Curriculum  /  ELA  /  9th Grade  /  Unit 1: Me, Myself, and I: Examining Personal Identity in Short Texts  /  Lesson 4

Me, Myself, and I: Examining Personal Identity in Short Texts

Lesson 4
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ELA

Unit 1

9th Grade

Lesson 4 of 20

Objective

Analyze how Rudy Francisco uses specific details and figurative language to develop his central idea.

Readings and Materials

  • Video: “My Honest Poem” by Rudy Francisco 

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Target Task

Discussion & Writing Prompt

What does the poem reveal about the difference between the speaker's public and private identities? Provide evidence from the poem and carefully explain your thinking.

Sample Response

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Key Questions

Close Read Questions

  • What facts/visible aspects about his identity does Rudy share? What private/invisible aspects of his identity does he share?

  • What figurative language does Rudy use in the poem, and what does it communicate about his identity?

  • What is the tone of the poem, and what words/phrases contribute to that tone?

Vocabulary

Literary Terms

figurative language

language that goes beyond the literal meaning of words and phrases and is used with the intention of creating an image, feeling, or deeper understanding for the reader

metaphor

the comparison of two unlike things in order to provide the reader with a deeper understanding of one of those things

personification

a literary device where non-human beings or things are given human characteristics/qualities

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Standards

  • L.9-10.5 — Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
  • RL.9-10.2 — Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail 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.
  • 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.
  • RL.9-10.4 — Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone).

Supporting Standards

L.9-10.1
L.9-10.6
RL.9-10.1
RL.9-10.10
SL.9-10.1
SL.9-10.6
W.9-10.9

Next

Plan and write a free verse poem that explores your personal identity.

Lesson 5
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Lesson Map

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