Unit overview: cry, the beloved country

1. Unit overview: cry, the beloved country Ms. Gullette 6 March 2013

2. Where we’ve been… • The House on Mango Street • Author’s voice • Skills: Writing, creative writing (vignette) • Catcher in the Rye • Motif • Skills: Writing, thesis driven essay • The Lord of the Flies • Allegory • Biblical allusions unit • Understanding stories widely alluded to in literature • Skills: research, working in groups, public speaking/presentation skills

3. Where we’re going: SKILLS • Formal, academic “talk” about a work of literature • Socratic seminar • Writing about literature • Journals • “Dialogue” assignments • Thesis driven close reading essay

4. We’ll be working on: • Identifying an author’s use of literary techniques and describing how an author uses those techniques to communicate a purpose • Examining a particular point of view or cultural experience reflected in a work of literature from outside the United States

5. First thing’s first… • Pre-assessment: What do you already know? • Download (“save as”) the file titled “Pre-assessment electronic form” from Ms. Bennett’s website • Complete the pre-assessment. • Print and turn in to the basket. • After completing the pre-assessment, pick up a reflection sheet from Ms. G • Complete and submit to basket

6. 5 minute break

7. Cry, the beloved country JUSTICE MYSTERY “The most famous and important novel in South Africa’s History.” POLITICS LOVE

8. 2 levels • Microcosm: the “particular” elements of a story • Vividly depicted characters, specific places • Macrocosm: elements of the story that transcend the novel, more “universal” • Contexts (social & historical) • Themes relevant across societies/cultures/time (justice, love, redemption etc.)

9. Macrocosm: a lens • A way of looking at literature, we’re looking “through” it Morality What we consider when making decisions

10. First, a story… • What was my moral decision making process…what was I thinking about? • Reasons to give the man a drink of water? • Reasons not to give the man a drink of water?

11. Lens: kohlberg’s moral stages • Level 1: Preconventional Morality • Decision making based on external factors • Trouble avoiding mindset • “I must follow the rules or something bad will happen to me” Most important consideration: How will this affect me?

12. Lens: kohlberg’smoral stages • Level 2: Conventional morality Most important consideration: Am I doing my duty? Will others think what I’m doing is right? • Decision making based on desire to maintain social order or roles, seeking approval for doing the “right” thing • Decisions often based on good of “the group” • “I’m a good girl” • “We must respect authority”

13. Lens: kohlberg’smoral stages • Level 3: Postconventionalmorality • More independent decision making, • conforms to internal standards (conscience) • Value doing what’s right regardless of reactions of others in immediate environment Most important consideration: Trying to making an “objective” decision, considering all the angles • Example: The law

14. Lens: kohlberg’smoral stages • Postconventional morality and empathy To be thinking about as we study/read: • What levels of moral decision making do we see characters engaging with in the novel?

15. Looking ahead… • Tomorrow: historical contexts • Unit calendar and reading schedule