Curriculum / ELA / 10th Grade / Unit 3: "I was born to join in love, not hate—that is my nature": Civil Disobedience in Antigone / Lesson 6
ELA
Unit 3
10th Grade
Lesson 6 of 23
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Analyze Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s reasoning for breaking unjust laws and make connections back to Antigone.
Non-Fiction Text: “Excerpt of 'Letter from a Birmingham Jail'” by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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Tasks that represents the peak thinking of the lesson - mastery will indicate whether or not objective was achieved.
What connections do you see between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s explanation of unjust and just laws and Antigone's explanation of why she broke Creon's law? How do you think Martin Luther King Jr. would perceive Antigone? Use one or more of the following text-based vocabulary words in your response: degrade, precipitate, and/or extremist.
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How does Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. define just and unjust laws? How does he use syllogisms and antithesis to advance his purpose?
Throughout his letter, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. makes various allusions to religious, philosophical, and historical figures. Why do you think he makes these allusions? How do these allusions show his moral character and appeal to the audience's ethos?
What does Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. think about those who are moderate and those who are called extremist? How might Ismene be considered a moderate? How might Antigone be considered an extremist?
Literary terms, text-based vocabulary, idioms and word parts to be taught with the text
syllogism
an argument based on deductive reasoning that uses generalizations to reach specific conclusions. Usually, a syllogism follows the format of "A is B. B is C. So, A is C."
allusion
a brief or indirect (implied) reference to something/someone from literature, history, or culture.
anaphora
the repetition of a words or words at the start of phrases, clauses, or sentences
antithesis
a figure of speech that contrasts two opposing ideas, usually within parallel grammatical structures.
rhetorical question
a question that isn't intended to be answered. The point of asking the question is to make an audience think or to cause an emotional reaction.
degrade
v.
to treat or regard someone with contempt or disrespect
precipitate
cause an event or situation (typically one that is undesirable) to happen suddenly
extremist
n.
a person who holds extreme or fanatical political or religious views, especially one who resorts to or advocates extreme action; a radical
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RI.9-10.2 — Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.
RI.9-10.5 — Analyze in detail how an author's ideas or claims are developed and refined by particular sentences, paragraphs, or larger portions of a text (e.g., a section or chapter).
RI.9-10.9 — Analyze seminal U.S. documents of historical and literary significance (e.g., Washington's Farewell Address, the Gettysburg Address, Roosevelt's Four Freedoms speech, King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail"), including how they address related themes and concepts.
RL.9-10.6 — Analyze a particular point of view or cultural experience reflected in a work of literature from outside the United States, drawing on a wide reading of world literature.
Standards that are practiced daily but are not priority standards of the unit
L.9-10.1 — Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
L.9-10.6 — Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.
RI.9-10.1 — Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
RI.9-10.3 — Analyze how the author unfolds an analysis or series of ideas or events, including the order in which the points are made, how they are introduced and developed, and the connections that are drawn between them.
RI.9-10.4 — Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language of a court opinion differs from that of a newspaper).
SL.9-10.1 — Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9—10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
SL.9-10.6 — Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.
W.9-10.9 — Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
W.9-10.10 — Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
Next
Evaluate the credibility of sources about a global figure who practiced civil disobedience.
Build background knowledge about Greek theater and tragedy.
Standards
RI.9-10.2SL.9-10.1
Analyze how Sophocles uses characterization to introduce the major conflict of the play.
RL.9-10.3
Analyze Creon's use of rhetorical appeals.
RL.9-10.3RL.9-10.4RL.9-10.5
Analyze the first choral ode and make connections to the podcast episode "Death Interrupted."
RI.9-10.2RI.9-10.3RL.9-10.2RL.9-10.4
Evaluate Antigone's argument for reasoning, rhetorical appeals, and logical fallacies.
RI.9-10.8RL.9-10.3RL.9-10.4
RI.9-10.2RI.9-10.5RI.9-10.9RL.9-10.6
W.9-10.7W.9-10.8
Write about the challenges and achievements of a global figure who practiced civil disobedience.
W.9-10.2W.9-10.4W.9-10.5W.9-10.7W.9-10.8
Present about a global figure's civil disobedience and engage in a small group discussion.
SL.9-10.1.aSL.9-10.1.cSL.9-10.1.dSL.9-10.4SL.9-10.6
Analyze the theme of fate in a choral ode.
RI.9-10.2RL.9-10.2RL.9-10.4
Evaluate Creon's leadership by synthesizing an informational text with Antigone.
RI.9-10.2RL.9-10.3RL.9-10.4
Analyze how Emma Watson persuades her audience using delivery techniques, as well as rhetorical appeals and devices.
RI.9-10.6W.9-10.1
Analyze Antigone as a tragic hero.
RL.9-10.3RL.9-10.4SL.9-10.1
Analyze Creon as a tragic hero.
Analyze the director's purpose in creating Antigone in Ferguson and make connections between the events of the play and Michael Brown's death in 2014.
RL.9-10.6RL.9-10.7
Analyze the role of the chorus in Antigone in Ferguson.
Analyze the role of catharsis in Antigone in Ferguson and brainstorm an adaptation of Antigone.
RL.9-10.2RL.9-10.3
Engage in a Socratic seminar about Antigone by supporting arguments with strong textual evidence.
SL.9-10.1SL.9-10.1.aSL.9-10.1.bSL.9-10.1.cSL.9-10.1.dSL.9-10.4
Analyze Rita Pierson's Ted Talk "Every kid needs a champion" and brainstorm a topic for the performance task speech.
RI.9-10.2RI.9-10.6W.9-10.1.aW.9-10.5
Conduct credible research to appeal to ethos and logos in a speech.
Draft a persuasive speech using rhetorical appeals and devices.
L.9-10.3W.9-10.1.aW.9-10.1.bW.9-10.1.cW.9-10.1.e
Provide peer feedback on written speech and delivery.
SL.9-10.4SL.9-10.6W.9-10.1W.9-10.10W.9-10.4W.9-10.5
Deliver a speech to persuade an audience.
SL.9-10.3SL.9-10.4SL.9-10.6
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