TITLE
Character Traits and Relationships in “This is what it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona”
TIME
50 minutes.
SETTING
English 405 classroom.
OBJECTIVE
Students will demonstrate their ability to compare and contrast character traits in “This is what it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” by choosing five differences and three similarities between Thomas and Victor.
MATERIALS
Chalk board and chalk.
PREPARATION
The room will be set up with six tables of four students facing the front of the room.
PROCEDURE
1.
Quickwrite about someone that you have known for a long period of time. What do you have in common with this person and what is different about you two? (5 min)
2.
Explain the goals of today’s class and the assignment: compare the characters Victor and Thomas and examine how their identities inform and affect the dynamics of their relationship (2 min).
3.
Read passage on page 66 aloud, modeling appropriate loudness and clarity (3 min).
4.
Model textual analysis. Compare and contrast Thomas and Victor according to the passage.
Explain thought process behind finding similarities and differences given the context. Provide examples (3 min).
5.
Students will work in pairs to find character differences and similarities in the text. Students can use a Venn diagram, bullet points, visual representations or any graphic organizer of their choice to organize their thoughts. They will attempt to find five differences and three similarities (15 min).
6.
Bring class back together as a group. Discuss findings as a class by first asking for volunteers to write or draw on the board. Class will together construct a Venn diagram of similarities and differences between Victor and Thomas’s characters. The goal is get at least five differences and three similarities as a class (10 min).
7.
Discuss how these similarities and differences affect their relationship (10 min).
8.
Close the lesson. Think back to what you wrote at the beginning of class. How do the characteristics of you and the person you wrote about contribute to the relationship? (2 min)
DISCUSSION IDEAS Carl and Ryan
To what extent does one's ethnicity and/or culture affect his or her identity?
What other factors contribute to the formation of one's identity?
How do the identities of two people affect and inform the dynamics of the relationship between them?

ASSESSMENT
-Informally assess students during paired discussion checking for comprehension of assignment, passage selection, and written evidence of knowledge.
-Collect diagrams and check for five differences and three similarities for a completion grade.
EXTENSION IDEAS
-Show the movie “Smoke Signals” based off of “This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona”
-Students can explore the website created by future educators about “The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist
Fight In Heaven”
SOURCE OF ACTIVITY
This lesson was created in-house by the CI 403 Sherman Alexie group.
RESOURCES AND REFERENCES
Alexie website created for CI 403: http://sites.google.com/site/alexiesite/
ILLINOIS STATE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS GOAL(S) AND LEARNING STANDARD(S)
1.C.4b Explain and justify an interpretation of a text.
The students are responsible for finding 5 differences and 3 similarities between two characters while working in pairs. The students will have to analyze the text to interpret the personality traits of the characters. They will then have to decide how these traits compare to the other charater.
2.B.4c Discuss and evaluate motive, resulting behavior and consequences demonstrated in literature.
Students will discuss the relationship that the characters have with one another and compare the relationship of the characters to a relationship that they have with another person. The students will evaluate the role that personality traits have on a relationship between two people.