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Lesson 1

If we need additional practice to craft a definition of a change agent based on key understandings from four core texts, we will find one quote in each text and use these quotes to drill down to our definitions of a change agent.

Lesson Goals

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

  • Can I recognize and interpret an author’s use of rhetorical strategies to deepen my understanding of texts about change agents?

  • Can I summarize evidence-based discussions about change agents?

  • Can I develop and clearly communicate meaningful and defensible claims that represent valid, evidence-based analysis of texts about change agents?

Texts

Core

  • Unit Reader
    • “Inaugural Address, 20 January 1961,” John F. Kennedy and Ted Sorensen, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, 1961
    • “Introduction,” excerpt from The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell, Little, Brown and Company, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, Inc., 2000
  • Digital Access
    • “How to Start a Movement,” Derek Sivers, TED.com, 2010
    • “The Danger of Silence,” Clint Smith, TED.com, 2015

Materials

There are no materials for this Lesson.

Activity 1: View

We will find one quote from “The Danger Of Silence” that represents the idea of change.

Watch the TED Talk, “The Danger of Silence,” by Clint Smith. Pause the video when Mr. Smith says how he will change what he will do “this year.” Write the quote in your Learning Log.

Activity 2: View

We will find one quote from the TED Talk, “How To Start A Movement” by Derek Sivers that represents the idea of change.

Watch the TED Talk, “How to Start a Movement” by Derek Sivers. Pause the video when Mr. Sivers says, “And when you find a lone nut doing something great, have the guts to be the first one to stand up and join in.” Write the quote in your Learning Log under the Clint Smith quote.

Activity 3: Read

We will find one quote from The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell that represents the idea of change.

Using the introduction to Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point, skim, reread, or use a quote previously wrote down in your Learning Log. Write the quote in your Learning Log under the Sivers quote.

Activity 4: Read

We will find one quote from John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address that represents the idea of change.

Using John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address, skim, reread, or use a quote previously wrote down in your Learning Log. Write the quote in your Learning Log under the Gladwell quote.

Activity 5: Write

We will list the characteristics of change agents based on the four quotes we found.

Based on the four quotes you found, write down as many change agent characteristics as you can find. Respond to the following question:

  1. Narrow down your list. Which characteristics were revealed in at least three of your sources?

Activity 6: Write

We will write the definition of a change agent using a sentence frame.

Using the following sentence frame and the common characteristics of change agents, write the definition of a change agent.

A change agent is a person, group, or entity that exemplifies traits of _____, _____, and _____ and uses these characteristics to effect change in an aspect of society.