UNIT 1 ORGANIZERS: WHAT DOES RUTH RISK BY SEEING “THAT WOMAN”?
Table A-1: Solinger’s use of language
Solinger’s language / What Solinger is emphasizing through her language“experts estimate the annual number of abortions at one million, with only ten thousand of those conducted in hospitals as medically sanctioned therapeutic abortions” / Solinger uses data to stress in objective and concrete terms that abortion was common, but safe abortions in hospitals were far from common.
Table A-2: Ross’s use of language
Ross’s use of language / Your interpretation of the power and/or effect of Ross’s language hereNurses reported that “sticks, rocks, chopsticks, rubber or plastic tubes, gauze or cotton packing, ballpoint pens, coat hangers, or knitting needles” were frequently used by desperate women.
Or they chose to use “douches believed effective in inducing abortions made from detergents, orange juice, vinegar, bleach, disinfectant, lye, potassium permanganate, or colas.
The gaseous explosions of soft drinks [were] said to cause a miscarriage
May be photocopied for classroom use. Using Informational Text to Teach A Raisin in the Sun by Audrey Fisch and Susan Chenelle, © 2016 (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Education).
UNIT 1 ORGANIZERS: WHAT DOES RUTH RISK BY SEEING “THAT WOMAN”?
Table B-1: Reactions to Ruth’s pregnancy and possible abortion
Character / Textual evidence / Your interpretationRuth / Ruth is, according to the stage directions, “Beaten” and echoes Mama’s comments about what a woman will do for her family: “Yes, I would too, Walter.” / Ruth is willing to do anything she needs to, including having an abortion, in order to protect her family, and she seems to see having another baby as a danger to her family.
Mama / “we a people who give children life, not who destroys them”
“say that we done give up one baby to poverty and that we ain’t going to give up nary another one”
Walter / “You don’t know Ruth, Mama, if you think she would do that”
May be photocopied for classroom use. Using Informational Text to Teach A Raisin in the Sun by Audrey Fisch and Susan Chenelle, © 2016 (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Education).
UNIT 1 ORGANIZERS: WHAT DOES RUTH RISK BY SEEING “THAT WOMAN”?
Table B-2: How does Ruth fit the pattern of women who sought illegal abortions in the 1950s?
Raisin / Evidence / Solinger or Ross / EvidenceRuth seems to go to a midwife or other non-doctor / “You went to see that woman, didn’t you?” / Ross / “Poor women … went to `the lady down the street’ – either a midwife or partially trained medical personnel”
May be photocopied for classroom use. Using Informational Text to Teach A Raisin in the Sun by Audrey Fisch and Susan Chenelle, © 2016 (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Education).
UNIT 1 ORGANIZERS: WHAT DOES RUTH RISK BY SEEING “THAT WOMAN”?
Table B-3: How and why is Ruth “beaten”?
How and why Ruth is “beaten” / Evidence from RaisinRuth has lost faith in Walter and become repulsed by him. / Ruth says of Walter, “Oh, let him go on out and drink himself to death! He makes me sick to my stomach!”
May be photocopied for classroom use. Using Informational Text to Teach A Raisin in the Sun by Audrey Fisch and Susan Chenelle, © 2016 (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Education).
UNIT 1 ORGANIZERS: WHAT DOES RUTH RISK BY SEEING “THAT WOMAN”?
CLASS ACTIVITY RUBRIC
Category / 4 - Excellent / 3 – Good / 2 – Satisfactory / 1 - UnsatisfactoryPersuasive letter (integration of knowledge and ideas) / Letter shows outstanding understanding of the ideas about abortion as revealed in all of the texts (Hansberry, Solinger, Ross) / Letter shows good outstanding understanding of the ideas about abortion as revealed in all of the texts (Hansberry, Solinger, Ross) / Letter shows limited or uneven understanding of the ideas about abortion as revealed in the texts (Hansberry, Solinger, Ross) / Letter shows insufficient or inaccurate understanding of the ideas about abortion as revealed in the texts (Hansberry, Solinger, Ross)
Discussion and Debate (participate in a range of conversations; present information, findings, and supporting evidence) / Outstanding participation in small group and whole discussion discussions, showing an outstanding ability to listen and contribute to collaborative discussions / Good participation in small group and whole discussion discussions, showing a good ability to listen and contribute to collaborative discussions / Limited or uneven participation in small group and whole discussion discussions, showing a limited or uneven ability to listen and contribute to collaborative discussions / Insufficient or unsuccessful participation in small group and whole discussion discussions, showing an emerging but insufficient ability to listen and contribute to collaborative discussions
Individual Reflection (cite relevant and sufficient textual evidence; improve writing and argumentation through reflection) / Reflection is clear, coherent, and shows excellent insight into all of the texts; reflection is outstanding and well informed by small group and whole class discussion / Reflection is solid and shows good insight into all of the texts; reflection is thoughtful and informed by small group and whole class discussion / Reflection is limited or uneven and shows limited insight into the texts; reflection is limited and unevenly informed by small group and whole class discussion / Reflection is unclear and/or incoherent and shows little insight into the texts; reflection is incoherent and not clearly informed by small group and whole class discussion
Vocabulary (use domain-specific vocabulary) / Several “words to own” from the unit are used correctly in letter and/or reflection / Some “words to own” from the unit are used correctly in letter and/or reflection / One or more “words to own” from the unit are used but perhaps not correctly or effectively in letter and/or reflection / No “words to own” from the unit are used in letter and/or reflection
May be photocopied for classroom use. Using Informational Text to Teach A Raisin in the Sun by Audrey Fisch and Susan Chenelle, © 2016 (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Education).