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Lesson 5

We will prepare for the Section Diagnostic by reviewing our summaries from Act 1 in order to identify the main events that occurred in Act 1. We will then infer the theme.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I summarize what is happening in Act 1 of Hamilton: An American Musical?

  • Can I identify different characters and how they relate to the plot?

  • Can I use connections among details, elements, and effects to make logical deductions about the theme of a text?

Texts

Core

  • Tradebook
    • Hamilton: The Revolution, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter, Grand Central, 2016

Materials

Tools

Reference Guides

Question Sets

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Read

We will read over our summaries of Hamilton: An American Musical.

Take out your completed Summarizing Text Tools from the previous lessons.

Reread your summaries, then respond to the following questions:

  1. What is the central idea of Act 1?

  2. During which event does the central idea begin to emerge? What subsequent events continue to develop the central idea?

Activity 2: Write

We will summarize Act 1 in order to prepare for the Section Diagnostic.

On a new copy of the Summarizing Text Tool, summarize Act 1.

  • Write the central idea at the top.

  • Complete the blue portions under the Note Key Details section for all of Act 1.

With your partner, brainstorm what events and ideas are covered in Act 1. Then, add those to your Summarizing Text Tool.

Activity 3: Write

We will summarize Act 1 in order to prepare for the Section Diagnostic.

Step 1

Write the definition of objective in your Vocabulary Journal:

  • objective (n.)- a judgment not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in representing facts

Discuss the following question with a partner:

  1. What does it mean to objectively summarize a text or event?

Step 2

Continue to use the Summarizing Text Tool to write an objective summary of Act I of Hamilton: An American Musical. Use evidence from the text to support your response.

Step 3

Trade summaries with your partner. Read your partner’s summary, and make notes in the margin that address the following questions:

  1. Does the summary accurately identify the central idea of Act 2 and provide details that develop the central idea?

  2. Does the summary present the details objectively, or does the summary include personal feelings and opinions?

Give your partner one piece of advice to address one of the questions above.

Activity 4: Write

We will infer the theme or message of Act 1 of Hamilton: An American Musical.

As a class, review the events and ideas we brainstormed. What is the message that Miranda is trying to relay in Act 1?

Write the theme in the Revise or Refine the Central Idea or Theme section of the Summarizing Text Tool.