1. In the learning materials section of your notebook, label a page “Getting a Job.” Put #1Free-Write. Spend a few minutes describing each of the following:  Your work experience to this point.  What part-time jobs do you think you would enjoy in the future? Why do these jobs interest you?  What are your long-range plans for a career in adulthood? What do you think you would like about this career? Pre-Reading Activity:

2. Background Information: Maya Angelou Was born Marguerite Johnson. Is Oprah’s favorite poet. Was the inaugural poet for President Bill Clinton’s inauguration. “Getting a Job” is an excerpt from I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, an autobiographical account of her childhood. You may remember reading a piece entitled “Complaining” last year. This piece was also from her autobiography.

3. Street cars are also known as cable cars. Notice the cable above that supplies electricity, much like amusement parki bumper cars are powered. Based on car designs, this appears to be the 30s or 40s. Based on cars and clothing styles, this would be about the 1970s.

4. Women’s roles changed during World War II. More jobs were available to women since men were fighting in the war.

5. CharacterChallenge(s)Choice(s) Marguerite Mom Active Reading Chart—Learning Materials Section of Notebook

6. Now, considering information in your chart and ideas discussed in class, answer the following question. A person’s life and character are often determined by the choices made in the face of life’s challenges. In Getting a Job, Marguerite faces several challenges and makes several significant choices. Using specifics from the passage to support your response, analyze Marguerite’s character as it is revealed by the challenges she faced and the choices she made.

7. Additional Reflection: Carefully read the first full paragraph at the top left corner of p. 413 Reflect on the following statement Angelou makes: “Life was cheap and death entirely free.” Write a well-developed paragraph in which you explore her statement. You might consider..  What do you think she means by this?  What historical forces were at work that contributed to her conclusion?  How can a person’s personal decisions be affected by world affairs? Can you think of examples?