Big Question: What enables people to overcome obstacles?

RELATED INTRODUCTORY NON-FICTION ESSAYS by Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING

When Maya became an adult, she worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King and other leaders in the civil rights movement. The essays below written by Dr. King help illustrate the challenges of that time period and help set the scene for I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. In addition, they are important pieces of our country's history and culture. Furthermore, in a later unit each student will have to select an inspirational person who overcame obstacles to achieve success. Both Dr. King and Dr. Angelou serve as examples of inspirational people.

Diction, tone, theme, and allusion in the "Sympathy" Poem
This poem inspired the title of Maya's autobiography. See the RIGHT SIDE bar for ADDITIONAL poems we read and analyze later in the unit.

FOIL

RHETORICAL DEVICES

"I Have a Dream" Text w/ Examples Highlighted and Extra Credit Option

Related Assignment for the "I Have a Dream" speech by Martin Luther King
Take a closer look at the structure of this famous speech to help understand why it is so powerful and effective. We will examine the structure, metaphors, alliteration, repetition,allusions, tricolons, and themes of this speech.

"Letter from a Birmingham Jail" text

Video Clip of "Letter from a Birmingham Jail"
The actual letter starts 4 min and 20 seconds into the video.

2nd Read Activity for "Letter from a Birmingham Jail"
Be sure to carefully RE-read this because the quiz on this is difficult. Be prepared!

Another Related Assignment for "Letter from a Birmingham Jail"
We will make interpretations of the writing and determine themes of this text. Reminder: you will be quizzed on this essay.

For FUN SNL Maya Angelou Skit

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is set in Stamps, Arkansas. It is a non-fiction account of acclaimed author Maya Angelou's life from age three to 16. It is the first of a three part auto-biographical series.

Primary Assessments and Activities:

Quizzes and Final Test

Cyber Discussions

In Class and Out of Class Essays

Double Sided Journals

WEB QUEST ON MAYA ANGELOU
Each Group Will Research and Report on a Different Area of Her Life

Picture Talk For Caged Bird

Allusion vs Illusion

PP Reminders on In Text Citations Including Quotes WITHIN Quotes

TEXTUAL SUPPORT ASSIGNMENT RE: DISCRIMINATION

Diction / Mood / Textual Support Graphic Organizer

DICTION / MOOD Power Point

DICTION MINI ESSAY

DOUBLE SIDED JOURNALS (SAMPLE)
Click here if you need to see a sample.

Double Sided Journal (blank template)
Double sided journals CAN be done on blank paper. Others may prefer to fill in this blank template that offers tips and reminders about what a double sided journal is.

POST IT NOTE ASSIGNMENT

Related NON-Fiction Article
Together we will identify the claims of this article and the support for those claims. We will ALSO make connections from this article to the book.

DEBATE #1 ON EARLY CHAPTERS / POWER POINT

CROSSWORD REVIEW CHAPTERS 1-12

MOCK MAYA ANGLEOU INTEVIEW

SONG ASSIGNMENT

IN-CLASS DEBATE (to be used after chp 34)

RELATED DEBATE ASSIGNMENT

EXTRA CREDIT
Identifying figurative language in the text. Click the link above to learn more.

SAMPLE PICTURE TALK TO PREPARE FOR CLAIMS ACTIVITY (LADY GAGA)

SMALL GROUP ACTIVITY - CLAIMS ASSIGNMENT

Full Length In Class Essay
This will be an in-class essay. Click on the link above to learn more about it.

Short In Class Essay (two paragraphs)
In class essays are not revealed in advance.

FINAL PROJECT Main Essay OR I-Search Research Project:

Review what makes a good introduction

Tips on Thesis Statements (click on how to tell a good thesis from a bad one for lots of helpful examples)

Review Topic Sentences

General Tips on Paragraphing

MLA Documentation

Tips for Conclusions

I - SEARCH RESEARCH PROJECT

PRE-WRITING SHEET
Complete this before starting your main essay. It will be graded.

CHECKLIST for MAIN ESSAY

FINAL PAPER - MAIN ESSAY
This is the BIGGEST grade of the unit so give it your best effort.

Review Games:

A Tough Game on Maya Angelou (don't worry you won't need to know all of this for the quiz)

Another Review Game

The unit pages provide a detailed view of what students can expect for each unit. However, plans will be revised as needed. See the LESSONS and CALENDARS tab to see exactly how each unit will unfold.

Punctuating Titles Review AND

What type of tiles require underlining? What ones require quotes?

Reference Guide

Online Practice.

Pre-reading Activities:

Listen to how Maya would like to be remembered. (click on the last link)

- HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED? Assignment inspired by Maya's audio clip above regarding how she would like to be remembered.
- PRE-READING BIG ?'s / DEBATE ?'s
- Related MINI-ESSAY on PRE-READING DEBATE ?'s
- ALLUSION and DICTION Power Point
- DICTION, ALLUSION, and THEME in "SYMPATHY"
- PICTURE TALK - Making Inferences Get a glimpse into the time period, setting, and issues that were common during Maya's life. What inferences can you make from these pictures? (In Class Discussion Activitiy)

- WEB QUEST Work in small groups to learn about an aspect of Maya Angelou's life and report back to the class.

AUDIO AND VIDEO CLIPS:

Listen to the music in her voice.

Video Clip "Still I Rise" played in class (not posted online - shown in class)
Video Clip "On The Pulse of Morning" the inaugural poem (not posted online - shown in class_
A Glimpse into her Early Life: Uncle Willy (a must)
Maya Talks with Dave Chappell (feel the love and respect) We'll watch a longer clip in class.

Poetry Incorporated Into the Unit:

- "Willie" This is actually a song Maya wrote about her beloved Uncle Willie who was disabled.
- Assignment on "Willie," "Lesson," and "Alone" Work alone with a partner to analyze these poems.
- "On the Pulse of Morning" This is the famous inaugural poem Maya.
- Related Assignment on "The Pulse of Morning"
- "Still I Rise" This is a great inspirational poem.
- Related Assignment on "Still I Rise"

A Journey Towards Success: An Autobiography (LIT & COMP)

Stacie Kaminski