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Lesson 7

In light of what we have learned about the history and controversy surrounding Falling Man, write a multiparagraph expository response to the following question:

How do controversial photographs like Richard Drew’s Falling Man highlight the responsibilities and dilemmas faced by photojournalists as they document painful moments in American history and influence our reactions to them?

Lesson Goals

Reading and Knowledge

  • Gather and Organize Evidence: How well do I gather and organize relevant and sufficient evidence to demonstrate an understanding of a complex text?
  • Analyze Relationships: How well do I recognize and interpret important relationships among key details and ideas when gathering important facts and evidence?

Writing

  • Form Claims: How well do I develop and clearly communicate meaningful and defensible claims that represent valid, evidence-based analysis?
  • Organize Ideas: How well do I sequence and group sentences and paragraphs to establish coherent, logical, and well-developed explanations?

Texts

Core

  • Unit Reader
    • “The Falling Man: An Unforgettable Story,” Tom Junod, Esquire, 2016
  • Digital Access
    • Falling Man, Richard Drew, Tom Junod, Esquire, 2016

Optional

  • Unit Reader
    • “‘Falling Man’ Maps Emotional Aftermath of Sept. 11,” NPR Books Staff, National Public Radio, Inc., 2007

Materials

Tools

Reference Guides

Question Sets

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Write

We will write or revise a central claim (thesis) for our expository response to the Section Diagnostic question.

Step 1

Review the task prompt and question:

In light of what you have learned about the history and controversy surrounding Falling Man, write a multiparagraph expository response to the following question:

How do controversial photographs like Richard Drew’s Falling Man highlight the responsibilities and dilemmas faced by photojournalists as they document painful moments in American history and influence our reactions to them?

Step 2

Draft (or review and revise) a central claim (thesis statement) that addresses the prompt. Remember, the rest of your response will always relate back to this statement. For an expository essay like this one, your thesis statement should clearly represent your perspective and position about the photograph, and why you believe what you do.

In the case of this essay, your thesis should contain a statement about Falling Man and whether or not it responsibly defines a significant aspect of the events of 9/11. If you examined other photographs of 9/11 in optional Lesson 5, you should also consider them as you respond to the question.

Activity 2: Write

We will draft our responses to the Section Diagnostic question.

After writing your central claim or thesis, write three to four sentences that might precede and frame this main idea.

Next, write several topic sentences that follow from your thesis and develop your central claim about the photograph; these must elaborate on your thesis and will be used to form additional paragraphs. They should also address the expectations of the task to do the following:

  • Visually analyze the photo and its details in light of the position you have taken.

  • Support your central claim, or thesis, with evidence from one or more written texts referencing Falling Man.

  • Relate your position on the photo to your overall thoughts about journalistic responsibility and truth.

Considering previous activities and lessons, pull evidence from your Visual Analysis Tool, Learning Log, discussion notes, and written exercises to incorporate into the paragraphs you will develop from your topic sentences and to elaborate upon your evidence.

Draft a multiparagraph essay from your topic sentences and the evidence you have identified in support of them and of your overall position about the photograph.

Activity 3: Read – Discuss

We will share the rough draft of our essays and receive feedback.

Step 1

Once you have completed a rough draft, exchange drafts with a partner.

Consider the question from the Section 4 Diagnostic Checklist:

How do controversial photographs like Richard Drew’s Falling Man highlight the responsibilities and dilemmas faced by photojournalists as they document painful moments in American history and influence our reactions to them?

After reading your partner’s rough draft of the three paragraphs, respond to the following questions:

  1. What is the central claim or thesis in the essay? How effective is the thesis statement in establishing direction for the essay?

  2. Are the supporting paragraphs organized? Do they support the thesis?

  3. Is the evidence well-selected? How so or how not?

  4. Is the evidence explained or elaborated upon effectively? How so or how not?

  5. How well does your partner meet the expectations from the Section 4 Diagnostic Checklist? Explain your answer.

Step 2

Discuss your feedback with your partner and make necessary revisions to your draft.

Activity 4: Write – Discuss

We will reflect on our work on the Section Diagnostic and assess how prepared we are for the Culminating Task.

Step 1

Choose at least three of the questions below regarding the Section Diagnostic and respond to them in your Learning Log:

  1. How well did you take necessary action to prepare for the task?

  2. What went well for you during the completion of this task?

  3. What did you struggle with during the completion of this task? How did you push through these struggles?

  4. How well did you actively focus your attention during this independent task?

  5. How well did you develop and use an effective and efficient process to maintain workflow during this task?

  6. What would you do differently during the next Section Diagnostic?

Step 2

Now find your Culminating Task Progress Tracker. Think about the knowledge you have gained and the skills you have practiced thus far in the unit. Use the Culminating Task Progress Tracker to do the following:

  • Add or refine any skills and content knowledge required for the Culminating Task.

  • Evaluate how well you are mastering the skills and knowledge required for the Culminating Task.

Step 3

Review the Central Question of the unit:

How do images change the world?

Use the following questions to guide a discussion with a partner or small group:

  1. What new knowledge do you have that relates to the Central Question?

  2. What are you still curious about that relates to the Central Question?

  3. What is the relationship between the Central Question and the texts you have read so far? How do the texts shed light on the question? How does the question help you understand the texts?

  4. How has your response to the question evolved, deepened, or changed?

In your Learning Log, write your response to Question 4.