SCAFFOLDING TO MEET THE STANDARDS 7B
Grade: 8 Unit: Autobiographies Lesson: Using Frederick Douglass’ work to show word choice, connotation and point-of-view
Standards:RI.8.13 – Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, andtechnical meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts.
RI.8.14 – Analyze in detail the structure of a specific paragraph in a text, including the role of particular sentences in developing and refining a key concept.
RI.8.15 – Determine an author’s point-of-view or purpose in a text and analyze how the author acknowledges and responds to conflicting evidence or viewpoints.
W.8.28 – Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection and research.
(concepts, facts, formulas, Key vocabulary) / Understand
(big idea, large concept, declarative statement of enduring understanding) / Do
(skills, competencies) / Additional Information
How word choice affects the author’s message (diction)
The emotional context of words
(connotation)
Author’s point-of-view / An autobiographical work provides the reader with insight into, not only the author’s personal feelings, but the feelings of others who lived in the same time period. / Identify and analyze Frederick Douglass’ emotions and word choice to discover his point-of view about his life as a slave. / Questions:
Why is Douglass specific about making friends with “little white boys”?
What words in the text allow the reader to understand how he feels about them?
Which of the meanings of the word “trouble” is Douglass using? Why did he choose this word? How would the meaning have changed if he used the word “anger”?
Unit formative assessment(s) / Write an analysis paper using the following writing prompts
How do Frederick Douglass’ feelings change over the course of the piece? What is Douglas trying to show about how slavery makes people feel?
Cite evidence of passages that show evidence of Douglass’ intentional crafting of word choice in order to present his point-of view.