Exploring Identity: American Born Chinese

Lesson 7
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ELA

Unit 5

7th Grade

Lesson 7 of 22

Objective


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

Readings and Materials


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

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Target Task


Writing Prompt

On page 105, Jin asks Amelia out. What does he most likely believe is the reason she agrees? What is likely the real reason she agrees? Support your answer with evidence from pages 102 through 105, using information you have gathered from both text and images.

Sample Response

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Key Questions


Close Read Questions

  • How does Amelia’s presence (and even the idea of Amelia) impact Jin’s thoughts, emotions, and behavior? Support your answer with at least three pieces of evidence from this chapter, pulled from both text and images.

  • How does Greg’s presence (and even the idea of Greg) impact Jin thoughts, emotions, and behavior? Support your answer with specific evidence from the text.

  • Reread page 96. Characters are shown laughing in the first and third panels. How does context change the meaning and impact of this laughter? Support your answer with specific evidence from both the images and text of this page.

Discussion Questions

  • Describe Wei-Chen’s relationship with Jin. How has it changed since their very first interaction? What impact has Jin had on Wei-Chen’s life?

    Or

    Think about the scene from A Raisin in the Sun where Beneatha dramatically changes her hair. What is the connection between hair and racial identity? How is Jin’s decision to change his hair similar to and different from Beneatha’s?

Notes


  • There is a brief incident of sexual harassment (remind students that comments like the one Timmy makes to Amelia might seem funny but are absolutely an example of all-too-common sexual harassment) and a reference to masturbation on page 91.

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. 109 – 129

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • How does Chin-Kee feel about attending American school with Danny?

  • How does Chin-Kee behave at school?

  • What has happened in the past when Chin-Kee came to school with Danny? What is Danny worried will happen at this school?

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Common Core Standards


  • RL.7.3 — Analyze how particular elements of a story or drama interact (e.g., how setting shapes the characters or plot).

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.b
W.7.10

Next

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

Lesson 8
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