Short Stories

Lesson 3
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ELA

Unit 6

9th Grade

Lesson 3 of 13

Objective


Explain how the author uses specific diction to characterize the girls on p. 225.

Practice the systems and routines (same as yesterday, plus root study) of the high school literature classroom.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves by Karen Russell  p. 226 — Stage 1 Epigraph

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Target Task


Multiple Choice

The diction in the “Stage 1” description on p. 225 suggests which of the following about the students:

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Sample Response

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Which two pieces of diction from the epigraph best support the answer to number 1?

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Sample Response

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In the first paragraph, the narrator’s diction suggests which of the following about the pack when they first arrive at St. Lucy’s?

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Sample Response

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Which two pieces of diction from paragraph one best support your answer?

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Sample Response

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Writing Prompt

The girls are wolves. Agree or disagree? Why?

Key Questions


  • Read the portion called "Stage 1." What do you notice about how this looks different from the rest of the page? What is the purpose?
  • How will students feel in "Stage 1"? What diction conveys this?
  • What diction does the author use to describe the pack "at first"?
  • What "promises" had they made? What diction conveys this?
  • Describe the girls' rooms and what the girls do to these rooms. What powerful diction conveys these ideas?
  • What is the connection between the epigraph and the first paragraph?
  • Are the girls humans or wolves? (Debate)

Notes


  • Continue to reinforce habits of explicit vocabulary instruction and literary terms instruction today. Introduce the term "epigraph".
  • To the routines, add root study, by introducing the Greek roots “lukos/lupos” and “anthropos” and using them to infer the meaning of lycanthropic.
  • Close reading will also be introduced today. This text is significantly more complex than The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and thus should be read multiple times, both independently and aloud, with attention paid to specific diction.
  • This article will also be used as the basis for a Composition Project, located in our Supplementary Composition Projects.
  • Potential Mini Lesson: Begin today’s class by asking students to read the brief article on culture shock and summarize the central idea i.e., what is culture shock? Connect this article to the writing they did for homework about identity. How does culture impact identity? How does this concept of culture shock relate to yesterday’s story about Junior? Later in class ask them how this article connects to what they are reading today.

Next

Explain how the author uses diction to reveal important information about characters, plot and conflict.

Practice the systems and routines (same as previous day's, plus vocabulary in context) of the high school literature classroom.

Lesson 4
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