Curriculum / ELA / 9th Grade / Unit 2: You Laugh But It’s True: Humor and Institutional Racism in Born a Crime / Lesson 15
ELA
Unit 2
9th Grade
Lesson 15 of 25
Jump To
Lesson Notes
There was an error generating your document. Please refresh the page and try again.
Generating your document. This may take a few seconds.
Are you sure you want to delete this note? This action cannot be undone.
Analyze how Noah develops the reader’s understanding of life in Alex township, and how his experience there shaped his perspective.
Book: Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah — Chapter 16: "The Cheese Boys"
We participate in the Amazon Associate program. This means that if you use this link to make an Amazon purchase, we receive a small portion of the proceeds, which support our non-profit mission.
Unlock features to optimize your prep time, plan engaging lessons, and monitor student progress.
Tasks that represents the peak thinking of the lesson - mastery will indicate whether or not objective was achieved.
On page 212, Noah writes, "in the hood…everyone has different notions of right and wrong, different definitions of what constitutes crime. There are degrees of it." How does he develop this idea throughout this chapter? Provide specific evidence and carefully explain your thinking.
Upgrade to Fishtank Plus to view Sample Response.
Questions about the text that will help guide the students understanding
How does Trevor’s understanding of himself and the world he inhabits develop as a result of his extended time in Alex?
What does Noah’s description of "cheese boys" reveal about the setting? Provide specific evidence from pages 207–208 and carefully explain your thinking.
Literary terms, text-based vocabulary, idioms and word parts to be taught with the text
imagery
n.
a literary device where an author includes vivid sensory details (sight, smell, sound, taste, touch), generally to develop the reader’s understanding of setting
dynamic
adj.
(p. 204)
(of a place or system) characterized by constant change, activity, or progress; (of a person) positive in attitude and full of energy Comment start and new ideas
Reading and/or task to be completed at home in preparation for the next lesson.
The next two class days will be used for writing lessons. Read Born a Crime, Chapter 17: "The World Doesn’t Love You" for the next reading lesson.
While reading, answer the following questions.
How does Trevor’s mother feel about the boys he spends time with in Alex?
Why is Trevor arrested?
Who does he call? What does he ask this person to do?
What reputation do colored people have in South Africa?
Who is "the Hulk"? How does Trevor connect with him?
What does Trevor do when he gets in front of the judge?
How does Trevor think his mother will react when she gets home? How does he actually react?
Note down places where Trevor makes assumptions about others, and where they make assumptions about him.
Bring your most engaging lessons to life with comprehensive instructional guidance, detailed pacing, supports to meet every student's needs, and resources to strengthen your lesson planning and delivery.
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.
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.9-10.7 — 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.
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
Plan a short description of a neighborhood that uses vivid imagery to develop the reader’s understanding of setting.
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
Identify similarities and differences in the portrayal of South Africa’s colored community in Born a Crime Chapter 9 and a news report.
RI.9-10.5RI.9-10.7
Analyze how Noah develops the reader's understanding of his unique experiences navigating life as a mixed-race person in South Africa.
RI.9-10.3RI.9-10.5
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.
Create a free account to access thousands of lesson plans.
Already have an account? Sign In
See all of the features of Fishtank in action and begin the conversation about adoption.
Learn more about Fishtank Learning School Adoption.
Yes
No
We've got you covered with rigorous, relevant, and adaptable ELA lesson plans for free