The Contender
by Robert Lipsyte
Cyberlesson by: Renée DeLeon
8th grade language arts
Introduction
• We face conflicts in our lives everyday. A conflict is a struggle between
two opposing forces. We show resiliency when we are able to face our
conflicts, use good judgment, and overcome them.
• The novel that we will be reading deals with a teenage boy, Alfred Brooks,
who faces several conflicts: growing up an African American during the
Civil Rights Movement, dropping out of school to help pay the bills,
avoiding the neighborhood gangsters, and avoiding drugs.
• We will find out if Alfred has the resiliency to deal with the numerous
conflicts in his life.
Materials
• Copies of the novel for each student
• Reader response journals for each student
• Pens
• Internet access
• Copies of writing assignment
• Copies of writing rubric
Before Reading
Quick Writes
In your reader response journals, respond briefly to the following questions.
1.
Why do you think some students decide to drop out of high school?
2.
What kinds of jobs are available for high school drop outs?
3.
Why do you think some adolescents experiment with drugs?
4.
What kind of goals have you set for yourself and how have you gone about
accomplishing your goals? What difficulties do you have in reaching your goals?
Before Reading
• Setting
•
Setting has a lot to do with the difficulties that Albert Brooks faces in the
novel. Shortly before writing this novel, Robert Lipsyte was a sports writer
for The New York Times. He often covered the career of Muhammad Ali,
who heavily influenced this book.
•
•
How much do you know about:
The Civil Rights Movement
•
Harlem
•
Black Nationalists
•
Reader Response: After reading these sights, write about the problems you
think Alfred may face during the course of this book.
During Reading
• Read chapters 1 – 9
• In your reader response journals, address the following:
• Your first impression of Alfred Brooks .
• Describe the influences that each of the following have on Alfred at this
point: Mr. Donatelli, Henry, Major, Jeff
• How has Alfred changed both physically and mentally by the end of
chapter 9?
• Respond to the following quote from Mr. Donatelli: “It’s the climbing that
makes the man. Getting to the top is an extra reward.”
During Reading
• Read chapters 10 – 20
• In your reader response journals, address the following:
• Why do you think Spoon spends so much of his time helping Alfred?
• What does it mean to be a contender?
• How do you feel about the way Mr. Donatelli handles his boxers?
• What impact, if any, did this novel have on you?
During Reading
Make a chart of each of the following influences on Alfred. As you come across them in
the novel, indicate if they are a positive or negative influence and why. Support
with evidence from the text.
People
Places
Happenings
Aunt Pearl
Henry
Hollis
James
Jelly Belly
Major
Donatelli
Lou
Jeff
cave
church
clubroom
Coney Island
Eptein’s
gym
movies
Spoon’s house
Madison Square Garden
boxing
eating
partying
praying
training
relaxing
thinking
After Reading / Assessment
• After thinking carefully about his life, Alfred Brooks has decided to go to night
school in order to earn his high school diploma. The school that Alfred has chosen
to go to requires two letters of recommendation. One of the letters must be
professional and one must be personal. Think about all the characters that Alfred
has relationships with. Choose one character to write the professional letter (ex:
Lou Epstein, Vito Donatelli) and one character to write the personal letter Aunt
Pearl, Jeff, etc.).
• You must write these two letters as if you were these characters. Explain in as
much detail as possible why these characters would recommend Alfred. In other
words, why should this school accept him?
• One of the main things that I will be looking for are examples from the book to
support your statements and powerful, fluent, persuasive writing!!
• Please refer to your writing rubric for scoring!
Rubric / Criteria for Writing Assignment
(Each letter will be evaluated according to the 8th grade writing rubric used in
our district. Keep in mind the following key components.)
ORGANIZATION
5
4
3
2
1
IDEAS/CONTENT
5
4
3
2
1
WORD CHOICE
5
4
3
2
1
VOICE
5
4
3
2
1
FLUENCY
5
4
3
2
1
CONVENTIONS
5
4
3
2
1
Beyond Reading
•
You may choose one of the following options for your additional writing
component for this unit. Choose the type of writing you feel you are best at!
•
Option #1 (Research) Research the career of one of the following boxers
mentioned in the novel. Write a two page biography and be sure to include
what their life was life after their boxing career. (Joe Louis, Sugar Ray
Robinson, Cassius Clay
•
Option #2 (Editorial) Write a column for our school newspaper on the value
of sports in students’ lives.
•
Option #3 (Creative) Write an additional chapter to the book describing
either Alfred’s or James’ life in ten years from now.