Curriculum / ELA / 8th Grade / Unit 9: Fences (2020) / Lesson 5
ELA
Unit 9
8th Grade
Lesson 5 of 17
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Analyze August Wilson’s purpose as a playwright and describe how Fences reflects this purpose.
Book: Fences by August Wilson pp. 21 – 28
Visual: The Last Judgment by Michelangelo
Visual: The Cestello Annunciation by Sandro Botticelli
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Tasks that represents the peak thinking of the lesson - mastery will indicate whether or not objective was achieved
Reread the last paragraph. According to August Wilson, all of his plays are about what? Is Fences an exception?
Questions about the text that will help guide the students understanding
Based on the article “August Wilson, Theater’s Poet of Black America, Is Dead at 60,”
Based on Fences, pages 21-28:
Suggestions for teachers to help them teach this lesson
There are cultural references in this lesson that students may need explained:
RI.8.6 — Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how the author acknowledges and responds to conflicting evidence or viewpoints.
Lesson 4
Lesson 6
Identify key characteristics of main characters in Fences, as well as their conflicts and relationships.
Predict themes of the book based on the poem and Introduction at the start of the play.
Analyze the possible symbolic meaning of the title Fences and tie the symbol to the major thematic topics.
RI.8.2 RL.8.2 RL.8.3 RL.8.4
Annotate for and analyze conflicts in Act 1.
RL.8.3 RL.8.4
Analyze what Troy’s personification of death reveals about his life perspective.
RL.8.6
Describe the tension between Lyons and Troy by making inferences about character's relationships.
Historically contextualize the 1950's setting of Fences by examining other historical events before and after Fences takes place.
RL.8.3
RI.8.6
Analyze Wilson’s depiction of Troy and Cory’s differing perspectives.
Analyze Troy’s understanding of his role as a father.
Analyze Troy’s monologue to make inferences about character beliefs about masculinity.
RL.8.3 RL.8.6
Connect thematic topics between Fences and “Berlin Wall.”
RI.8.2 RL.8.2
Explain August Wilson’s portrayal of father-son relationships.
Explain Troy's belief about his role as a father.
Analyze how particular stage directions reveal aspects of a character and his/her relationships.
Explain the impact of Troy's tone in his monologue on the audience.
RL.8.4
Analyze the symbolism of the fence in Cory and Troy's relationship.
Explain how Wilson's use of symbolism impacts the resolution of the play.
Determine whether you believe Cory will be different than his father.
L.8.4 RL.8.3
Project
Select pivotal passages from the play in preparation for performances.
RL.8.2 RL.8.3
Practice reading profound excerpts from Fences, focusing on volume, pace, emotion, and accuracy.
SL.8.4
Perform profound excerpts from Fences, focusing on the public speaking skills of volume, pace, emotion, and accuracy, in front of the class.
Discussion
Use evidence from the text to support their assertions in a rigorous literary discussion.
SL.8.1
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