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Lesson 1

We will review the knowledge requirements for the Culminating Task and work collaboratively to analyze two key personalities in The Book of Unknown Americans.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I identify task expectations and develop a plan appropriate for accomplishing the established outcomes?

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

  • Can I work productively in various roles with other participants?

Texts

Core

  • Tradebook
    • The Book of Unknown Americans, Cristina Henríquez, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2015

Materials

Tools

Question Sets

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Read – Discuss

We will review the knowledge requirements for the Culminating Task.

Review the Culminating Task Checklist and discuss the following questions with a partner:

  1. Do I understand the literary elements and narrative techniques from The Book of Unknown Americans?

  2. Do I understand how these elements and techniques were used by the author to engage readers and convey themes?

Activity 2: Discuss

We will work collaboratively and discuss character traits assigned to alma.

In your small group, discuss the character of Alma.

  1. How does Henríquez characterize Alma? Cite evidence from the novel to support your answer.

  2. How does Henríquez express these traits? Cite evidence from the novel to support your answer.

Use your notes from the group book discussion in Section 4, Lesson 4 to support your discussion.

Write down insights gleaned from your discussion in your Learning Log.

Activity 3: Discuss

We will work collaboratively and discuss character traits assigned to mayor.

Following the same format as Activity 2, discuss the character of Mayor.

  1. How does Henríquez characterize Mayor? Cite evidence from the novel to support your answer.

  2. How does Henríquez express these traits? Cite evidence from the novel to support your answer.

Activity 4: Discuss

We will work collaboratively to discuss and analyze the ancillary characters in The Book of Unknown Americans.

In your small group, discuss the role of the ancillary/support characters in The Book of Unknown Americans and how they contribute to the novel’s themes. Write down your discussion in your Learning Logs.

Activity 5: Write

We will choose three possible chapters to rewrite in preparation for the Culminating Task.

Review the novel. In your Learning Logs, write down three chapters (include the chapter title and page number) that you are considering for your rewrite.