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Lesson 2

We will continue to analyze how Bissinger uses language and literary devices to illustrate how values are modeled to the players of Permian High School. We will read Chapter 12 of Friday Night Lights to continue our analysis of the concept of values in sports. In small groups, we will make claims based on Bissinger’s writing by completing the Forming Evidence-Based Claims Tool.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I recognize and interpret Bissinger’s language and sentence elements and structures to deepen my understanding of themes in Friday Night Lights?

  • Can I use connections among details, elements, and effects to make logical deductions about Bissinger’s perspective, purpose, and meaning in Friday Night Lights?

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

Texts

Core

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

Materials

Tools

Reference Guides

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Read – Write

We will respond to a prompt about the theme of values in sports in our Learning Logs. This will connect what we read in Lesson 1 to what we will be analyzing in Lesson 2. the prompt will focus our thinking and analysis on Bissinger’s use of language.

Consider what you read in Chapter 11 of Friday Night Lights and what was discussed in the previous lesson. Reread the following quote from Chapter 11 and respond to the following question in your Learning Log:

  1. At the end of Chapter 11, Bissinger states, "It could happen. Anything could happen in America." Consider the youth in these communities and what they learned about values from the adults in Odessa and Midland. Do you think they would believe this quote is true? Why or why not?

Activity 2: Discuss – Write

We will interact with the words we wrote down for homework in our Vocabulary Journal to cement our understanding of their meaning.

Join your small group and compare the words you wrote down in your Vocabulary Journal. Select one word from each group’s Vocabulary Journal and respond to the vocabulary exercises as directed by your teacher.

Activity 3: Read – Discuss – Write

We will read the first part of chapter 12 in small groups and analyze Bissinger’s perspective on values by completing a Forming Evidence-Based Claims Tool.

Step 1

Read and annotate Chapter 12, paying attention to how the coaches and players are treated after the loss.

Step 2

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

  1. What lessons about the values of winning and losing are the players taught?

While the tool only includes space for three pieces of evidence, your group might identify more. Narrow your selections down to the three pieces of evidence that best supports the answer to the guiding questions.

Activity 4: Read

For homework, we will finish reading chapter 12 in Friday Night Lights. As we read, we will note other evidence that supports the claim we formed with our small groups in class.

Finish reading and annotating Chapter 12 for homework, paying attention to Bissinger’s perspective on values at Permian High School.

Be sure to write down new or interesting words in your Vocabulary Journal.

Write down sentences that stand out to you as interesting or that represent a strong example of a particular concept you have learned in your Mentor Sentence Journal.