Facing Prejudice: All American Boys

Lesson 17
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ELA

Unit 1

8th Grade

Lesson 17 of 27

Objective


Determine the technical meaning of words in context and explain the protections and limitations of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.

Readings and Materials


  • Print or Online Dictionaries 

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A Note for Teachers


  • Teachers may choose to provide students with reference texts or access to online dictionaries in order to complete this lesson. 
  • As a part of intellectual preparation, revisit student answers to questions 2 and 9 in the Anticipation Guide (G8, U1, L1). Based on student responses, determine how to guide students through the conversations related to today's lesson.

Target Task


Discussion & Writing Prompt

Read paragraph 5 from the "Right to Peaceful Assembly." Why is this paragraph included in the document? How do the phrases "clear and present danger" and "immediate threat to public safety" contribute to the paragraph's purpose?

Sample Response

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Key Questions


Key Questions

  • What is the meaning of the word "abridge" as used in the First Amendment?  Explain the meaning and purpose of the phrase, "Congress shall make no law [...] abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press." (The Constitution of the United States)

  • What is the connotation of the word "peaceably" as it is used in the First Amendment? What is its impact on the meaning of the First Amendment? (The Constitution of the United States)

  • Read the following sentences: "The right to assemble is not, however, absolute. Government officials cannot simply prohibit a public assembly in their own discretion, but the government can impose restrictions on the time, place, and manner of peaceful assembly, provided that constitutional safeguards are met." ("Right to Peaceful Assembly")

    How does the use of the phrase "is not, however, absolute" impact the tone of paragraph 2? Why is paragraph 2 included in the document?

Exit Ticket

Assess student understanding and monitor progress toward this lesson's objective with an Exit Ticket.

Vocabulary


Literary Terms

tone

an author/speaker's attitude toward a topic or an audience, which is often conveyed through word choice and/or literary devices

Text-based

prohibit

v.

forbid, prevent

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: All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely  pp. 269 – 296

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • What is different about the drawing that Rashad leaves for Clarissa?

  • What does Rashad see when he goes on the internet? How does this make him feel?

  • Why does Quinn call the police department?

  • What happens at the protest?

  • Why do they read names aloud over the loudspeaker?

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Common Core Standards


  • RI.8.2 — Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
  • RI.8.4 — Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts.

Supporting Standards

RI.8.10
SL.8.6
W.8.4
W.8.9.b
W.8.10

Next

Analyze and explain the authors' choices leading up to the climax of All American Boys.

Lesson 18
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