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Lesson 4

We will analyze the idea of fandom and discuss how fans impact high school sports. We will also analyze how Bissinger portrays the fandom of the citizens of Odessa.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I identify the claims, reasoning, and evidence used to develop arguments and explanations in the text?

  • Can I develop and clearly communicate meaningful and defensible claims that represent valid, evidence-based analysis of the text?

Texts

Core

  • Tradebook
    • Friday Night Lights, H.G. Bissinger, Da Capo Press, 1990

Materials

Tools

Reference Guides

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Read – Discuss

We will begin this lesson by creating a common understanding of claims and evidence by reviewing the claims reference guide. This will be important as we will use this information throughout the unit.

As a whole class, review the Claims Reference Guide.

Discuss what claims and evidence are and how to identify them in a text.

Also, discuss how to evaluate claims based on the information included on the Claims Reference Guide. Have students keep this document as a reference for the unit.

Activity 2: Discuss – Write

We will complete an analysis of the claims about fandom made by Bissinger in Friday Night Lights.

For this activity, you will be using a Forming Evidence-Based Claims Tool. The Forming Evidence-Based Claims Tool supports and guides a process for developing a claim from textual evidence. It can also be used to help you explain how an existing claim is derived from, and supported by, evidence. In this activity, you will be using the tool for the latter process.

With your group, respond to the following question, using the Forming Evidence-Based Claims Tool:

  1. What claims does Bissinger make about fandom in Chapter 2 of Friday Night Lights?

Activity 3: Read – Discuss – Write

We will read chapter 3 of Friday Night Lights and focus on how fandom impacts the players of the permian team. We will form an interpretive claim about the text using the Forming Evidence-Based Claims Tool.

Step 1

Read and annotate Part 1 of Chapter 3 of Friday Night Lights. As you read, identify and write down evidence that answers the following question:

  1. How is Boobie’s self-image shaped by the fandom he experiences as a football player at Permian?

Step 2

You will now work in groups to form your own evidence-based claim about the text. Use a Forming Evidence-Based Claims Tool to respond to the following question:

  1. How is Boobie’s self-image shaped by the fandom he experiences as a football player at Permian?