“Hair” by Malcolm Xwith Alex Haley

Lesson Developed by Josiah Shoupjshoup@pdx.edu

What are some things that you have done to fit in?

What are some things that you have seen other people doing to fit in?

Do people ever go too far trying to fit in? Explain…

Quick Write Prompt:

Malcolm X: 1925-1965

Writer

Public Speaker

Muslim Minister

Civil Rights Activist

Changed his name from Malcolm Little because that was his slave name.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X Written in collaboration

with Alex Haley, a famous black writer.

Published in 1965, the same year that Malcolm X died.

The short story “Hair” is one small part of the larger book.

Fiction or nonfiction? Answer: Nonfiction.

What’s the difference between an autobiography and a biography?

A biography is a book about a person’s life that is written by somebody else.

An autobiography is a book about a person’s life that is written by the person himself or herself.

What is an Autobiography?

“Who Taught you to Hate Yourself?”Speech Given in 1962

What was the tone of his voice?

Confident? Proud? Friendly?

What was the tone of his words?

Angry? Assertive? Uplifting?

What was the tone of that speech?

Tone is the writer’s attitude towards the audience, the subject, or a character.

Writers rely on word choice and details to communicate their tone.

Readers must piece together these clues to infer—or make an intelligent guess about—the writer’s feelings.

The Definition of Tone, pg. 344

Reading the Story: “Hair” Two student

volunteers will take turns reading the story on page 345-347.

The rest of the class will read along as the two students read aloud.

1. What details in the first two paragraphs make you think that young Malcolm is excited about getting his first conk?

2. What details in in the fifth paragraph show you that Malcolm and Shorty are close friends? Pay close attention to the dialogue.

Embedded Questions:

3. What is the tone of the writing once Malcolm has put the conk in his hair? What words or details lead you to believe this?

4. What is the tone in the final paragraph? Notice that all four of the “Words to Own” from this story are located in the final paragraph. What effect does that specialized vocabulary have on the author’s tone?

Embedded Questions:

Gather into Groups of Four.

There are eight questions, so each student is responsible for completing two of them.

1. Infer the tone of each quotation.2. Write the words and phrases which support your inference.3. Write your name, so we can give you credit.

The Many Tones of Malcolm X

Watching Good Hair (2009).

1. Do you recognize any of the people in this movie? Who are they?

2. What is the main ingredient of hair relaxer? 3. What harmful effects can this chemical have

on you? Or on a Coke can?4. What are some reasons why people want to

use hair relaxer? 5. What is the tone of this film? Give examples of

details that support your choice.6. What is the purpose of this film? How is it

similar to the purpose of the story “Hair”?

Points to Ponder about Good Hair:

Return to your quick write paragraph.

Read back over what you wrote at the beginning of class.

Write down the following things:1. Infer what the tone of your own writing is.2. Write down the words and phrases which

support your inference.

What Tone Did You Use?