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Lesson 1

We will begin our study of the question, “How does Lin-Manuel Miranda’s interpretation of Alexander Hamilton compare with the Hamilton revealed in the primary and secondary sources?” We will focus on synthesizing our work from Sections 2 and 3 to create a detailed characterization of Alexander Hamilton. While doing this work, we will think about the answer to one of our first guiding questions: Who is Alexander Hamilton? We will introduce the section by reviewing the Central Question and Framing Questions.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I gather and organize the information I have on Alexander Hamilton to infer his different traits?

  • Can I recognize and compare Miranda’s portrayal of Hamilton with the Hamilton seen in the primary sources?

Texts

Core

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

Materials

Tools

Question Sets

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Read

We will introduce the section by reviewing the Central Question and framing questions.

Review the Central Question of the unit:

How do storytellers use primary sources?

Review the Framing Questions for this unit, particularly Questions 5 and 6:

  1. How did Lin-Manuel Miranda interpret primary and secondary sources to create Hamilton: An American Musical?

  2. Who is Alexander Hamilton?

  3. How did Lin-Manuel Miranda interpret primary and secondary sources to create the character of Alexander Hamilton?

  4. How did Lin-Manuel Miranda interpret primary and secondary sources to portray Hamilton’s relationships?

  5. How does Lin-Manuel Miranda’s interpretation of Alexander Hamilton compare with the Hamilton revealed in the primary and secondary sources?

  6. Is Lin-Manuel Miranda’s interpretation of Hamilton’s character accurate?

  7. How important is it to be historically accurate when creating art that is based on a real person or event?

  8. How will I use primary and secondary sources to create an original work?

  9. How does the use of primary sources affect modern storytelling?

Review the previous entries in your Learning Log, reflect on what you learned over the previous section, and add new observations and inquiries, using the following guiding questions:

  1. Notice: What seems interesting or important?

  2. Think: What does it make me think about? What connections can I make?

  3. Wonder: What am I curious about?

Discuss with a partner how your understanding has evolved and your ideas about what this section entails and how this section will support your success on the Culminating Task.

Share your responses with the class.

Activity 2: Read

We will revisit our work from Sections 2 and 3, thinking about the following question: what character traits of Alexander Hamilton> are revealed in these texts?

Gather the following:

  • Character Note-Taking Tools for Hamilton: An American Musical and one primary source

  • Comparison Organizational Frame comparing Burr and Hamilton

  • Section 3 Question Set, specifically Question 3 from Lesson 6

  • Your text annotations

With a partner, synthesize the work you have done and your inferences from Sections 2 and 3 on the Comparison Organizational Frame. Use the information below to help you fill in the sections of the tool:

Prompt: Can I gather and organize the information I have on Alexander Hamilton to infer his different traits?

What Are You Comparing:

  • Side A: Character traits in the Alexander Hamilton portrayed in the musical.

  • Side B: Character traits in the Alexander Hamilton portrayed in the primary sources.

  • Comparison Area: Character Traits

    • You can note more specific character traits in each Point of Comparison column.

Summarize What You Know:

  • Identify similarities between the character traits portrayed in Alexander Hamilton: An American Musical and the primary sources.

  • Identify differences between the character traits portrayed in Alexander Hamilton: An American Musical and the primary sources.

  • Form a claim that compares the two sources.

Activity 3: Discuss

We will compare the character of Hamilton seen in the musical to the character of Hamilton from primary sources.

In small groups, compare the character of Hamilton from the musical to the character of Hamilton from primary sources.

After the small-group discussion, share your findings with the class.

Activity 4: Write

We will begin to think about our response to the Section Diagnostic by using the Comparison Organizational Frame.

After your small-group discussion, complete the next two rows on the Comparison Organizational Frame. Use the information below to help you fill in the sections of the tool:

Summarize the Similarities between A & B: Look at the information you summarized. What similarities do you notice between the Hamilton portrayed in the musical and the Hamilton you see in the primary texts?

Summarize the Differences between A & B: Look again at the information you summarized and state what is different. What differences do you notice between the Hamilton portrayed in the musical and the Hamilton you see in the primary texts?

Activity 5: Discuss

We will discuss whether or not we think Miranda’s interpretation of Hamilton’s character is accurate.

Complete the last row on the Comparison Organizational Frame. Use the information below to help you fill in the sections of the tool:

Form a Comparative Observation: Based on what you have seen so far, is Lin-Manuel Miranda’s interpretation of Hamilton’s character accurate? Why or why not?

Discuss the question and your opinions in your small group. After the small-group discussion, share your thoughts with the whole class.