Focus Lessons 10.10-10.14

Theme:“Recitatif:”English

Monday: Warm-Up!: 10/19What is the TONE or feeling of this photograph?

What is the SUBJECT or who/what of this photograph?

What do you think the MAIN IDEA of this photograph is?

Draw with me…

This is your text. A text is whatever you are reading.

Plot The sequence of events

You Remember!

PLOT

Tone The mood or attitude in a text

The feeling a reader should have when reading

TONE

PLOT

Subject What the text is aboutThe GIST of it: Who, What, When, Where, Why

SUBJECTTONE

PLOT

Theme The big idea about life and human nature that the writer is trying to get across

Most themes are not told directly in the text

THEME

SUBJECTTONE

PLOT

But how do we find the theme if the author doesn’t say it directly?

The author wants you to think about it!

Here are some big clues…Think about the titleLook for important statements made about big ideas

Think about the ways characters change throughout the story and lessons they learn

Let’s Practice!http://www.pixar.com/shorts/bdn/tale.htmlhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=SwcfZC7wJJY

“Recitatif:” Act I: 203-211

Written by Toni Morrison-Born 1931-Famous for writing African-American Literature-Known for writing using epic themes-Has won the Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize for literature-Has won almost every award for book-writing possible

“Recitatif” tells the story of two young girls who share a room in anorphanage for a few months in the 1950s. As they grow up, move to neighboringtowns, marry, and have children, the girls (now women) meetunexpectedly several times. Near the end of the story, they take opposingsides in a protest about busing students to distant schools to promote racialintegration. Although Toni Morrison tells us that one girl is white and theother is black, she is not clear about which is which.

Overview

Overview“Recitatif” A musical term for

“in-between” talking and singing during an operaWritten in five acts over the course of the girls’ lives

From the Latin root, reciteTo repeat from

memory

Overview of 1960’shttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSlvw-

vEsEI&feature=related

Tuesday: Warm-Up! 10/11Subject?

Tone?

Theme?

Get out your notes! Let’s define the terms together…

Let’s Practice!http://www.youtube.com/user/

TheodorSeussGeisel?blend=21&ob=5#p/a/u/2/dZmZzGxGpSs

“Recitatif:” Clarifying 203-211Who is the Bozo?Who is Maggie?

What do we know about Maggie?

Why are Roberta and Twyla in St. Bonny’s orphanage?What are their mothers like?

Initial PredictionsRoberta TwylaRace?Why?

Race?Why?

Jimi Hendrix-Musician-Gained fame shortly before his death in 1970-Remembered as one of the most influential musicians of his era-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h2ywNdG45I

Read“Recitatif:” Acts II and III211-219Be sure to begin identifying

Plot elements; setting, rising action

ToneSubject (Gist)

Wednesday: Warm-Up: 10/12http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xg3vE8Ie_E&ob=av2e

Watch this music video to determine…

Plot?Tone?Subject?Theme?

“Papa Who Wakes up Tired in the Dark” by Sandra CisnerosUse our the visual on the back to identify the theme

Justify your answer by underlining the parts of text that supports the theme

Use these clues to guide you as you search for the theme

Think about the titleLook for important statements made about big ideas

Think about the ways characters change throughout the story and lessons they learn

“Recitatif:” Clarifying Acts II & IIIWhat is Twyla’s life like in Act III?

Where does she live?What is her family like?How would you describe her financial status?

Roberta’s?What does Roberta remind Twyla

about from the orphanage?

Continuing PredictionsRoberta TwylaRace?Why?

Race?Why?

Desegregation

“Recitatif:” Read Act IV: 219-225Be sure to finish identifying

Plot elements; setting, rising action

ToneSubject (GIST)

Thursday: Warm-Up: 10/13

“A Smart Cookie” by Sandra CisnerosIdentify the

theme in this vignette

Justify your answer by citing an example from the text and explaining it

Use these clues to guide you as you search for the theme…

Think about the titleLook for important statements made about big ideas

Think about the ways characters change throughout the story and lessons they learn

“Recitatif:” Clarifying Act IVHow do Twyla and Roberta run into

each other again?What does Roberta tell Twyla about

Maggie?Why did Twyla make a picketing

sign?

Continuing PredictionsRoberta TwylaRace?Why?

Race?Why?

“Recitatif:” Read Act V: 225-227

Friday:Warm-Up: 10/14

Recitatif A musical term for “in-between” talking and singing during an opera

From the Latin root, reciteTo repeat from memory

Think about the titleLook for important statements made about big ideas

Think about the ways characters change throughout the story and lessons they learn

Concluding ThoughtsRoberta TwylaRace?Why?

Race?Why?

Group DiscussionTake a vote! What do you think?Why do you think Morrison never

tells us which girl is white and which is black?