Lesson #7
Topic:
Teacher:
Grade:
Date:
Period(s):
Bloom’s Taxonomy Level:
Relationship to Current Content in Regular Classroom:
(*) indicates an accommodation or modification
Learning Target
I can predict the world
view of one author by
reading his or her
work of fiction.
AASL/ Common Core Crosswalk
•
1.1.2 Use prior and background knowledge
as context for new learning.
•
1.1.7 Make sense of information gathered
from diverse sources by identifying
misconceptions, main and supporting ideas,
conflicting information, and point of view or
bias.
•
•
CC.11-12.L.6 Vocabulary Acquisition and Use:
Acquire and use accurately general academic
and domain-specific words and phrases,
sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and
listening at the college and career readiness
level; demonstrate independence in
gathering vocabulary knowledge when
considering a word or phrase important to
comprehension or expression.
CC.9-10.SL.3 Comprehension and
Collaboration: Evaluate a speaker’s point of
view, reasoning, and use of evidence and
rhetoric, identifying any fallacious reasoning
or exaggerated or distorted evidence.
Vocabulary
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World view
Fiction
Nonfiction
Author
Point of view
Agenda
1.
2.
3.
4.
Develop the concepts of fiction, nonfiction, and
authors.
Explain how imaginative works of literature are
not completely imaginative, as authors derive at
least some of their imaginative ideas from the
world around them, be it language, religion,
history, politics, mental health (or not!),
geography, science, or culture. Thus, a person
who grew up in a war-torn country would write
about something different than a spoiled rich
rock star. People tend to write about what they
know.
People have opinions and world views, even
when they say they don’t. If they had no world
views to share, they wouldn’t be writing in the
first place.
Reading an author’s biography may provide
insight into why a person’s world view is as it is.
5.
6.
As an emerging adult, you are developing your
own world view. From that world view, you will
live your life and make multiple decisions.
Reading allows you to transcend time, place,
social class, race, and many other limitations in
your life to experience what others have
experienced. Fiction isn’t just for fun; it’s a way
to explore life as other people have lived it. Who
knows? You may agree with the way they lived,
and live that way yourself.
Sit back and enjoy as I introduce you to a few of
the interesting novels—and world views—that I
have experienced recently. (See slides at end of
lesson for sample book talk.
*Visual demonstrations
*seating to reduce distractions
Rubric
Noteworthy
Acceptable
Developing
Not Ready
Located a fiction
book
independently
for personal
reading and
checked it out.
Noted evidence of
the author’s
world view
after reading
the first
chapter.
Located a fiction
book (with peer
assistance) for
personal reading
and checked it
out.
Noted evidence of
the author’s
world view after
reading the first
chapter.
Located a fiction
book (with
librarian
assistance) for
personal
reading and
checked it out.
Noted evidence of
the author’s
world view
after reading
the first
chapter.
Failed to check
out a book
Failed to note
evidence of
the
author’s
world view
after
reading the
first
chapter.
Time for Browsing, Silent Reading, nd
Book Checkout
*Seating to reduce distractions
*Clearly defined limits
*Use of lexile numbers to select books @
www.lexile.com
Exit Ticket
What is the title of the book that you began to read?
Who is the author?
What do you know about the author’s life experiences and world view?
What does the first chapter of the book tell you about the author’s world view so far?
The following slides may be of use for
this lesson.
Candide
Written by the French author Voltaire nearly 250 years ago,
this is a book still worth reading. Candide has
everything go wrong with his life, starting with being
kidnapped and forced to fight in the army and ending
up travelling with a woman who lost one of her
buttocks. (Read the book to find out how—I won’t tell
you.) Candide, despite all of the horrible—and even
ridiculous– things that happen, is determined to
remain positive and find the goodness in life. In a really
surprising ending, he meets a farmer who actually has
the answer. And, surprisingly, I agreed with the answer.
Will you?
The Kite Runner
Amir lives in Afghanistan just before the first Afghanistan
war, in which Russia falsely promised to bring peace
and prosperity to the country. A large part of the story
describes Amir’s childhood and his relationship to his
faithful, loyal, boyhood friend. There are great
memories of the annual kite contests, and one year,
Amir’s kite stays in the air the longest, giving him the
win—but at a horrible loss to his best friend. His best
friend dies, while Amir goes to America to live a life
free from war.
