Visibility & Invisibility in Short Texts

Lesson 9
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ELA

Unit 13

9th Grade

Lesson 9 of 15

Objective


Analyze “Thank You, Frank Ocean” as a response to Frank Ocean’s coming out letter.

Readings and Materials


  • Letter: “Thank You, Frank Ocean” by Dream Hampton 

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Target Task


Writing Prompt

In her letter to Frank Ocean, Dream Hampton thanks the music artist for publicly coming out. Write a response in which you analyze the extent to which Dream Hampton’s letter to Frank Ocean is effective.

Sample Response

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Key Thinking


Annotation Focus

What lines, words, phrases, help to reveal Dream Hampton's purpose for writing the letter to Frank Ocean? What is Hampton doing with language in these lines, words, and phrases?

Scaffolding Questions

Why does Dream Hampton thank Frank Ocean? Why is he worthy of thanks?

What is Dream Hampton’s tone in the opening paragraph of the letter? How do you know?

Dream Hampton uses a number of allusions throughout her letter. Trace the allusions she uses. What is the effect of Dream Hampton’s allusions?

Reread the first paragraph and last paragraph of the letter. Why does Dream Hampton choose to structure both paragraphs similarly. What effect does the circular ending of the letter create?

Discourse Questions

Is Dream Hampton’s letter effective at responding to Frank Ocean’s letter? 

Is this letter best interpreted as an affirmation, a praise, or acknowledgment?

How do you think Frank Ocean felt after reading this letter?

Are there parts of this letter that are more or less poignant in the wake of the cultural shifts that came out of the “’80s, when gay rights activists were seizing the streets of New York and other major world cities, fighting for visibility”?

Homework


Prepare for tomorrow’s mini Socratic Seminar by crafting key points and selecting and citing strong evidence per question.

  • Consider “Frank Ocean’s Open Letter on Tumblr” and “Thank you, Frank Ocean.” The subject of both texts is similar, but one narrator is male and queer, and one is female and heterosexual. What are these two texts illustrating about sexuality in our society, specifically when it comes to hip hop? According to these two texts what is the relationship between sexuality and visibility? Use evidence from both texts to support your ideas. 
  • Marc Lamont Hill says, “To be Nobody is to be vulnerable. In the most basic sense, all of us are vulnerable; to be human is to be susceptible to misfortune, violence, illness, and death [...] Unfortunately, for many citizens—particularly those marked as poor, Black, Brown, immigrant, queer, or trans—State power has only increased their vulnerability, making their lives more rather than less unsafe.” How do “Frank Ocean’s Open Letter on Tumblr” and “Thank you, Frank Ocean” enhance our understanding of what it means to be a nobody? Which speakers and moments from those texts help to create a more nuanced understanding for you? How? Why?

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Standards


  • LO 1.2B — Explain how the rhetorical features of an argument contribute to its effect and meaning.
  • RI.9-10.6 — Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how an author uses rhetoric to advance that point of view or purpose.

Supporting Standards

LO 1.4B
LO 5.1A
LO 5.1B
RI.9-10.1
RI.9-10.2
SL.9-10.1
W.9-10.2

Next

Formulate and share unique arguments about meaning in and across Frank Ocean’s Open Letter on Tumblr, and “Thank You, Frank Ocean.” Support arguments with strong and thorough textual evidence in a Socratic Seminar.

Lesson 10
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Lesson Map

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