Walden

August 28, 2018

Standard: 

RL.11-12.1 Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including determining where the text leaves matters uncertain.

RL.11-12.2 Determine two or more themes of a text and analyze their development over the course of the text, including how they interact and build on one another to produce a complex account; provide an objective summary of the text.

RL.11-12.9 Analyze how two or more texts from the same period treat similar themes or topics and compare the approaches the authors take.

Obj: I can cite strong evidence to support analysis of themes in multiple texts and compare the authors approach to it.  

EQ: How does environment shape identity?

Starter: 

Based on your notes, identify a theme of Song of Myself.

Explain how this theme is evident in the writing.

Vocabulary: 

Word: Central idea

Part of Speech: Noun

Dictionary Definition:  the central, unifying element of the story, which ties together all of the other elements of fiction used by the author to tell the story.

Your Definition: 

Activity:  Describe the central idea of your favorite book, movie, TV show, etc.

Activity: 

1.  Song of Myself

Each table will be assigned a question to share to the class.

Make sure your responses are answering all parts of the question.

If you need help please let me know. 

2.  Walden

Read and annotate Walden.

Once you are done reading find three quotes that you found interesting.

Write the quote down and then write a few sentences explaining why you chose that quote—what it meant to you, reminded you of, etc. You may connect it to something that happened to you in your own life, to a film or book they saw or read, or to something that happened in history or is happening in current events.

Discussion

Divide the students into groups of three, labeling one student A, one B, and the other C in each group. Invite the A students to read one of their chosen quotations to their group. Then students B and C discuss the quotation. What do they think it means? Why do they think these words might be important? To whom? After several minutes, ask the A students to read the back of their card (or to explain why they picked the quotation), thus having “the last word.” This process continues with the B students sharing and then the C students.

Finally, we will discuss these ideas as a class.

3.  TPEQEQEA

 Song of Myself and Walden Comparison

In a TPEQEQEA paragraph compare the themes in Song of Myself and Walden.

Remember, to find the theme try to summarize the piece and find a topic word to expand on.

Closure: 

Connect either Walden or Song of Myself to the big idea of identity.