Curriculum / ELA / 9th Grade / Unit 2: You Laugh But It’s True: Humor and Institutional Racism in Born a Crime / Lesson 13
ELA
Unit 2
9th Grade
Lesson 13 of 25
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Identify similarities and differences in the portrayal of South Africa’s colored community in Born a Crime Chapter 9 and a news report.
Book: Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah pp. 115 – 126 — Chapter 9, "The Mulberry Tree"
Video: “South Africa's coloured community: 'Still marginalised after apartheid'” — (0:00–4:00)
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Tasks that represents the peak thinking of the lesson - mastery will indicate whether or not objective was achieved.
Compare and contrast the information Trevor Noah provides about colored people in Born a Crime Chapter 9 with the information contained in the video clip “South Africa's coloured community: 'Still marginalised after apartheid'” (BBC News Africa). What different details and perspectives about colored people are provided in each, and why are these details and perspectives most likely different? Provide examples from both text and film to support your answer.
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Questions about the text that will help guide the students understanding
What information does Noah include on pages 115–116 and 118 (after the page break) to page 120 (ending at the page break)? Considering what happens in the second half of the chapter, why has he most likely chosen to include this information at the beginning of the chapter? Provide specific evidence from these pages and carefully explain your thinking.
What ideas is Noah trying to illustrate through the anecdotes about his stolen bicycle and the mulberry tree? How is it related to the information he provides on pages 118–120? Provide specific evidence from pages 121–122 to support your answer.
Literary terms, text-based vocabulary, idioms and word parts to be taught with the text
animosity
n.
(p. 117)
a feeling of strong dislike or hatred which is usually shown through outward aggression
arbitrary
adj.
(p. 119)
based on random choice, rather than any reason or system
assimilate
v.
(p. 118)
to become absorbed into and accepted by a culture
disavow
deny any responsibility or support for
denounce
to condemn openly, accuse publicly, or formally end a treaty
Reading and/or task to be completed at home in preparation for the next lesson.
Book: Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah — Chapters 11 ("Outsider") and 13 ("Colorblind")
While reading, answer the following questions.
How would you describe the students at Trevor’s new high school?
What is a "tuck shop"?
How does Trevor’s ability to run fast help him earn money?
What do Trevor and Teddy get caught doing?
What happens when the guards try to catch Trevor and Teddy?
What is Trevor afraid will happen after the arrest?
Note places in the text where Noah indicates a sense of connection/belonging, and places where he feels like an outsider.
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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).
RI.9-10.7 — Analyze various accounts of a subject told in different mediums (e.g., a person's life story in both print and multimedia), determining which details are emphasized in each account.
Standards that are practiced daily but are not priority standards of the unit
L.9-10.1 — Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
L.9-10.6 — Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.
RI.9-10.1 — Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
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.
SL.9-10.1 — Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9—10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
SL.9-10.6 — Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.
W.9-10.1 — Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
W.9-10.4 — Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
W.9-10.9 — Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
W.9-10.10 — Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
Next
Analyze how Noah develops the reader's understanding of his unique experiences navigating life as a mixed-race person in South Africa.
Determine the central causes and effects of apartheid in South Africa and how it impacted different groups in society.
Standards
RI.9-10.2RI.9-10.3
Identify and evaluate the claims made by the National Party in an excerpt from their statement in support of apartheid.
RI.9-10.1RI.9-10.2RI.9-10.8
Analyze Mandela’s inaugural speech for diction and imagery and how both contribute to his rhetorical purpose.
L.9-10.5RI.9-10.2RI.9-10.4RI.9-10.6
Conduct a short research project on South African history in order to create a digital presentation.
RI.9-10.1RI.9-10.2W.9-10.2.aW.9-10.2.bW.9-10.2.cW.9-10.2.dW.9-10.7W.9-10.8
Logically organize the research information into a digital presentation that includes all required components.
L.9-10.1L.9-10.2.cL.9-10.6W.9-10.2.aW.9-10.2.bW.9-10.2.cW.9-10.2.dW.9-10.2.eW.9-10.2.f
Present digital presentations as a group using appropriate physical presence and strong voice and articulation.
L.9-10.1SL.9-10.4SL.9-10.5SL.9-10.6
Analyze how Noah introduces characters, develops setting, and establishes tone in the first chapter of Born a Crime.
RI.9-10.3RI.9-10.4RI.9-10.5
Analyze how Noah develops his central idea that apartheid laws were unjust, unsustainable, and incoherent.
RI.9-10.2
Analyze how Noah develops the reader’s understanding of his unique experiences navigating life as a mixed-race person in South Africa.
Brainstorm and plan a short narrative scene that uses an informal and conversational tone as well as description and dialogue.
W.9-10.3W.9-10.3.bW.9-10.3.dW.9-10.4W.9-10.5
Emulate Noah's tone in a short narrative scene using an informal and conversational tone as well as description and dialogue.
Analyze how Noah characterizes his parents, their parenting, and his relationship with them.
RI.9-10.2RI.9-10.3RI.9-10.5
RI.9-10.5RI.9-10.7
RI.9-10.3RI.9-10.5
Analyze how Noah develops the reader’s understanding of life in Alex township, and how his experience there shaped his perspective.
Plan a short description of a neighborhood that uses vivid imagery to develop the reader’s understanding of setting.
W.9-10.3
Emulate Noah’s writing style by creating a short narrative description of a place using description and imagery.
Analyze how Noah develops different ideas within Chapter 17, and make connections between events in this chapter and those that have occurred previously in the text.
RI.9-10.3RI.9-10.5RI.9-10.5
Analyze how Abel’s presence impacts Trevor’s life and how the structural choices at the end of the memoir connect to its opening.
RI.9-10.4RI.9-10.5
Engage in a summative Socratic seminar about the larger themes and ideas of Born a Crime, supporting arguments with strong and thorough textual evidence.
RI.9-10.1RI.9-10.2RI.9-10.3RI.9-10.6SL.9-10.1SL.9-10.3SL.9-10.4SL.9-10.6
Analyze a central theme developed over the course of Born a Crime, sharing one’s understanding in a final product.
RI.9-10.1RI.9-10.2RI.9-10.3RI.9-10.5W.9-10.2W.9-10.9
Apply the structural parts of a personal narrative to an excerpt from Born a Crime and brainstorm a personal narrative that explores identity development.
RI.9-10.2RI.9-10.3W.9-10.5
Outline the structure of a personal narrative that shows identity development and connects to a larger societal issue, and begin drafting.
W.9-10.5
Review the purpose of an introduction and conclusion in a personal narrative, and revise to strengthen those parts of a draft.
W.9-10.3.aW.9-10.3.bW.9-10.3.cW.9-10.3.dW.9-10.3.eW.9-10.4W.9-10.5
Analyze the effects of transitions in a personal narrative, and revise drafts to strengthen transitions.
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