Curriculum / ELA / 8th Grade / Unit 1: Facing Prejudice: All American Boys / Lesson 22
ELA
Unit 1
8th Grade
Lesson 22 of 29
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Explain how writers use figurative language and make structural choices to develop and support key ideas.
Speech: “Why Black Lives Matter” by Alicia Garza — focus on paragraphs 1-35
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Garza includes a quote in her speech from famous 19th-century abolitionist, writer, and speaker Frederick Douglass (a formerly enslaved person who traveled the United States and Europe speaking out against slavery). Douglass wrote in 1857:
If there is no struggle there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom and yet deprecate agitation are men who want crops without plowing up the ground; they want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters.
Explain what Douglass means by this figurative language. What idea is he trying to develop and support?
An example response to the Target Task at the level of detail expected of the students.
Questions about the text that will help guide the students understanding
In the third paragraph of his introduction, Eric Liu uses figurative language when talking about the present moment:
"We are experiencing the birth of the America we were promised. We are experiencing the birth of a different kind of country that doesn’t equate whiteness with Americanness."
Explain this metaphor and the connotations of the word "birth." What idea is Lui trying to communicate in these sentences?
What does Garza mean when she says, in paragraph 10, that her citizenship—and that of other Black people—is "conditional"? How do the examples she provides in paragraphs 11-17 support this idea?
How does Garza use repetition at the beginning of paragraphs 11-17? What idea is she trying to communicate through repetition?
How does Garza use repetition at the beginning of paragraphs 23-28 in this speech? What idea is she trying to communicate through repetition?
Assess student understanding and monitor progress toward this lesson's objective with an Exit Ticket.
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L.8.5 — Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
RI.8.4 — Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts.
Standards that are practiced daily but are not priority standards of the unit
L.8.5.a — Interpret figures of speech (e.g. verbal irony, puns) in context.
L.8.6 — Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases; gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.
RI.8.1 — Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
RI.8.5 — Analyze in detail the structure of a specific paragraph in a text, including the role of particular sentences in developing and refining a key concept.
RI.8.10 — By the end of the year, read and comprehend literary nonfiction at the high end of the grades 6—8 text complexity band independently and proficiently.
SL.8.1 — Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 8 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
SL.8.6 — Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.
W.8.1 — Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
W.8.1.a — Introduce claim(s), acknowledge and distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and organize the reasons and evidence logically.
W.8.1.b — Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant evidence, using accurate, credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.
W.8.4 — Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
W.8.9 — Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
W.8.9.b — Apply grade 8 Reading standards to literary nonfiction (e.g., "Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; recognize when irrelevant evidence is introduced").
Lesson 21
Lesson 23
Define significant terms related to racial justice.
L.8.6 RI.8.2
Explain how specific events and sections of text in All American Boys reveal aspects of Rashad’s character and his perspective.
RL.8.3
Explain how specific events and sections of text in All American Boys reveal aspects of Quinn’s character and his perspective.
Explain how racism and racial bias shape the way that characters in All American Boys—and people more generally—are viewed.
RI.8.3 RL.8.3
Writing
Unpack a prompt, study a mentor text, and gather evidence in preparation for writing a paragraph response.
RI.8.3 W.8.1 W.8.5 W.8.9
Outline and a paragraph response, including a strong claim statement, important details, and a concluding statement.
RL.8.3 W.8.1 W.8.1.a W.8.1.e W.8.5
Draft and revise a paragraph response, focusing on writing strong analysis.
RL.8.3 W.8.1 W.8.1.b W.8.1.c W.8.5
Explain how Smith uses figurative language in his TED Talk to develop and support his central idea.
RI.8.2 RI.8.4
Explain how authors Reynolds and Kiely use figurative language and word choice to provide insight into characters’ emotions.
L.8.5 L.8.5.a RL.8.4
Explain how events and lines of text reveal characters’ perspectives of themselves and others in All American Boys.
Explain the impact of Rashad’s assault on characters and their perspectives in All American Boys.
Explain how events in All American Boys reveal and challenge characters' beliefs.
Outline a paragraph analyzing how Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely explore the topic of invisibility in All American Boys.
RL.8.2 W.8.1 W.8.5 W.8.9
Plan, draft, and revise a paragraph response.
RL.8.2 W.8.1 W.8.1.a W.8.1.b W.8.1.c W.8.5
Explain how specific events in All American Boys reveal and/or change Rashad's perspective.
Explain how Quinn makes the decision to attend the rally, and the impact of this decision in All American Boys.
Determine the technical meaning of words using context clues and reference texts to develop an understanding of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
L.8.4.a L.8.4.c L.8.4.d RI.8.4
Draw conclusions about Quinn and Rashad’s perspectives based on what they say and do in All American Boys.
Describe the structure of All American Boys and explain how it contributes to the text’s meaning.
RL.8.5
Determine themes in All American Boys and explain how they are developed over the course of the text.
RL.8.2
Determine Precious Fondren’s purpose in her article. Clearly and succinctly present information about a Black woman killed by police.
RI.8.6
L.8.5 RI.8.4
Socratic Seminar
Engage in a Socratic Seminar with classmates, drawing evidence from unit texts, and carefully explaining reasoning.
SL.8.1 SL.8.1.a SL.8.1.b SL.8.4
Unpack the expectations of a narrative writing task, study a Mentor Text, and brainstorm possible topics.
W.8.3 W.8.5
Outline and begin to draft a personal narrative.
W.8.3 W.8.3.a W.8.5
Revise narratives for descriptive details, sensory language, and dialogue.
W.8.3 W.8.3.b W.8.3.d
Outline and begin to draft a narrative written from a different character's perspective.
Revise both narratives for transition words and edit for verbals.
L.8.1 L.8.1.a W.8.3 W.8.3.c W.8.5
Assessment – 2 days
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