What Good Fortune!

While growing up instead of getting pizza my family ordered chinese takeout instead. Often. Ok, all the time. We ordered from Chang An a fancy chinese resturaunt in Concord Center.
Now the English connection: When I try to teach my students about themes (the author's message or purpose for writing a text) I ask them to think of a fortune cookie. Have you ever cracked open a fortune cookie and it just says 'Racism' ? or 'Friendship'? or 'Lying'? I certainly haven't heard of anyone who has. My guess is the reason why no one has, is what good is a topic? That doesn't help you at all BUT fortune cookies do have helpful phrases or reminders on them that either are themes or can easily be turned into them.

After a PuPu platter, fried peking raviolis and white rice, I cracked open my fortune cookie (always eating the cookie before reading the fortune) and it read: Work is either fun or drudgery. It depends on your attitude.

IT WAS A THEME!!!

I got pretty excited - as you can assume - and instantly stole my friends fortune cookie and read: If one desires recognition, one will find it.

IT WAS A THEME!!!

So, I have come up with a plan to decorate the cork board at the top of one of my blackboards with fortunes from fortune cookies. This will help further remind my students to never ever write in their essays "A major theme of Julius Caesar is lying."

FAVOR: When you get chinese food please, please save your fortunes, steal your friends fortunes, and bring them in! I want to cover the cork board with fortunes!