogyny which Black women were faced with in the 20th century. Their experiences were unique because of the oppression they faced for being a part of two uniquely marginalized communities. Morrison addresses the issues of sexual abuse, societal isolation, family trauma, mental illness, and other themes through a lens that is distinctly Black and feminine. The graphic content of the novel has been received in both very negative and positive ways, but Morrison nonetheless contended that these controversial topics were ones that illuminated a too-often ignored problem at the center of American society's treatment of people who could not live up to the standard of the idealized American. In the foreword of the novel, she states, "I focused, therefore, on how something as grotesque as the demonization of an entire race could take root inside the most delicate member of society: a child; the most vulnerable member: a female." Described as a "psychological murder" by Morrison, the novel follows Pecola's unraveling as she continues to aspire toward a white standard of beauty that she will never be able to attain; in combination with the rape she experienced by her father, Pecola's ultimate fate is one that demonstrates the difficult and tragic life of a child who could not overcome the many life obstacles she was faced with for simply being Black and female. According to the African American Intellectual History Society, “Women were presented as African Americans’ moral standard-bearers and thus as ultimately responsible for racial progress.” The novel is told through multiple perspectives, and readers are able to contrast Pecola's view of Black girlhood with that of Claudia. By depicting the experience of racism through the perspective of a young and insecure child like Pecola, Morrison attempts to show the detrimental effects of placing such expectations upon young Black girls. Though "The Bluest Eye" is the first of Toni Morrison's novels, the theme of Black girlhood in the context of 20th century America is one that appears often in her body of work. (AAIHS; Race, Media, and Black Womanhood in the Early Twentieth Century)

Adding to “White Lifestyle Standards”

Dick and Jane novels were popular in the mid-20th century. They promoted the importance of the nuclear family and helped to foster literacy in young children as well. The Bluest Eye references Dick and Jane stories several times, although Morrison is presents a more critical view of the novel's family standards. Morrison’s graphic storytelling within The Bluest Eye challenged existing attitudes about keeping children’s literature free of sex and violence. The lifestyle standards found in Dick and Jane were not achievable for many children who shared backgrounds similar to Pecola. (Rarebookschool.org, description of the "Reading with and without Dick and Jane" exhibition)

Chaunguyenle (talk) 17:38, 27 November 2018 (UTC)

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Bluest Eye Article Revisions

to do list:

1) adding to Author's Intentions section: not all info under that section in relevant, needs to be edited to include more of the major themes in the novel using quotes from Morrison interviews

2) in addition to shortening the controversy section, expand the Reception section slightly using quotes from PBS article

3) expand analysis section using info from Carey, Lemert, Rhodes

10/30 Article Evaluation for "Persepolis" comics Wiki page

1) Is everything in the article relevant to the article topic? Is there anything that distracted you?

The Wikipedia page states that the article has multiple issues concerning "excessive" and "intricate" detail that may be distracting to readers. I agree that the synopsis does not require this amount of detail, and that the page would benefit greatly if certain, more unimportant plot points were deleted. Currently, the page seems to be attempting to recount every detail from the comic. A more condensed, concise "Sectional Summary" section would really improve the page.

2) What kinds of conversations, if any, are going on behind the scenes about how to represent this topic?

There seems to be a lot of debate concerning "Persepolis's" categorization as a "graphic novel." Many people were concerned that the work could not properly labeled as such, and sources were cited in the debate, in order to compare how different groups have defined the traits which constitute a true graphic novel. A compromise was reached, in which the novel would be called an "autobiography, written in graphic novel format." A later comment mentions how Marjane Satrapi herself prefers the categorization of "comic book," and how the novel is not truly wholly autobiographical since details have been changed to maintain the overall effect that Satrapi wanted the story to have.

3) Structure: Lead, Background, and Summary

The lead does a good job of briefly summarizing the novel, mentioning some of its accolades, and sharing some info on the book's publication and adaptations. Overall it effectively lists all the basic info that a reader should have before reading the rest of the article and provides appropriate context.

