Curriculum  /  ELA  /  8th Grade  /  Unit 8: Making Change: Speeches, Essays, and Articles (2020)  /  Lesson 4

Making Change: Speeches, Essays, and Articles (2020)

Lesson 4
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ELA

Unit 8

8th Grade

Lesson 4 of 11

Objective

Determine the meaning of unknown words through context clues and determine a speaker’s tone based on specific words and phrases used in the text. 

Readings and Materials

  • Article: “'Young People are Angry': The Teenage Activists Shaping Our Future” by Candice Pires 

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Target Task

Writing Prompt

What tone is established in Emma Gonzalez’s speech? Pull out at least three different words and phrases and explain how they establish tone. 

Key Questions

  • What is the meaning of the word “inert” as it is used in the first paragraph of the article? What specific contextual information, words, and phrases are most useful in determining the meaning of the word? What does this word suggest about the author’s perspective on adult responses to the political climate?

  • What is the meaning of the word “articulate” as it is used in the section about Amika George? What specific contextual information, words, and phrases are most useful in determining the meaning of the word?

  • What tone is established in the section written by Shiden Tekle? Pull out at least three different words and phrases and explain how they establish tone. 

  • Discussion: Ellen Jones said in the article, “schools shouldn’t rely on pupils to affect change. That puts pressure on young people to challenge things adults should be addressing.” Do you agree with this statement? 

Lesson Guidance

Notes

Consider starting a list of teenage activists that you read about in this week, noting down:

  1. What cause are they are standing up for?
  2. What sparked their activism?
  3. What form(s) is their activism taking?

Standard and Literary Concepts

  • Tone is about emotion; it is the way that an author/speaker feels about a subject. But why does determining an author’s (or speaker’s) tone matter for the reader? Because we are always trying to figure out what “moves” an author is making and how those moves impact us (the readers).
  • Figuring out tone can give the reader information about an author’s perspective (what do they think or feel about this topic?) and possibly about the author’s biases. Just as importantly, tone impacts the way that a reader feels. If a speaker’s tone is angry or aggressive, this can spark an emotion in the reader. Maybe it makes you feel fired up or maybe it makes you feel uncomfortable. Especially as we read nonfiction texts, we need to be critical consumers of information and question what the author wants us to think and feel—and why. 

Common Core Standards

  • 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.

Next

Clearly present information to classmates and work collaboratively to draw conclusions based on research.

Lesson 5
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