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Lesson 7

We will participate in a “silent conversation” to examine multiple feminist perspectives on the character Ophelia.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I formulate and use questions to establish and deepen my understanding of texts and topics?

  • Can I generate and develop ideas in response to text and topics?

  • Can I actively focus my attention on independent and collaborative tasks?

Texts

Core

  • Unit Reader
    • Excerpt from “Representing Ophelia: Women, Madness, and the Responsibilities of Feminist Criticism,” Elaine Showalter, Methuen Publishing, 1985

Materials

Tools

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Read – Write

We will participate in a “Silent Conversation” to prepare for examining the complex ideas discussed in the literary essay “Representing Ophelia: Women, Madness, And The Responsibilities Of Feminist Criticism” by Elaine Showalter.

You will be divided into groups, and each group will receive a piece of chart paper with a quotation from the essay "Representing Ophelia: Women, Madness, and the Responsibilities of Feminist Criticism" by Elaine Showalter.

You and your group members will have a "silent conversation" about the quotation. During the "silent conversation," you will communicate only through writing.

After reading and thinking about the quotation, write your comments on the chart paper or ask your peers questions directly on the paper.

If a group member asks a question on the chart paper, another group member should respond with an answer. You can annotate the comments by drawing connecting lines between comments. Multiple group members can write on the chart paper at the same time.

Your written conversation must start on the topic of the quotation, but your ideas can expand beyond the quotation. The goal is to respond to one another’s ideas.

Participate in a "silent conversation" with your group on your selected quotation. Add the key words to your Vocabulary Journal.

Activity 2: Read – Write

We will participate in another group’s “Silent Conversation” on their selected quotation from “Representing Ophelia: Women, Madness, And The Responsibilities Of Feminist Criticism” by Elaine Showalter.

Move to another group’s chart paper. Read the quotation and examine their written conversation. Respond to the conversation with your own comments and questions by writing directly on the chart paper. Again, the goal is to respond to one another’s ideas.

Repeat this step until you have participated in a "silent conversation" for each of the four quotations.

Add the key words from each quotation to your Vocabulary Journal.