The background section describes the novel as a bildungsroman and discusses its significance as a retelling of Satrapi's childhood. The novel touches on major themes about the Iranian Revolution and womanhood, and how the two come together in this novel. This section also includes some of the awards that the novel has received, although that information should not be present within the background section as it doesn't relate directly to the writing of the book; the awards came much later.

As previously mentioned, the summary section as overly long. It should be a general synopsis of major plot points.

10/9 Article Evaluation for "A Wrinkle in Time" novel

"A Wrinkle in Time's" lead section provides a good starting point for the rest of the article and includes information on the book's author, its awards, and protagonists. It also mentions the novel's two film adaptations.

The "Publication History" section of the article describes the context and setting in which Madeleine L'Engle published the book. Considering its progressive messaging and evocative content, the challenges faced by L'Engle in publishing the novel demonstrate a societal aversion to release such a novel, especially since the target audience is so young. It was only through a chance encounter with a party guest that L'Engle met the publisher who would eventually release her novel, and from there it received numerous accolades and praise.

The novel's Wikipedia summary is incredibly detailed, which is generally expected considering the novel's complex plot. However, many details could be omitted without significantly altering the content of the plot summary. Shortening the plot summary would also make it more concise and easy to understand. As it is, the Wiki summary is just a point-by-point recounting of all the events in the novel, important or otherwise.

The "Major Themes" section of the novel examines the novel's key symbols and overall message. There is strong Christian imagery in the book, and it details the classic struggle between good and evil in the world.

10/4 Article Evaluation for "Chicano/a studies":


 * Is everything in the article relevant to the article topic? Is there anything that distracted you?
 * For the most part, everything in the article was relevant to the topic. It covered the origins of the movement quite thoroughly, as well as the political and social aims of the increase in these programs.
 * Is any information out of date? Is anything missing that could be added?
 * Under the "Current Events" section, the most recent happening occurred in 2012: the TUSC controversy. A great deal of events concerning ethnic studies and changing social dynamics within America have since occurred, and there is certainly plenty of room to update this section with events from recent years.
 * What else could be improved?
 * The "Schools of thought" section is very short, and names two major threads within chicano studies, yet does not elaborate on what they are and what they teach. More detail is needed here.


 * Is the article neutral? Are there any claims that appear heavily biased toward a particular position?
 * The article leans slightly in favor of expanding this program, but overall it is fair in its representation of the topic. It also lists concerns associated with the program, as well as some negative points raised against chicano studies by critics.
 * Are there viewpoints that are overrepresented, or underrepresented?
 * The article refers a lot to professors of chicano or ethnic studies and much of the article is based on their findings and views of the program.


 * Check a few citations. Do the links work? Does the source support the claims in the article?
 * Yes, the links work and the sources represent article claims accurately.
 * Is each fact referenced with an appropriate, reliable reference? Where does the information come from? Are these neutral sources? If biased, is that bias noted?
 * Facts are properly referenced, and for sources like the Mexican American Youth Organization which might be biased, bias was addressed properly.


 * What kinds of conversations, if any, are going on behind the scenes about how to represent this topic?
 * Other editors have also noted that there is a lot of work that could be done on this article. Recently, there have been a lot of new links modified/added to the article. Otherwise, there is not much talk about the topic of chicano studies itself.
 * How is the article rated? Is it a part of any WikiProjects?
 * The article is a part of WikiProject United States. It is rated as a start-class and low-important article on the project's importance scale. It is supported by the Hispanic and Latino Americans task force. It is also supported by the Mexican-American task force, which has been marked as Top-importance.
 * How does the way Wikipedia discusses this topic differ from the way we've talked about it in class?
 * The article gives a good in-depth analysis of the program's origins, and its expansion following calls from civil rights movements and Chicano scholars for a program which addresses the issue of Chicano underrepresentation. It broadly addresses the larger social dynamics in which the program exists, as well as the controversies surrounding it. It takes a more rational approach in showcasing the benefits of this program, instead of being completely biased.

