30.4. "Don't Expect Me to Be Perfect" Barbara Park, SL1.

Today's reading is by a Korean-American teenager.
This photograph depicts a Korean family who
emigrated to Hawaii in the 19th century.

What Are We Practicing Today?
We're still working on our nonfiction reading for speed and comprehension. We're taking margin notes, through writing short notes in the margin of printed copies and through annotating electronic documents using the comments.

What Should We Remember?

• Number the paragraphs first, and preview while you're numbering. Don't circle them.
• Circle word or phrases (names or anything that you think is useful) and then create a code by making an initial and circling it.
• Refer to previous paragraph main ideas by writing the paragraph number and circling it.
• Use symbols to save space and time:

Suggested Symbol                   Meaning

• =                                      is/am/are/was/were/be/being/been
• +                                      and
• ex.                                   an example of this is . . . 
• Mr.H., "Hi"                     Mr. Harrison said, "Hello."
• b/c                                   because
• *                                      but
• ->                                    If/then 

The Text
The text, the personal essay "Don't Expect Me to Be Perfect," is a straightforward take from a teen on the issue of parents and children and what they owe each other, from Newsweek.

The Assignment
Read it and practice our rapid note-taking procedure.