Interactive Connect Across Texts “Curtis Aikens and the American Dream” Describes How One Opinion Essay Person Reaches for Success by Learning

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Interactive Connect Across Texts “Curtis Aikens and the American Dream” describes how one opinion essay person reaches for success by learning. In this essay, what does basketball star Magic Johnson say to people about success in life? GoGo ForFor IIt!t! by Earvin “Magic” Johnson with William Novak

Basketball was my ticket to success. But if I hadn’t been good enough at basketball, I would have been successful in something else.

Magic Johnson at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain

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1. Text Features Look at the photo and caption on page 151. How do they help you understand what the I main idea of the selection Magic lives up to his name. might be? would have gone to college, and worked hard, and made something arvin “Magic” Johnson got his of myself. You can do that, too. Basketball is not the best way to E nickname in high school after a local get ahead. It’s probably the most difficult path you could take. There sportswriter saw him in action on the are thirty teams in the NBA, and each team has twelve players. That basketball court. Johnson went on to play basketball for two years at Michigan makes 360 players who are in the league at any one time. In a country State University in East Lansing. Then in as big as ours, that’s not a big number. There are about 1,800 college 1979, he was drafted by the NBA to play seniors who play ball, and only a few of them are good enough to be for the Los Angeles Lakers. From there, drafted. So even if you’re good enough and fortunate enough to play he went on to make NBA history. He was

in college, what makes you think you’re going to play in the NBA? You named to the NBA All-Star team twelve times and was voted both league and NBA have to understand that your chances of playing basketball for a living Magic Johnson spends time with students Finals Most Valuable Player three times. at his computer center in Philadelphia, PA. are miniscule. He retired from the NBA in 1991. Johnson The black community already has enough basketballWe need players. Andmore enough was a member of the USA’s famous “Dream Team,” which won a gold medal at the 1992 baseball players, and football Olympics. He was voted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002. 2. Question the Author players. But there are a lot of teachers . . . His basketball career over, Johnson continues to amaze. He is the head of Magic Underline two sentences other people we could really Johnson Enterprises, a company that tries to bring business to urban areas. It is that show some of the estimated that he is worth $800 million from his post-basketball activities. But Johnson use. We need more teachers. And more author’s beliefs. What gives back to the community through his charity, The Magic Johnson Foundation. question could you ask We need more lawyers. We scientists. He provides scholarships and develops community centers and technology training about the author or his need more doctors. We need opinion? centers. Johnson lives up to his own advice: Go for it! more accountants. We need more nurses. We need more pilots. And more scientists. And more carpenters. And more professors. And more police officers.

And more bankers. And more computer programmers. And more professions mechanics. And more social workers. And more car dealers. And study hard, if your goals are high, some people may tell you you’re more politicians. “acting white.” Stay away from these people! They are not your friends. And every single one of these —including doctor and lawyer— If the people around you aren’t going anywhere, if their dreams are is easier to get into than the NBA. no bigger than hanging out on the corner, or if they’re dragging you If you can possibly go to college, go! I know it’s hard. I know that down, get rid of them. Negative people can sap your energy so fast, some kids you know will discourage you. If you’re ambitious , if you and they can take your dreams from you, too. Key Vocabulary In Other Words In Other Words

profession n., job that requires NBA National Basketball Association dragging you down making it harder for you • education or training drafted chosen to play on a professional team to succeed miniscule sap your energy discourage v., to make someone not tiny take away your desire to reach social workers people who work for a city or your goals want to do something state to help other people ambitious adj., having big goals 152 Unit 4: Opening Doors

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3. Text Features Look at the photo and the caption on this page. What information do they I provide? Why is a photo Magic lives up to his name. a good way to show this information? would have gone to college, and worked hard, and made something arvin “Magic” Johnson got his of myself. You can do that, too. Basketball is not the best way to E nickname in high school after a local get ahead. It’s probably the most difficult path you could take. There sportswriter saw him in action on the are thirty teams in the NBA, and each team has twelve players. That basketball court. Johnson went on to play basketball for two years at Michigan makes 360 players who are in the league at any one time. In a country State University in East Lansing. Then in as big as ours, that’s not a big number. There are about 1,800 college 1979, he was drafted by the NBA to play seniors who play ball, and only a few of them are good enough to be for the Los Angeles Lakers. From there, drafted. So even if you’re good enough and fortunate enough to play he went on to make NBA history. He was in college, what makes you think you’re going to play in the NBA? You named to the NBA All-Star team twelve times and was voted both league and NBA have to understand that your chances of playing basketball for a living Magic Johnson spends time with students Finals Most Valuable Player three times. at his computer center in Philadelphia, PA. are miniscule. He retired from the NBA in 1991. Johnson The black community already has enough basketballWe need players. Andmore enough was a member of the USA’s famous “Dream Team,” which won a gold medal at the 1992 baseball players, and football Olympics. He was voted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002. players. But there are a lot of teachers . . . His basketball career over, Johnson continues to amaze. He is the head of Magic 4. Interpret other people we could really Johnson Enterprises, a company that tries to bring business to urban areas. It is Do you agree that you estimated that he is worth $800 million from his post-basketball activities. But Johnson should not spend time use. We need more teachers. And more gives back to the community through his charity, The Magic Johnson Foundation. with people who have no We need more lawyers. We He provides scholarships and develops community centers and technology training dreams for their lives? Why scientists. or why not? need more doctors. We need centers. Johnson lives up to his own advice: Go for it! more accountants. We need more nurses. We need more pilots. And more scientists. And more carpenters. And more professors. And more police officers.

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5. Question the Author Underline a sentence that you find confusing or that you think others may find confusing. Ask a question about the author to help you understand his opinion I don’t mean to tell you it’s easy. It’s not easy. Growing up today is or belief. hard. I know that. It’s much harder than when I was your age. We’ve got to quit making excuses. Quit feeling sorry for ourselves. We have to go to college. Think about business. Work hard. Support one another, like other groups do. The government will not save you. v The black leadership will not save you. You’re the only one who can make the difference. Whatever your dream is, go for it.

Selection Review GoA FornA It!lyze 1. Explain What reasons does Magic Johnson give for continuing one’s A. Choose one of the questions you education?provided in your answer to question 2 on page 152 or question2. Vocabulary 5 on this Why Gopage. does For AnswerJohnson It! thediscourage readers from seeking a career questions below. in basketball? What does he say about other professions ? 1. What was your question? 3. Analyze Text Features Talk with a partner about the photos used in this ______essay. Explain whether the pictures support the text or add new information. What other photo ideas would you have included to help readers understand 2. What answer did you find? Johnson’s opinions? ______4. Focus Strategy Ask Questions Share your Question the Author Chart with a small group. Did these questions help you? Were you able to find answers? ______Return to the Text 3. What evidence in the text supportsReread and your Write answer? According to Magic Johnson, there are many things that ______either help us or distract us from achieving our goals. Find one of these examples in the text and write a paragraph about how this relates to your ______own experiences with education. ______B. Answer the questions. 1. How did the photos and captions help support the author’s opinions and beliefs? ______2. The author lists things that help people achieve their goals. Which one of these has influenced your life? ______

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