Takaki Chapter 4 Reflection

As I continue with Takaki, I still utilize the method of underlining key sentences that either highlight his main idea or provide details that support his main idea. I find that more often than not, the main idea/argument the author is examining is located within the first view paragraphs . It is often posed as a question or is phrased in a manner that directly states what the author is investigating in the proceeding pages. The supporting details are often located in the paragraphs proceeding the introduction of the main idea and are used to support the author's purpose. I locate these details by paying close attention to the first sentence of every paragraph because in a well written argument, the first sentence of every paragraph should provide a clear idea of what the following information contains. The supporting details are anecdotes, research notes, statistics, or primary source data that support the author's argument. If I get confused, I will read the supporting details and refer back to the main argument.
Once I discovered what Takaki was investigating, I started to activate my prior knowledge of the removal of the Native Americans by asking myself questions. How were they removed? Who sanctioned their removal? What happened after their removal? I did not write these questions down, but simply held a dialogue with myself. In addition, I was reflecting on what details/topics Takaki discussed in Chapter 4 that may be useful to me in my classroom. I think the letters from tribal chiefs he cited that described what the Native Americans had to endure when crossing the country during winter is extremely poignant and provides a viewpoint of the removal that is not found in most textbooks.

I would use Takaki's discussion on the impact of the railroad to illustrate to students that the railroads did more than connect east and west and stimulate the economy; the railroads forced people to immigrate, migrate, assimilate, increased tensions between whites and other groups, and had other unintended consequences. The rise of the railroad is often celebrated in history books, but as Takaki mentions, the railroad also brought some pain and despair and had far reaching consequences.