Altruism and Interconnectedness in Short Texts

Lesson 9
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ELA

Unit 1

10th Grade

Lesson 9 of 11

Objective


Analyze how the author uses the juxtaposition between "The Pledge of Allegiance" and the Thanksgiving address to convey central ideas about gratitude and interconnectedness in the excerpt from Braiding Sweetgrass.

Readings and Materials


  • Excerpt: Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Klimmerer (pp. 105-117) 

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Target Task


Writing Prompt

How does the author use the juxtaposition between "The Pledge of Allegiance" and the Thanksgiving address to convey central ideas about gratitude and interconnectedness in the excerpt from Braiding Sweetgrass?

Criteria for Success

  • Thesis: Responds to the prompt with a thesis that presents a defensible interpretation
  • Evidence: Includes multiple and varied evidence to support your line of reasoning
  • Commentary: Explains how your evidence supports your line of reasoning (reason or claim used to support a larger thesis)
  • Sophistication: Demonstrates sophistication of thought or develops a complex literary argument

Sample Response

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Key Thinking


Annotation Focus

What lines in the text does Kimmerer juxtapose The Pledge of Allegiance and the Thanksgiving address? What is striking or significant about these lines?

Scaffolding Questions

What anecdote does Kimmerer include at the beginning of the excerpt? Why does she include it?

Trace the pronouns in the Thanksgiving address. Identify them and explain what they reveal about the values and beliefs of Native American culture? Of the speaker?

Trace the amount of times the Thanksgiving address is integrated throughout the text. What is the impact of the author’s choice?

Discourse Questions

Acording to the text, what is the relationship between gratitude and interconnectedness? 

Vocabulary


Text-based

contentious

adj.

causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial

sovereignty

n.

supreme power or authority

reciprocity

n.

the practice of exchanging things with others for mutual benefit

beget

v.

to give rise to; bring about

Homework


  • Prepare for the Summative Socratic Seminar by crafting key points and selecting and citing strong evidence per question.

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Standards


  • LO 1.3A — Analyze how literary elements interact to develop the central ideas of a work of literature.
  • RL.9-10.3 — Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.

Supporting Standards

LO 1.3B
LO 2.3A
LO 5.1A
LO 5.1B
RL.9-10.1
RL.9-10.2
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Lesson 8

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Lesson 10

Lesson Map

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