Declaring Identity: Being Jazz (2020)

Lesson 7
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ELA

Unit 11

6th Grade

Lesson 7 of 28

Objective


Explain the debate around transgender athletes participating in sports and explain the purpose and point of view of two different articles on this topic.

Readings and Materials


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Target Task


Writing Prompt

What is author Katy Steinmetz’s point of view on the question of transgender athletes’ participation in youth sports in her article “The Case for Allowing Transgender Athletes in Youth Sports”? Provide at least two pieces of evidence to support your answer.

Key Questions


  • Explain the debate around transgender athletes participating in sports.
  • What is the purpose of the video Transgender Athletes Speak Out? How do you know? Explain your reasoning.
  • Does the film communicate a clear point of view on the question of transgender athletes competing with others of their same gender identity? Explain your answer.
  • Discussion: Do you think transgender athletes should be able to play on a sports team of their choice? Do you feel differently if it is a children’s recreational league versus a professional, adult league?

Lesson Guidance


Standard and Literary Concepts

  • It is sometimes difficult to tell what an author’s point of view is when you read an article or watch a news story. Often, in newspapers or other forms of news media, reporters try to give a neutral, unbiased view of an issue. (Students will learn more about determining subtle biases in nonfiction as they move toward high school.)
  • Some articles in newspapers, though, are called editorials or opinion pieces. These are articles specifically intended to communicate a clear idea. If an author doesn’t clearly say what his or her point of view is, there are a few ways that readers can determine what it is.
  • Although they may present both sides of an issue, authors in opinion pieces will (1) provide more evidence to support one side of the argument and (2) respond directly to the opposing viewpoint with evidence that challenges that viewpoint.

Notes

  • Show students the video first (to introduce the controversy) and then read the article.
  • Make sure to allow room here for healthy debate among students. Encourage students to respectfully disagree with one another. Visual sentence starters on the board or walls can enhance a group discussion.

Homework

  • Read Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen, pages 63–73.

Common Core Standards


  • RI.6.6 — Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and explain how it is conveyed in the text.

Next

Differentiate between credible and non-credible sources when beginning research.

Lesson 8
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