unit 3: perseverance “life is not easy for any of us. but what of that? we must have perseverance...

Unit 3: Perseverance“Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves.” Marie Curie

Unit 3 • Has 4 sections

• Each section will take about 10 days

• Everything we read will relate in some way to our theme of Perseverance

• Each section has required performance tasks.• Section 1: We have to analyze a poem by Langston Hughes and Determine the

Central Idea of “Derek Redmond: The Day That Changed My Life”

• Section 2: We have to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using different mediums.

• Section 3: We will be evaluating the effectiveness to which an author conveys their argument in two texts on opposing sides of an issue.

• Section 4: After reading a set of texts we will have to make a claim and support it with evidence from the texts that we read.

What is perseverance?

“Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves.”

Marie Curie

• Not that we have defined what perseverance is let’s look at the quote.

• With your partner discuss what you think Marie Curie is trying to tell us?

• Once you and your partner agree write your interpretation of her quote on the bottom of page 1 in your booklet.

Standard and Objectives

• LAFS.8.RL.2.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts.

• I can determine the figurative and connotative meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text.

• I can analyze the impact of specific word choices on the meaning and tone of a text.

May I Persevere

Stanza 1

When all the world is looming dark

And things seem not so clean,

When shadows seem to hover ‘round

May I Persevere.

Paraphrase

• In your own words what does this mean?

• When I am sad or depressed and it seems the world is a dark and hard place I need to be strong and carry on.

May I Persevere

Stanza 2

When it seems everything’s been tried

And there’s no way to go,

Just let me keep remembering

Sometimes the journey’s slow.

Paraphrase


• When facing a problem and it seems like I have tried everything and it is just something I will never fix I need to remember to be patient.

May I Persevere

Stanza 3

I may just need to stop and rest

Along the path I walk,

A time to try to understand

And find someone to talk.

Paraphrase


• When I am frustrated I may need to take a step back or take a break from the problem. That can often help see a different way. It can also help if you talk it out.

May I Persevere

Stanza 4

As I gain new strength to carry on

Without a doubt or fear,

Somehow I know things will be right,

And so, I persevere.

Paraphrase


• After taking a break, I need to go back to solving the problem. I need to have faith in myself and confidence it will be okay. So I keep going.

“Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves.”

Marie Curie• How does this poem relate back to the quote?

• What is the literal meaning of these figurative words or phrases?

• What analogy does the author use to describe perseverance?

Figurative Literal

The world is looming dark

Shadows seem to hover

The path I walk

The Journey

Bell WorkFind the poem “Don’t Quit” on page 10.

Number the stanzas (there are 4)

As we read today we will analyze the impact or word choices on meaning and tone by focusing on a description within the text.

Tone: the attitude you feel in a poem



• I can analyze the impact of word choices on the meaning and tone by focusing on a description within a text.

Don’t Quit

Stanza 1

• Read this stanza 2x• the first time just read it.

• The second time as you read think of examples of difficulties the author lists.

Questions

• Page 11

• Answer #1 A

• Answer #1B on your own, then discuss your answer with your partner. Did you come up with the same answer as to How they help the reader?

• With your partner discuss #1C after you have discussed it write two or more examples on your paper.

Don’t Quit

Stanza 2-4

• Read these stanzas 3x• the first time just read the rest of

the poem to enjoy it.

• The second time as you read look for an argument the author is developing about why people should not quit. Once you have found that argument look for evidence from the text to support it.

• The third time you read look in Stanza 3 for symbols the author is using.

Questions

• Page 11

• Answer #2A and B

• Answer #3A and B

• After completely answering these questions discuss your answer with your partner. If you had any “aha” moments or got new ideas you may add on to your original answer.

Bell Work

• An analogy is a comparison between two things, typically on the basis of their structure and for the purpose of explanation or clarification.• Example: In May I persevere life or problem solving was compared to a

long slow journey.

• An allusion is an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference.• Example: “He was a real Romeo with the ladies.” Romeo was a character

in Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, and was very romantic in expressing his love for Juliet.

• Come up with an example of an analogy or an allusion.

Poem Analysis

• Title-Examine the title before reading consider the allusions and connotations

• Connotation-Examine for meaning beyond the literal. Identify words that build emotional responses. Look at imagery, figurative language, sound devices, rhythm etc…

• Attitude-Or tone. What is the speaker’s and the poet’s attitudes.

• Shifts-note shifts or changes in speaker and attitude

• Theme-what is the theme

Mother to Son

• Examine the title

• Who is the poet?

• Read the first line of the poem. Who is the speaker?

• Are they the same?

• Based on the title and first line what is the poem going to be about?

Connotation• Listen as I read the first 7 lines of the poem. I want you close your

eyes and let the words create an image in your mind.

• When I finish reading I want you to briefly describe in writing (or with a partner) what image you saw. You may even quickly draw the image.

• Listen as I read the next 6 lines of the poem. Keep in mind the title, what does the person climbing the stairs look like? What does reaching landings and turning corners have to do with perseverance? Think of a time you’ve gone up or down stairs in the dark what was it like?

• Listen as I read the last 7 lines of the poem. What message is the mother trying to convey to her son? How do you know?

• Now on page 6 in your booklet complete the figurative language organizer.




• Today read the poem again. This time as you read you will be looking for allusions and analogy.

Mother to Son

Analogy or Allusion

• “don’t you set down on the steps”

What is being compared

• Sitting down on the stairs is compared to giving up

Attitude and Theme

• In the first 7 lines of the poem what is the tone of the poem? How do you know?

• In the next 6 lines does the attitude change? Stay the same? How do you know?

• In the last 7 lines what is the attitude now? How do you know?

• Did the attitude shift? What clues did the text give to show you that?

• What is the universal message the poet is trying to convey to the reader?

Performance Task B

• You will analyze Langton Hughes’ poem “Mother to Son”

• You will look for analogies and allusions.

• You will also need to analyze the impact of specific word choices and determine how they contribute to the meaning and tone of the poem.

• In our analysis of this poem have we done both of these things?

unit 3: perseverance “life is not easy for any of us. but what of that? we must have perseverance...

Documents

connotative meaning

marie curieunit

set of texts

marie curienot

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connotative meanings

hard place

opposing sides