But Amir’s guilt does not subside, which leads him back to
war-torn Afghanistan to rescue his best friend’s son
from a desolate orphanage.
The Art of Dancing in the
Rain
This story is told by a dog, whose name is Enzo. He tells the
story of his master, Denny, who is a race car driver
wannabee. Denny is happily married and has a
daughter, Zoe. To get started in racing, Denny travels a
lot, leaving his family behind.
Unfortunately, Denny’s wife dies of cancer, leaving Zoe’s
grandparents to care for her while her father goes
racing.
Over time, the grandparents become attached to Zoe, and
want to adopt her permanently. Denny, of course, does
not want to see that happen.
But on one cold, snowy night, Denny agrees to take a 15year-old relative home, and the evil begins. Will Denny
go to jail? Will he ever see his daughter again?
In 1930’s America, the Great Depression was in full force,
and jobs were scarce. Men literally left home on foot,
seeking out whatever work they could find.
Of Mice and Men
Enter George. Not only was he out of work, but he had a
mentally handicapped relative named Lennie, whom he
refused to leave behind. As you might imagine, it
wasn’t easy getting work on California ranches with
Lennie following behind. Nonetheless, George and
Lennie got work on ranches, and the hope remained
that one day George and Lennie would save up enough
money to buy an acre of land and a shack to live in.
That dream is shattered one night, when Lennie corners a
girl and all the ranch hands are out to track down
Lennie and turn him over to the law.
How can George protect Lennie now? And does he?
The Great Gatsby
A new neighbor—Jay Gatsby-moves into the most luxurious
mansion in town, and there are wonderful parties
almost every night. Gatsby, however, is a mystery man.
Who is he? Where did he come from? How did he get
his money?
And then, one night, it happens . Jay Gatsby becomes a
criminal and a pitiful person. The mansion is left in
ruins…
Gladly the Cross-Eyed Bear
There’ s trouble in the toy industry, as Etta and Brett fight Lainie
over who invented a cross-eyed bear that is sure to become a
real money-maker at Christmas time. The fight ends up in
court, of course, but then something strange happens. Brett
invites Lainie to his private yacht to discuss an out-of-court
settlement, and a reasonable deal is struck.
But the next morning, Brett is found dead on his boat, and Lainie is
the main suspect. Enter Matthew Hope, a private detective,
who has to find the real killer.
Like all Ed McBain mysteries, the identity of the real killer is a real
shock.
The Last Chance Texaco
by Brent Hartinger
Lucy Pitt, age 15, hasn’t exactly had a charmed life. She has
been in foster homes since her parents were killed in a
car accident when she was seven. She encountered
trouble in every foster home, and now she has one last
chance at a group home—with other kids who are also
on their last chance. Surprisingly, things go reasonably
well here—until a series of car bombings, for which the
residents of the group home as accused.
The Survivor
by Tim Champlin
Marcel Dupre was bored, so he joined the French Foreign
Legion, looking for adventure. But he had not anticipated
the brutal treatment that the soldiers received, and he ran
away, only to be caught and put in a brutal French prison
camp in Guiana. He was there for 20 years. In those 20
years, he tried to escape 7 times, was caught, and was
severely punished. On the eighth escape attempt, he was
successful and eventually came to San Francisco with his
journal about the evils of the French Foreign legion, which
he intended to publish.
But Marcel Dupre arrives in America just as the French
ambassador is visiting the United States. Suddenly, the
French government is after the journal so that France is
not embarrased. The U.S. government is after the journal
because America does not want to embarrass France
during this visit. And then there’s Jay McGraw, who works
for the security firm of Wells Fargo. Jay’s company wants
him to get the manuscript and bring it safely back to Wells
Fargo headquarters, proving that Wells Fargo can keep
anything safe from theft.
Marcel Dupre has escaped from one of the worst prison camps
ever, but can he survive three groups of people who will all
kill for what he knows about that prison camp?
This is a cowboy story like none you’ve ever experienced.
Make the Effort—Read.
Reading requires time.
Reading requires effort.
Reading requires commitment.
Reading requires discernment.
Will you believe what others tell you—
Or will you read and make up your
own mind?