Curriculum / ELA / 12th Grade / Unit 3: Beyond the Boundaries: Intersectionality, Nonconformity, and Female Friendship in Sula / Lesson 29

Beyond the Boundaries: Intersectionality, Nonconformity, and Female Friendship in Sula

Lesson 29

ELA

Unit 3

12th Grade

Lesson 29 of 29

The unit's Socratic Seminar and Performance Task are the primary assessments in this unit. The following additional assessments also accompany Unit 3. For more guidance, see the Summative Assessments Teacher Tool.

Warm Read Assessment

The Warm Read Assessment measures students' ability to apply the core reading standards and their knowledge from the unit to comprehend new, topically or thematically aligned texts. It includes multiple choice and an optional on-demand essay.

Vocabulary Assessment

The Vocabulary Assessment measures students' acquisition of text-based vocabulary words from the unit.

Lesson 28

Lesson Map

Understand intersectionality and its importance.

“The urgency of intersectionality”

Standards

RI.11-12.2RI.11-12.4RI.11-12.6

Gain background knowledge about Sula by exploring a text set on The Great Migration, Jim Crow laws in the North, urban renewal, African American service during WWI, and Toni Morrison's legacy.

“Visualizing the Great Migration”
“The Forgotten Northern Origins of Jim Crow”
“Urban renewal destroyed a Black neighborhood. Now, former residents are keeping its memory alive”
Renewing Inequality: Urban Renewal, Family Displacements, and Race 1950-1966
“African Americans and World War I | The Great War”
“Remembering Toni Morrison, An Iconic American Author | NYT News”
Are they equal in the eyes of the law?
Please let your light shine on me
“The Radical Vision of Toni Morrison”

Standards

RI.11-12.7SL.11-12.2

Analyze the narrator's tone in the prologue of Sula.

Sula pp. 3–6 — Part One

Standards

RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.4RL.11-12.5RL.11-12.6

Analyze how Morrison uses diction and point of view to illustrate Shadrack's state of mind.

Sula pp. 7–16 — Part One

Standards

RL.11-12.2RL.11-12.4RL.11-12.6

Analyze the impact of warfare in the poem "Facing It" and make connections to Sula.

“Facing It”

Standards

RL.11-12.2RL.11-12.4RL.11-12.6

Analyze the impact of mothers on their daughters in Sula.

Sula pp. 17–29 — Part One

Standards

RL.11-12.2RL.11-12.3

Analyze how Morrison develops themes about motherhood in Sula.

Sula pp. 30–48 — Part One

Standards

RL.11-12.2RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.4

progress
monitoring

progress
monitoring

Analyze the poem "Black Mother Woman" by Audre Lorde for messages about maternal love and the influence of mothers on their daughters.

“Black Mother Woman”

Standards

RL.11-12.2RL.11-12.4

Analyze Nel and Sula's friendship.

Sula pp. 49–57 — Part One

Standards

RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.4

progress
monitoring

progress
monitoring

Analyze the impact of Chicken Little's death on Nel and Sula.

Sula pp. 57–66 — Part One

Standards

RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.4RL.11-12.6

Analyze themes about love or order in Sula.

Sula pp. 67–78 — Part One

Standards

RL.11-12.2RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.5

Brainstorm a scene's vivid details for a vignette writing exercise.

Vignette Prompt and Criteria for Success (G12, U3)
Vignette Prewriting Graphic Organizer (G12, U3, L12)

Standards

RL.11-12.4W.11-12.3.dW.11-12.5

Draft a vignette about a real or fictional moment using imagery and sensory details.

Vignette Prompt and Criteria for Success (G12, U3)

Standards

L.11-12.3W.11-12.10W.11-12.3.dW.11-12.4

Analyze the connection between identity and marriage.

Sula pp. 79–85 — Part One

Standards

RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.4RL.11-12.5

Analyze bell hooks's ideas about the importance of loving friendships and make connections to Sula.

“All About Love: New Visions” pp. 133–138

Standards

RI.11-12.2

Socratic Seminar

Engage in a Socratic seminar about Part One of Sula by supporting arguments with strong textual evidence.

Sula — Part One

Standards

SL.11-12.1.aSL.11-12.1.bSL.11-12.1.cSL.11-12.1.dSL.11-12.4

Analyze the development of Sula's character and characters' reactions to Sula.

Sula pp. 89–104

Standards

RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.4RL.11-12.6

progress
monitoring

progress
monitoring

Analyze how Morrison uses structure, point of view, and symbolism to convey Nel's state of mind.

Sula pp. 104–111 — Part Two

Standards

RL.11-12.4RL.11-12.5RL.11-12.6

Analyze how Morrison further develops Sula's character.

Sula — Part Two, pp. 112–125

Standards

RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.4RL.11-12.6

progress
monitoring

progress
monitoring

Analyze how Morrison uses figurative language and symbolism to convey the impact of Ajax on Sula.

Sula — Part Two, pp. 125–137

Standards

RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.4RL.11-12.6

Analyze themes about good and evil in Sula.

Sula — Part Two, pp. 138–149

Standards

RL.11-12.2RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.6

progress
monitoring

progress
monitoring

Analyze the impact of Sula's death on the townspeople and Shadrack.

Sula — Part Two, pp. 150–162

Standards

RL.11-12.2RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.5

Analyze how Morrison uses structure, tone, and symbolism to convey Nel's realizations.

Sula — Part Two, pp. 163–174

Standards

RL.11-12.2RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.4RL.11-12.5RL.11-12.6

progress
monitoring

progress
monitoring

Performance Task

Engage in a discussion about a character's ways of seeing the world, actions and choices, as well as their role within the novel.

Character Analysis Collaborative Conversation Graphic Organizer (G12, U3, L24)

Standards

RL.11-12.1RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.6SL.11-12.1SL.11-12.1.aSL.11-12.1.bSL.11-12.1.cSL.11-12.6W.11-12.1W.11-12.9

Performance Task

Write a strong thesis statement that demonstrates a deep understanding of a character from Sula and outline body paragraphs needed to support the thesis statement.

Character Analysis Essay Outline (G12, U3, L25)
Character Analysis Essay Mentor Text (G12, U3)

Standards

RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.6W.11-12.1.aW.11-12.1.bW.11-12.1.cW.11-12.4W.11-12.5

Performance Task

Write the body paragraphs of the character analysis essay, using smooth integration of evidence and language that ties the body paragraphs together.

Character Analysis Essay Mentor Text (G12, U3)

Standards

W.11-12.1.aW.11-12.1.bW.11-12.1.cW.11-12.4W.11-12.5

Performance Task

Write a strong introduction and conclusion for the character analysis essay.

Character Analysis Essay Mentor Text (G12, U3)
H-I-T Visualization
Conclusion Visualization

Standards

W.11-12.1.dW.11-12.1.eW.11-12.4W.11-12.5

Performance Task

Provide peer feedback and make revisions to the character analysis essay.

Character Analysis Essay Peer Review Worksheet (G12, U3, L28)

Standards

W.11-12.1W.11-12.4W.11-12.5

2 days

If additional assessment is needed, use the Warm Read and/or Vocabulary Assessments to gauge student understanding of unit content and skills.

Bring Fishtank
to Your School

We Handle Materials So You Can Focus on Students

We Handle Materials So You Can Focus on Students

We've got you covered with rigorous, relevant, and adaptable ELA lesson plans for free