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Lesson 3

We will analyze the narrative essay “My Mother Never Worked” to understand the author’s choices regarding language and text structure in order to deepen our understanding of how authors use these constructs to make claims or illuminate character, meaning, and themes.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I use language and strategies to accomplish my intended purpose in communicating perspective?

  • Can I recognize and interpret important relationships among key details and ideas (characters, setting, tone, point of view, structure, development, etc.) within texts?

  • Can I recognize points of connection among texts, textual elements, and perspectives to make logical, objective comparisons?

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

Texts

Core

  • Tradebook
    • The Book of Unknown Americans, Cristina Henríquez, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2015
  • Unit Reader
    • “My Mother Never Worked,” Bonnie Smith-Yackel, Women: A Journal of Liberation, 1975

Materials

Tools

Question Sets

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Write

We will write a summary of the plot of The Book of Unknown Americans from another character’s perspective.

Step 1

Write a plot summary of events up until this point in the novel from Mayor’s point of view and perspective. Refer to the notes on your Literary Elements and Narrative Techniques Note-Taking Tool for possible ideas on how to convey his perspective.

Step 2

Switch drafts with a partner. Ask your partner for feedback on the effectiveness of your writing to convey Mayor’s unique perspective on the events. Make revisions based on the feedback.

Activity 2: Listen – Read

We will listen to and follow along in our text to a read-aloud of the essay “My Mother Never Worked.”

The ways characters speak, what they say, and how they converse with other characters are often the most revealing clues to their characterization. The reader can learn a lot about the characters based on what is said and what is left unsaid.

Listen and follow along as your teacher or one of your peers reads aloud the essay "My Mother Never Worked" by Bonnie Smith-Yackel. As you listen, pay attention to how the author structures the essay and uses dialogue to develop character.

Activity 3: Discuss – Write

We will discuss the frame narrative structure as a class.

Step 1

This essay’s structure is called a frame narrative. With a partner, discuss the following questions:

  1. What is a frame? What is the purpose of a frame?

  2. Why do you think this is called a frame narrative?

  3. What else do you notice about the structure of the essay?

  4. How does Smith-Yackel present the details of her mother’s "work"? Cite details from the text to support your answer.

Step 2

Use a Literary Elements and Narrative Techniques Note-Taking Tool for “My Mother Never Worked.”Write down an entry for the frame narrative technique.

Activity 4: Discuss

We will use guiding questions to deepen our analysis of the essay.

With a partner, discuss the following questions:

  1. How does the way in which the author presents the details of her mother’s life support or refute the title statement, "My Mother Never Worked"? Cite evidence from the text to support your answer.

  2. What is Smith-Yackel’s argument? Is it explicitly stated or implied? Cite evidence from the text to support your answer.

Activity 5: Read – Discuss – Write

We will compare a passage from The Book of Unknown Americans to “My Mother Never Worked.”

Step 1

As a class, read pages 202-206 of The Book of Unknown Americans aloud.

Examine the structure in this portion of the text and the essay “My Mother Never Worked.”

Discuss the following question with a partner:

  1. What similarities in structure do you observe between the two texts? Explain your response using details from both texts.

Discuss your answer as a class.

Step 2

Add a new entry to each of your Literary Elements and Narrative Techniques Note-Taking Tools for the novel and the essay based on insights gleaned from the discussion.

Activity 6: Write

For homework, we will read pages 202–217 of the novel.

For homework, read and annotate pages 202-217 of The Book of Unknown Americans. Write down four entries in your Literary Elements and Narrative Techniques Note-Taking Tool, focusing at least one of the entries on structure. When logging them, think of recurring ideas or themes that are emerging.

Write down new or interesting words in your Vocabulary Journal and strong or interestingsentences in your Mentor Sentence Journal.