You Laugh But It’s True: Humor and Institutional Racism in Born a Crime

Lesson 12
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ELA

Unit 2

9th Grade

Lesson 12 of 25

Objective


Analyze how Noah characterizes his parents, their parenting, and his relationship with them.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah  — Chapters 5 ("The Second Girl"), 6 ("Loopholes"), and 8 ("Robert")

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Target Task


Discussion & Writing Prompt

On page 61, Noah writes, "A knowledgeable man is a free man." How does Patricia Noah's parenting of Trevor reflect this belief? Provide specific evidence from Chapter 5 to support your answer.

Sample Response

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Key Questions


Close Read Questions

  • How was Patricia Noah's young life shaped by apartheid laws and policies? How did she respond to the circumstances of her life? Provide specific evidence from Chapter 5 to support your answer.

  • How does Noah use humor to develop the reader's understanding of his relationship with his mother in Chapter 6? Provide at least two examples from pages 77–85 to support your answer. 

  • In what ways is Trevor's relationship with his father different from his relationship with his mother? Provide two examples from today's reading and carefully explain your thinking.

Homework


  • Book: Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah  pp. 115 – 126 — Chapter 9, "The Mulberry Tree"

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • What is the defining characteristic of Eden Park?

  • How is Trevor treated in Eden Park?

  • Is Trevor colored? Explain your answer. 

  • How does Trevor's mother respond to the incident with the mulberry tree?

  • How does Abel respond?

  • What does this chapter reveal about Abel?

Annotation Focus

Note places in the text where Noah develops the idea that colored people were used by the apartheid system to "sow confusion, hatred, and mistrust."

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Standards


  • RI.9-10.2 — Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.
  • RI.9-10.3 — Analyze how the author unfolds an analysis or series of ideas or events, including the order in which the points are made, how they are introduced and developed, and the connections that are drawn between them.
  • RI.9-10.5 — Analyze in detail how an author's ideas or claims are developed and refined by particular sentences, paragraphs, or larger portions of a text (e.g., a section or chapter).

Supporting Standards

L.9-10.1
L.9-10.6
RI.9-10.1
SL.9-10.1
SL.9-10.6
W.9-10.1
W.9-10.4
W.9-10.9
W.9-10.10

Next

Identify similarities and differences in the portrayal of South Africa’s colored community in Born a Crime Chapter 9 and a news report.

Lesson 13
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