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Lesson 7

We will read Chapter 4: “Patria, 1946.” We will also complete two entries in our Character Note-Taking Tool for Patria and analyze how she is introduced in the novel.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I read historical fiction with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension?

  • Can I gather and organize relevant and sufficient evidence to demonstrate an understanding of texts and topics, support claims, and develop ideas?

  • Can I analyze how well a character is introduced?

Texts

Core

  • Tradebook
    • In the Time of the Butterflies, Julia Alvarez, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2010

Materials

Tools

Question Sets

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Read – Write

We will read Chapter 4: “Patria, 1946.”

Read and annotate Chapter 4, "Patria, 1946," and complete your Character Note-Taking Tool for Patria.

Write new or interesting words you encounter in your Vocabulary Journal.

Activity 2: Discuss – Write

We will answer text-specific questions about patria.

Discuss and write responses to the following questions from the Section 1 Question Set with a partner or small group:

  1. How does Alvarez introduce Patria? How is her character introduction distinct from the others? Cite evidence from the text to support your answers.

  2. What does it mean when Padre Ignacio says the following about Patria: "Give her time, Dona Chea, give her time. I’ve seen many a little angel mature into a fallen one."

  3. What do we learn about Patria and Minerva from the following quote: "I couldn’t understand why Minerva was getting so worked up. El Jefe was no saint, everyone knew that, but among bandidos that had been in the National Palace, this one was building churches and paying off our debts…. But I couldn't reason with reason herself. I tried a different tack. ‘It’s a dirty business, you’re right. That’s why we shouldn't get involved’" (p. 51).

  4. Consider Chapters 1-4: How does Alvarez’s decision to structure the story with distinct voices and in a nonlinear fashion across time affect the story’s meaning?

Share your observations about Patria with the whole group, adding to the displayed charts about each woman as needed.