Exploring Identity: American Born Chinese

Lesson 6
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ELA

Unit 5

7th Grade

Lesson 6 of 22

Objective


Identify and contrast different characters’ points of view and explain how Yang develops them through text and illustrations.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang  pp. 55 – 84

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Target Task


Writing Prompt

How does Tze-Yo-Tzuh’s perspective on the Great Sage differ from how the Great Sage sees himself? How does Yang develop this difference in perspective? Support your answer with specific evidence from the text. 

Sample Response

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Key Questions


Close Read Questions

  • Examine the way that the Monkey King is illustrated on pages 56 and 60. In what way does his transformed appearance reflect his transformed identity?

  • What is the Dragon King’s opinion of the Great Sage and how does it change? How does the author use both text and images to develop the reader’s understanding of his perspective? Provide examples from the text.

  • What is the Great Sage’s perspective of Tze-Yo-Tzuh? Does it change over the course of the chapter? How does Yang develop the reader’s understanding of the Great Sage’s perspective? Provide specific evidence from the text to support your answer. 

Discussion Questions

  • Why does the Great Sage want to change himself so badly? Does his desire to change come from within or is it a result of the way others see him?

Exit Ticket

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Vocabulary


Text-based

transcend

v.

(p. 60)

to go beyond the range or limits of; to surpass

Homework


To ensure that students are prepared for the next lesson, have students complete the following reading for homework. Use guidance from the next lesson to identify any additional language or background support students may need while independently engaging with the text.

  • Book: American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang  pp. 87 – 106

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • Who is Amelia?

  • Who is Wei-Chen dating?

  • What does Jin do to his hair?

  • How do Amelia and Wei-Chen end up having a long conversation? 

  • What do they talk about?

  • What does Jin do at the end of this chapter?

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Common Core Standards


  • RL.7.6 — Analyze how an author develops and contrasts the points of view of different characters or narrators in a text.

Supporting Standards

L.7.6
RL.7.1
RL.7.2
RL.7.4
RL.7.5
RL.7.10
SL.7.1
SL.7.6
W.7.1
W.7.1.a
W.7.1.b
W.7.4
W.7.9
W.7.9.a
W.7.10

Next

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

Lesson 7
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