Mr. Chiaravalli and Miss Hayes
2011-2012
English 9
Semester 1
Night by Elie Wiesel
Genre: Historical Memoir
Overview
He who forgets history is doomed to repeat it.
- George Santayana
Think about some aspect of your identity, perhaps your race or religion or even your political beliefs.
Now imagine that because of that identity, you were rounded up in cattle cars, separated from family,
subjected to backbreaking labor and torture, and killed along with countless others like you. This, of
course, is the story of what happened in Nazi Germany, a little more than 60 years ago. Unfortunately,
stories of oppression and the violation of human rights continue to plague our world even to this day.
This unit we will examine how oppression affects the individuals who experience it and the importance of
using literature to understand what happened in history and try to keep it from repeating itself.
How to Use This Packet: This packet has all the work that we will be doing for the coming weeks. I will
be providing guidance and instruction at a pace that will have you finished by the end of the term. Each
step has its own rationale, objectives, sequence, and assignments (explained below).
Rationale: This tells you why we are doing something, why it’s important now or in the future.
Objectives: These are the skills you should be able to demonstrate by the end of each step.
Sequence: This lists work you must complete in order to progress toward meeting our objectives.
 represents an assignment to turn in
o represents steps leading up to assignments
Assignments: On the last page of the packet, all the assigned work is check-listed in order. I may add,
subtract or change assignments as needed throughout the unit.
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Mr. Chiaravalli and Miss Hayes
2011-2012
English 9
Semester 1
Step One: Individual brainstorm
Rationale
We have spent a lot of time over the course of this semester practicing pre-reading strategies that have
been structured for you. It is now your turn to use what you have learned and what works for your
learning style to explore what you already know about the Holocaust and its related events, topics, and
issues.
Objectives
After completing this step you should be able to
1. Use a variety of strategies to access prior knowledge about a topic.
Sequence
o Using a method of your choice, brainstorm what you know about the Holocaust and its related issues,
topics, and events.
o Extrapolate your brainstorm further by making text-to-world and text-to-history connections between
the Holocaust and other historical events that you know about.
o Draw some conclusions from your brainstorm. Consider, explore, and discuss: If you had to
summarize the Holocaust in one word, what would that word be? Why is it important to know about
these events? How do we learn and know about them?
Step Two: Double-entry journal
Rationale
The book Night, by Nobel Prize Laureate Elie Wiesel, is a nonfiction account of a holocaust survivor who
narrates his experiences as he suffered and survived the Nazi concentration camps. We will read this
book first and foremost for the lasting impression it will leave. In the process, we will practice notetaking methods that encourage both personal and analytical responses.
Objectives
After completing this step you should be able to
1. Use a variety of reading strategies to construct meaning.
Sequence
 Complete the reading assignments for Night. Actively listen and participate while reading is done in
class.
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Mr. Chiaravalli and Miss Hayes
2011-2012
English 9
Semester 1
 Complete at least one substantial double-entry journal entry for each reading assignment, including
any assigned supplemental readings.
 Submit entries for grading when requested.
Step Three: Extended definition essay
Rationale
The Holocaust is perhaps one of the most horrific events in history. Unfortunately, since then, many
events similar to it have occurred. Your job is to pick an abstract noun relating to the Holocaust and
develop it into an extended definition essay exploring the noun on a deeper level and giving it real-world
applications. You then connect it to another historical event, using information from a reliable article or
text.
Objectives
After completing this step you should be able to
1. Identify and use prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing strategies.
2. Identify, explore, and refine topics and questions appropriate for research.
3. Evaluate information/findings in various print sources and media (fact/opinion, bias, validity,
credibility, etc.).
4. Identify and use organizational patterns, transitions, and other characteristics of expository text.
5. Imitate authors’ innovative techniques across a variety of genres
Sequence
o Choose the abstract noun you want to explore for your essay.
 Find and determine the accurate definition and etymology of your noun.
 Make notes about passages in the text that relate to your noun as you read.
 Write a paragraph that explains your noun in terms of the Holocaust and Elie Wiesel’s
experiences.
 Using reliable sources, research an event similar to the Holocaust and print off an article about it.
Read the article and highlight the information most relevant to your noun.
 Use your article to write a paragraph explaining your noun in terms of this event.
 Write a single concluding sentence summing up your noun in a powerful way.
 Complete an MLA-style works cited page for your researched text/article.
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Mr. Chiaravalli and Miss Hayes
2011-2012
English 9
Semester 1
Assignments
From Step One:
 Brainstorm
From Step Two:
 Double-entry journal (one entry per reading assignment)
From Step Three:
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Extended definition essay
Definition and etymology of noun
Notes about passages in the text relating to noun
Paragraph explaining noun
Concluding sentence summing up noun
MLA-style works cited page
Grammar Concepts
Review from previous units
Academic Vocabulary
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futile
poignant
introspective
vulnerable
melancholy
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