Coming of Age and Patriarchy in Dominicana

Lesson 6
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ELA

Unit 16

9th Grade

Lesson 6 of 20

Objective


Analyze the literary techniques Oates uses to reveal Connie and Arnold's characters.

Readings and Materials


  • Short Story: “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” by Joyce Carol Oates 

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Target Task


Writing Prompt

How does Oates use literary devices to characterize Connie or Arnold?

Sample Response

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Key Thinking


Annotation Focus

What lines, words, and phrases reveal Connie’s character?

What lines, words, and phrases reveal Arnold’s character?

Scaffolding Questions

How does Oates describe Connie in the opening paragraph of the story? How does Oates' description of Connie shape your first impressions of her character?

How does Oates describe June in the third paragraph of the story? How does Oates' description of June shape your first impressions of her character?

A literary foil is a character whose purpose is to accentuate or draw attention to the qualities of another character, most often the protagonist. In what ways does June’s character serve as a foil for Connie’s character? What qualities of Connie does June’s character highlight?

Zoom in on the contrasts in paragraph 5. How does Oates describe Connie’s character at home? How does Oates describe Connie’s character outside of her home? In what ways does Connie distance herself from her home? What does this reveal about who or what she wants to be?

How does Connie view boys? The idea of love? Is it a realistic portrayal? Why or why not? What does this reveal about her character?

How does Oates describe Arnold Friend’s physical features, appearance, and mannerism? What does Arnold’s dialogue add to your first impressions of his character?

Discourse Questions

What is different about how Connie’s character is described in the beginning of the story versus when she meets Arnold Friend and Ellie? 

What role does Arnold play in Connie’s character development?

Homework


Read and annotate Part 1 of Dominicana by Angie Cruz by Lesson 9.

  • Annotation Focus: What are your first impressions of Ana? Ana’s mother? Juan? 
  • Write a complex sentence about Ana, Ana’s mother, or Juan. 

Prepare for tomorrow’s Socratic Seminar by generating ideas and gathering evidence in response to each question.

  • What happens to Connie at the end of the story?  How do you know? Who or what is responsible for what happens to her? Who or what is controlling her actions?  

  • What is the significance of the title of the short story, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” 

  • How can we interpret the story on a figurative/symbolic level? 

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Standards


  • LO 1.3A — Analyze how literary elements interact to develop the central ideas of a work of literature.
  • RL.9-10.3 — Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.

Supporting Standards

LO 1.3A
LO 1.3B
LO 2.1A
LO 2.3B
LO 2.3C
LO 2.3D
LO 5.1A
LO 5.1B
RL.9-10.1
RL.9-10.2
SL.9-10.1
W.9-10.2

Next

Analyze the symbolic nature of Connie, Arnold, and the ending of the story to craft an overall interpretation about “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been.”

Lesson 7
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