James Baldwin Essays 2014 Unit Plan | IB English IV We will read examples of several essays from Baldwin’s non-fiction output from 1955-1972, generating both appreciation of his place in American literature and the American Civil Rights Movement, as well as an appreciation for the literary techniques and craftsmanship with which he creates his essays. The assessments during the unit will do this, as well as prepare you for the IB Literary Discussion that will be recorded alongside the individual oral commentary in January. Major Assessments 1 Personal Essay Written in Style of Baldwin (200) 5 Short Reflective Essays about Baldwin’s texts @ 100 pts each (500) 5 Socratic Seminars @ 20 pts each (100) 1 Personal Vocabulary Builder (50) 2 Reading Check Quizzes @ 100 pts each (200) Various activities, practices, small group discussions, worksheets (100 pts) If you miss class, or part of a class for a college visit or other excused reason, you will have to make up the points Extra Credit: Illustrate a quote or an image from Baldwin’s work. Include the words. (up to 50). Other opportunities available as the unit progresses. SEPTEMBER Weekly focus Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday 9 10 11 Week 1: Introduction to SEPTEMBER Read “Autobiographical Baldwin’s Style Weekly reading: “Notes Notes”; Discuss style of a Native Son” Week 2: Baldwin as Examiner of American Racism Weekly reading: “Many Thousands Gone” (for Wed) & “Carmen Jones: The Dark is Light Enough” (for Thurs) & “The Harlem Ghetto” (for Friday) & “Nobody Knows My Name: A Letter From the South” (for Friday) Week 3: Baldwin as Expatriate Writer Weekly reading: “Equal in Paris” (for Mon.), “Stranger in the Village” (for Tues.), and “The Discovery of What It Means To Be an American” (for Wed.) 15 Socratic Seminar: “Notes of a Native Son”. Day 1 16 College Visitation Day Due: Reflective Essay #1 (on “NoaNS”) on turnitin.com (11:59 p.m. deadline) Friday 12 “Notes of a Native Son” – introduction and reading 17 18 19 Saturday/Sunday 13/14 Complete “NoaNS” | Complete analysis questions for discussion | Read ahead to next week’s essays | Begin drafting Reflective Essay #1 20/21 Small Group Discussion: “Many Thousands Gone” Watch: scenes from Carmen Jones Day 3 Day 4 Socratic Seminar: “The Harlem Ghetto” and “Nobody Knows My Name” Read ahead to next week’s expatriate essays | Begin drafting Reflective Essay #2 Day 5 Day 2 22 “Equal in Paris” activity/discussion Due: Reflective Essay #2 (Baldwin as Examiner of American Racism) on turnitin.com (11:59 p.m. deadline) Day 6 23 24 25 26 27/28 “EiP” / “Stranger in the Village” activity/discussion and some Bessie Smith music “SitV” activity/discussion Socratic Seminar: the expatriate essays PD Day: No School Day 1 Day 2 Read “My Dungeon Shook” and “Down at the Cross” | Begin drafting Reflective Essay #3 Day 7 OCTOBER Weekly focus Week 5: Baldwin in the 1970s and 1980s Weekly reading: “Take Me to the Water”, “Freaks and the American Ideal of Manhood”, “If Black English Isn’t a Language, Then, Tell Me, What Is?”, “Why I Stopped Hating Shakespeare” Week 6: Final Assessments Baldwin Literary Interview (recorded with teacher) Baldwin Personal Essay Baldwin Personal Vocabulary Monday 6 Reading Day: “Take Me to the Water”… it’s long too. Due: Reflective Essay #4 (Baldwin as Advisor and Prophet) on turnitin.com (11:59 p.m. deadline) Day 1 13 Begin recordings with teacher work on vocabulary and personal essay Tuesday 7 Reading Check Quiz: “Take Me to the Water”, “Freaks”, “Black English” Day 6 Thursday 9 Literary Discussion Practice Friday 10 Literary Discussion Practice Day 5 Day 4 Day 2 Day 3 14 Recordings, work on vocabulary and personal essay 15 PSAT Day 16 Recordings, and personal essay Vocabulary Due Day 7 Due: Reflective Essay #5 (Baldwin in the 1970s and 1980s) on turnitin.com (11:59 p.m. deadline) Wednesday 8 Small Group Work: “Water” et el. Day 1 17 PD Day: No School Due: Personal Essay in Style of James Baldwin w/ Statement of Intent Day 2 Day 3 Saturday/Sunday 11/12 Begin drafting Reflective Essay #5 | Cull vocabulary for Personal Vocabulary Practice | Brainstorm topic for personal essay in style of Baldwin 18/19