Poem by Majaj: “Guidlines”

Naomi Shihab Nye wrote of Lisa Suhair Majaj’s poem “Guidelines”:

Lisa’s poem sheds a clear, compelling light on the sometimes thorny terrain of immigration, identity and belonging, and it does this in an imaginative, comfortable tone which includes us all in the conversation.

Read the poem, “Guidelines” by Majaj, then write an essay of 3 pages in which you respond to Nye’ comment on the poem, explaining how the poem does what Nye says it does.

Specifics:

– Give your essay a good/an evocative title
– Document your sources in APA
– In the upper left side of the first page of your essay, write your name; course’s name, date and nature of assignment (in single spaced lines)
– 3 pages
– Times New Roman ;12 point font; double spaced
– 1 inch margins
– Write if you agree or disagree and why?
– Talk about the question of identity
– Talk about the question of belonging
– Do you agree with the author’s tone?
– Do you agree that everyone can relate to the poem? Why?