Home, Grief, and Storytelling in Men We Reaped

Lesson 14
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ELA

Unit 9

10th Grade

Lesson 14 of 22

Objective


Analyze the role that violence and substance abuse play in the childhood of Ward and Joshua.

Explain how Desmond’s death and Ward’s memories of him connect to the thematic topics of violence and substance abuse that Ward introduces in "We Are Born."

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Men We Reaped: A Memoir by Jesmyn Ward  — Chapters "We Are Born" and "Desmond Cook"

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Target Task


Discourse Questions

What role does violence and substance abuse play in the childhood of Ward and her brother Joshua? 

How does Desmond’s death and Ward’s memories of him connect to the thematic topics of violence and substance abuse that Ward introduces in "We Are Born"?

Self-medicating is an attempt to alleviate the emotional pain of depression, anxiety, grief, or other mental issues without the supervision of a medical professional through the use of drugs and/or alcohol. To what extent did Jesmyn and her friends self-medicate knowingly?

Homework


Read and annotate "We are Wounded" and "Charles Joseph Martin" by Lesson 16.

  • Annotation focus: 
    • What are your first impressions of Ward’s home life and her parents’ marriage? 
    • What are your first impressions of Charles Joseph Martin?

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Standards


  • LO 1.4B — Synthesize ideas from multiple texts and explain how the texts may convey different perspectives on a common theme or idea.
  • LO 5.1A — Extend the conversation around an idea, topic, or text by formulating questions and recognizing the claims and perspectives of others.
  • LO 5.1B — Cite relevant evidence and evaluate the evidence presented by others.
  • 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.

Supporting Standards

LO 2.2A
RI.9-10.1
RI.9-10.2
W.9-10.1

Next

Analyze how Ward manipulates structure and uses narrative techniques to convey central ideas in her essay "On Witness and Repair: A Personal Tragedy Followed by Pandemic."

Lesson 15
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Lesson Map

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