American Born Chinese pp. 43–52
“That's Not Who I Am: Calling Out and Challenging Stereotypes of Asian Americans” — paragraphs 1–19 and "How do we fix these things?"
“Heart and Humor: How American Sitcoms Reflect Society”

Standards

RI.7.6RL.7.5

Lesson

Contrast different characters' perspectives and explain how the author develops them through the structure of the graphic novel.

Materials

American Born Chinese pp. 55–84

Standards

RL.7.5RL.7.6

Lesson

Explain how characters' behavior and beliefs are shaped by events, settings, and other characters in American Born Chinese.

Materials

American Born Chinese pp. 87–106

Standards

RL.7.3RL.7.5

Lesson

Writing

5 days

Overview

Write an informational letter that informs and recommends.

Day 1 Planning

Research and collect information from credible sources that include precise language and domain-specific vocabulary about an individual's accomplishments.

Standards

W.7.6W.7.7W.7.8

Day 2 Planning

Draft an outline that includes precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform the reader about your individual.

Standards

W.7.10W.7.8

Day 3 Drafting / Language

Draft a letter that incorporates compound-complex sentences and informs the reader using a formal style.

Standards

L.7.1.bW.7.2.e

Day 4 Drafting

Draft a conclusion to a letter that supports and emphasizes the individual's accomplishments.

Standards

W.7.2.dW.7.2.eW.7.2.f

Day 5 Publishing

Writers use technology to publish their letters and interact with others to learn about the extraordinary and enduring contributions of the AAPI Community.

Standards

W.7.2W.7.6

Lesson

Identify and contrast different characters' perspectives and explain how the author develops them.

Materials

American Born Chinese pp. 109–130

Standards

RL.7.6

Lesson

Identify themes and explain how the author structures the panels to develop the theme over the course of a chapter.

Materials

American Born Chinese pp. 133–160

Standards

RL.7.2RL.7.5

progress
monitoring

Lesson

Explain how characters' behavior and beliefs are shaped by events, societal factors, and by other characters.

Materials

American Born Chinese pp. 163–198

Standards

RL.7.3

Lesson

Analyze how the author structures the climax and resolution of the novel to reveal a theme of American Born Chinese.

Materials

American Born Chinese pp. 201–233

Standards

RL.7.2RL.7.5

Lesson

Socratic Seminar

Analyze the author's purpose for writing American Born Chinese.

Materials

“This Chinese American cartoonist forces us to face racist stereotypes”
American Born Chinese — Afterword

Standards

RI.7.3RI.7.6

progress
monitoring

Lesson

Socratic Seminar

Engage in a Socratic Seminar with peers, demonstrating a deep understanding of the text and topic by posing and responding to questions and providing evidence to support ideas.

Materials

American Born Chinese — Afterword
“This Chinese American cartoonist forces us to face racist stereotypes”
“That's Not Who I Am: Calling Out and Challenging Stereotypes of Asian Americans” — paragraphs 1–19 and "How do we fix these things?"
“As Chinese Exclusion Act Turns 135, Experts Point To Parallels Today”
“Heart and Humor: How American Sitcoms Reflect Society”

Standards

SL.7.1SL.7.1.aSL.7.1.bSL.7.4

Lesson

Writing

4 days

Overview

Extend the ending of American Born Chinese by developing imagined experiences that build on the plot and maintain the author's style.

Day 1 Planning

Plan an extended ending for American Born Chinese that builds on the plot of the story.

Standards

Standards

Standards

Standards

2 days

Gauge student understanding of unit content and skills with one of Fishtank's unit assessments.

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