10/2/18 Article Evaluation for "Hispaniola":


 * Is everything in the article relevant to the article topic? Is there anything that distracted you?
 * Yes, everything appears to be relevant. Because this is a geographical subject, most of the content on the page appears to be factual. There isn't really room to insert personal opinions on a topic like Hispaniola.
 * Is any information out of date? Is anything missing that could be added?
 * The information appears to be up to date. The article covers everything from Hispaniola's history of colonization to its modern-day demographics, climate, and economy, just to name a few sections. The physical and social composition of the island are both covered rather thoroughly.
 * What else could be improved?
 * Certain sections are shorter than others, like the one on economy. It would be helpful to have more statistics on the page, but it is possible that there just isn't really a lot of data collection on the island's economy
 * Is the article neutral? Are there any claims that appear heavily biased toward a particular position?
 * The article is neutral for the most part. It is a factual account of the island's history, and aims to inform people about Hispaniola. There is essentially no bias in the article.
 * Are there viewpoints that are overrepresented, or underrepresented?
 * There is a lot of focus on the period surrounding Columbus's arrival, and very little on modern-day Hispaniola. The article could be improved if there was more information about Hispaniola from 1600 to the present day.
 * Do the links work? Does the source support the claims in the article?
 * Yes, the links include sources like IMF and CIA, which contains official and accurate data. It is an extensive list, and there are a multitude of historical sources that have been referenced in the article as well.
 * Is each fact referenced with an appropriate, reliable reference? Where does the information come from? Are these neutral sources? If biased, is that bias noted?
 * Yes, these are neutral sources.
 * What kinds of conversations, if any, are going on behind the scenes about how to represent this topic?
 * On the talk page, there is mention of controversy surrounding the naming of the island, which was done by the US without the full consent of the island's government. Many Dominicans do not recognize the name Hispaniola. It is a sensitive topic which has caused strain within the community.
 * How is the article rated? Is it a part of any WikiProjects?
 * It is a level-4 vital article in Geography. It has been rated as B-class. It is a part of WikiProject Caribbean, "an attempt to build a comprehensive guide to the countries of the Caribbean."
 * How does the way Wikipedia discusses this topic differ from the way we've talked about it in class?
 * It is similar in that it addresses the issue of colonialism. It also voices the concerns of peoples native to the island, and their take on European colonization.

Article Evaluation for Telgemeier's "Drama":


 * Is everything in the article relevant to the article topic? Is there anything that distracted you?
 * The first three paragraphs are worded very poorly and add a lot of confusion.
 * Is any information out of date? Is anything missing that could be added?
 * Not to my knowledge
 * What else could be improved?
 * Overall, the style in which the Wikipedia page is written needs to be revised. There are several grammatical errors and awkward sentences which distract from the article and make the page look unprofessional.

Tone


 * Is the article neutral? Are there any claims that appear heavily biased toward a particular position?
 * The article appears to be relatively neutral in that it is mainly a synopsis of what happens in the novel. The author of the article mentions that the book has received both positive and negative feedback, and there appears to be little bias.
 * Are there viewpoints that are overrepresented, or underrepresented?
 * Generally no, the author does not explicitly advocate for one side or the other, but perhaps leans a bit in favor of the novel.

Sources


 * Check a few citations. Do the links work? Does the source support the claims in the article?
 * Yes
 * Is each fact referenced with an appropriate, reliable reference? Where does the information come from? Are these neutral sources? If biased, is that bias noted?
 * Yes

Checking the talk page


 * What kinds of conversations, if any, are going on behind the scenes about how to represent this topic?
 * People have proposed adding more detail to the summary, as well as pictures. People also want to add more sources about the controversy.
 * How is the article rated? Is it a part of any WikiProjects?
 * It is unrated.
 * How does the way Wikipedia discusses this topic differ from the way we've talked about it in class?
 * People aren't as concerned with the themes of the novel, but rather the manner in which it is being summarized and presented to the public.