Advanced Placement 11
1
Lesson Plan: 2/16/12
Unit 4: Storyteller’s Rhetoric
Lesson: Discuss TTTC Chunk 2-“Sweetheart of Song Tra Bong”
Wager/Reeder
Unit Essential Questions:
Fact vs. Fiction- Can we use both in rhetoric? Do they ever overlap? Should they overlap?
Can stories have more “truth” than non-fiction?
Lesson Questions:
What is Tim O’Brien’s structure for storytelling in the story “Sweetheart of Song Tra Bong?”
What is a frame tale? What is the benefit of using this style/structure in creative writing?
How can an author use tone to relate a message to an audience?
What is the purpose of the “sweetheart to killer” change that the character of “Song Tra Bong”
undergoes?
Does the implausibility of this story’s premise hinder the story’s compelling nature?
Objectives:
Students will be able to…
Identify and define “frame tales” as a structure of storytelling.
Answer and articulate answers to literary analysis questions about tone, structure, purpose, and
style about Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried.
Standards:
R11.A.1.3.2: Cite evidence from text to support generalizations.
Materials:
Laptops
Access to “Sweetheart Small Group Questions” on Scoodle
Instructional Activities:
-Announcements:
-Schedule has changed again. Please email me if you are confused. We will discuss Chunk #3
on Tuesday.
-Tonight’s homework is to complete questions for PSSA prompt.
-Instructor will pass out PSSA practice packet. (Mrs. Wager will explain)
--Instructor will then ask students to get into groups of five. Students may choose their groups.
-In groups, students share their answers to the small group questions for the chapter/story
“Sweetheart of Song Tra Bong.”
-Instructor will circulate and listen in on group discussions while also checking that the questions
were completed for credit. (10-15 minutes)
-Instructor will ask each group to share their responses to each question (10-15 minutes)
-Extra discussion questions:
-Is Mary Ann a symbol? If so, what does she represent?
-How would this story be different if we heard it from Tim O’Brien and not from Rat?
-Why is Mary Ann so happy in Vietnam? Do we actually see what causes the change?
-What affect would this story have on the soldiers who hear it? Would it benefit them?
-page 103—This is the second time that Tim O’Brien brings up music. What role does music
play in the War?
-pg. 106-Style. What does this mean? Does this make you understand?
-Why does Rat love her?
-**Do any of these same style, tone, and language qualities stand out in the selections you
have pulled out of the stories?
Advanced Placement 11
2
Lesson Plan: 2/16/12
Unit 4: Storyteller’s Rhetoric
Lesson: Discuss TTTC Chunk 2-“Sweetheart of Song Tra Bong”
Wager/Reeder
-If time remains, ask students to sign-on to scoodle and address the discussion leader’s questions
for “The Dentist,” “Stockings,” and “Church.”
Assessments:
Students are to write and then orally share their answers to small group discussion questions about
the tone, structure, style, and purpose of the story “Sweetheart of Song Tra Bong”
Instructor will circulate to assess everyone is on topic and to check for completion of homework
assignment for credit.
Students should respond to discussion questions posed by their peers on the online forum.
Notes: