Curriculum / ELA / 8th Grade / Unit 4: Surviving Repression: Persepolis / Lesson 17

Surviving Repression: Persepolis

Lesson 17: Writing Project Overview

ELA

Unit 4

8th Grade

Lesson 17 of 18

Lesson Map

Evaluate how a video and a written account convey information about Iranian history and culture, and determine which medium is more effective.

Materials

“Rick Steves' Iran” — (00:00–17:30)
“Iran Travel Journal” — excerpts from Parts 1–4

Standards

RI.8.2RI.8.7

Lesson

Writing

Overview

Conduct research to create an informational presentation by generating research questions, gathering information, organizing topics into main ideas, and designing slides to convey information clearly.

Day 1 - Planning

Unpack the prompt and generate research questions to guide the investigation of a topic for an informational presentation.

Materials

Topics and Descriptions (G8, U4)
Informational Brainstorming Page (G8 U4, L2)

Standards

W.8.7

Day 2 - Planning

Gather relevant information from digital sources and take paraphrased notes to answer research questions.

Materials

Topics and Descriptions (G8, U4)
Informational Brainstorming Page (G8 U4, L2)

Standards

W.8.7W.8.8

Day 3 - Planning / Drafting

Organize research into clear main ideas, design presentation slides, and draft an explanatory paragraph for each slide of the informational presentation.

Materials

Informational Presentation Outline (G8, U4, L2)

Standards

W.8.2.aW.8.2.bW.8.2.dW.8.6

Day 4 - Language / Drafting

Revise writing by identifying passive voice and rewriting sentences in active voice to improve clarity.

Materials

Informational Presentation Outline (G8, U4, L2)

Standards

L.8.1.dW.8.5

Lesson

Identify and explain the basic features of graphic novels in order to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of graphic novels as a medium for presenting a memoir.

Materials

Persepolis — Introduction and pp. 3–5

Standards

RI.8.2RI.8.7

progress
monitoring

Lesson

Explain how the author uses words and images together to develop the reader's understanding of significant characters and events.

Materials

Persepolis pp. 6–17

Standards

RI.8.2RI.8.5

progress
monitoring

Lesson

Explain how specific incidents impact and reveal aspects of characters and setting, and describe how the author communicates this through text and images.

Materials

Persepolis pp. 18–32

Standards

RI.8.3

Lesson

Explain how specific incidents impact and reveal aspects of characters, and describe how the author communicates this through text and images.

Materials

Persepolis pp. 33–46

Standards

RI.8.3RI.8.5

progress
monitoring

Lesson

Explain how specific incidents impact and reveal aspects of characters, and describe how the author communicates this through text and images.

Materials

Persepolis pp. 47–71

Standards

RI.8.3

Lesson

Drawing evidence from two texts, explain the impact of the Iranian Revolution on women's rights, and how women resisted the changes imposed by the new regime.

Materials

Persepolis pp. 72–79
“The Stolen Revolution: Iranian Women of 1979”

Standards

RI.8.2RI.8.3

Lesson

Analyze how specific incidents impact and reveal aspects of characters and setting, and describe how the author communicates this through text and images.

Materials

Persepolis pp. 80–93

Standards

RI.8.3RI.8.5

progress
monitoring

Lesson

Explain how some Iranians responded to and resisted their new government, and describe how the author uses text and images to develop this.

Materials

Persepolis pp. 94–110

Standards

RI.8.2RI.8.3

Lesson

Explain how specific events develop the idea that Marji's adolescence is both universal and shaped by her setting, and analyze how the author develops this idea through text and images.

Materials

Persepolis pp. 111–125

Standards

RI.8.2RI.8.3

Lesson

Explain how specific incidents impact and reveal aspects of characters and setting, and describe how the author communicates this through text and images.

Materials

Persepolis pp. 126–142

Standards

RI.8.3RI.8.5

Lesson

Determine themes in Persepolis and explain how the author develops them in the text.

Materials

Persepolis — pp. 143–153; whole text

Standards

RI.8.2RL.8.2

progress
monitoring

Lesson

Evaluate the effectiveness of various mediums in conveying information about why some Muslim women choose to wear a hijab.

Materials

“Majede Najar”
“Why do Muslim women wear a hijab?”

Standards

RI.8.2RI.8.7

progress
monitoring

Lesson

Determine an author's perspective and purpose and explain where and how she responds to conflicting viewpoints.

Materials

“Under cover of darkness: Why World Hijab Day is an insult to girls like me”

Standards

RI.8.2RI.8.6

Lesson

Socratic Seminar

Engage in a Socratic Seminar with peers, demonstrating a deep understanding of the text and topic by posing and responding to questions, and providing evidence to support ideas.

Standards

SL.8.1SL.8.1.aSL.8.1.cSL.8.4