Coming of Age and Patriarchy in Dominicana

Lesson 7
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ELA

Unit 16

9th Grade

Lesson 7 of 20

Objective


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.”

Readings and Materials


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

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Target Task


Discourse Questions

  • 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? 

Key Thinking


Scaffolding Questions

The following questions may be used as potential back pocket questions that you can refer to when responding to student thinking and class understanding during the Socratic Seminar. They should be used sparingly and only if and when student discourse does not demonstrate the appropriate level of understanding. 

  • Seminar Question 1:
    • Zoom in on the second and third to last paragraphs of the story.  Why is the ending vague? Where is Connie going? What is Arnold doing? 
    • Connie felt the linoleum under her feet; it was cool. She brushed her hair back out of her eyes. Arnold Friend let go of the post tentatively and opened his arms for her, his elbows pointing in toward each other and his wrists limp, to show that this was an embarrassed embrace and a little mocking, he didn't want to make her self-conscious.
    • She put out her hand against the screen. She watched herself push the door slowly open as if she were back safe somewhere in the other doorway, watching this body and this head of long hair moving out into the sunlight where Arnold Friend waited.
  • Seminar Question 2:
    • Who is going somewhere in the story? 
    • Why is the title a question? 
  • Seminar Question 3:
    • What does Connie symbolize?
    • What does Arnold symbolize?
    • What does Ellie symbolize?
    • Ultimately, what central message does Oates convey through the symbolism of these characters? 

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. 

  • Toxic masculinity is defined as the notion that some people’s idea of “manliness” perpetuates domination, homophobia, and aggression and involves cultural pressures for men to behave in a certain way. Consider “The Silence: The Legacy of Childhood Trauma” and “How to Be a Man.” How do societal expectations of manhood influence our psychological and moral development? To what extent were the speakers in those texts able to resist societal and cultural norms as they grew up? Is it possible to resist toxic masculinity?
  • In her op-ed, MacKinnon states, “These dynamics of inequality have preserved the system in which the more power a man has, the more...access he can get away with compelling.” Consider “The Silence: The Legacy of Childhood Trauma” and “Where are You Going, Where Have You Been?” One features a male speaker who reflects on his abuse while the other features a teenage protagonist who has an encounter with an evil man. What are these texts saying about gender and power dynamics? In these texts, who has more power, men or women? What does this ultimately suggest?

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Standards


  • LO 1.4B — Synthesize ideas from multiple texts and explain how the texts may convey different perspectives on a common theme or idea.
  • LO 5.1A — Extend the conversation around an idea, topic, or text by formulating questions and recognizing the claims and perspectives of others.
  • LO 5.1B — Cite relevant evidence and evaluate the evidence presented by others.
  • 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.

Supporting Standards

LO 2.2A
RI.9-10.1
RI.9-10.2
RL.9-10.1
RL.9-10.2
W.9-10.1

Next

Formulate and share unique arguments about the #MeToo movement, toxic masculinity, and machismo culture. 

Support arguments with strong and thorough textual evidence in a Socratic Seminar.

Lesson 8
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