Kayla
Victim Narrative
“The popularity of the victim narrative in student texts indicates that student associate school based literacy practices with oppression and even cruelty.” -Alexander
“All I would see was”bad use of language” or “explain more,” but explain what!”
This student is clearly playing the victim narrative in their literacy narrative. They introduce a teacher who doesn’t care about the students or their work and made everyone’s life “miserable”. The student is pleading their case for the reason they believe they dislike English and the teacher is that source.
Sam
Hero Narrative
“The hero cultural narrative was incorporated at least once by 85% of the students and emphasized the individual and his or her specific literacy achievements and accomplishments.” – Alexander
“Miss Foster showed me, writing was more of a creative way to express one’s thoughts and feelings”
This shows Miss Foster as the Hero in the narrative as well as a good sponsor. Without her Sam wouldn’t be successful and actually like reading. These qualities make her the hero because she establishes the building blocks for Sam’s English career and paves the way for his success.
Hannah
Victim Narrative
“The popularity of the victim narrative in student texts indicates that student associate school based literacy practices with oppression and even cruelty.” -Alexander
“I was told I needed to make my paper stand out more. I was told I needed to make it more meaningful than it already was.”
Hannah is expressing a victim narrative but a different one from Kayla. In Hannah’s case it’s not the fact that the teacher doesn’t care. In fact I think the teacher does care and is in fact a good sponsor by telling her all of this. The reason why Hannah is the victim is because this narrative was so close to her that she felt as though no one would criticize it but in all honesty I think she needs to take the constructive criticism.
Blake
Sponsor
“In whatever form, Sponsors deliver ideological freight that must be borne for access to what they have. Of course sponsors can be oblivious to or innovative with this ideological burden.”
“At the time I didn’t really like her, although now looking back on it I realize how awesome she was.”
Blake is describing a sponsor. Someone who influences your opinion on something because of the position of power the are in. In Blakes case this is a positive sponsor because she teaches him to take his time with English and that by doing so he is more productive and the quality of his work is better. This is a good sponsor because Blake describes the positive effects she had on his life.
