TRANSFORMING THE TRADITIONAL NOVEL STUDY JENNIFER LILLY, ELDORADO HIGH SCHOOL

WORKING WITH THE TIME ELEMENT Avoid separating; combine activities Essay modeling text Scaffold difficult text Graphic novel Short passages Use helpful resources Signet Classic Teacher Guide

THE SCARLET LETTER – CHAPTER 1 ILLUSTRATION

THE SCARLET LETTER: PASSAGE ANALYSIS QUESTIONS Directions to the student: read the passage, and then answer the questions that follow. Base your answers on what the text says rather than on what you may know from elsewhere in the novel. From chapter 2. The door of the jail being flung open from within there appeared, in the first place, like a black shadow emerging into sunshine, the grim and grisly presence of the town-beadle, with a sword by his side, and his staff of office in his hand. This personage prefigured and represented in his aspect the whole dismal severity of the Puritanic code of law, which it was his business to administer in its final and closest application to the offender. Stretching forth the official staff in his left hand, he laid his right upon the shoulder of a young woman, whom he thus drew forward, until, on the threshold of the prison-door, she repelled him, by an action marked with natural dignity and force of character, and stepped into the open air as if by her own free will. She bore in her arms a child, a baby of some three months old, who winked and turned aside its little face from the too vivid light of day; because its existence, heretofore, had brought it acquaintance only with the grey twilight of a dungeon, or other darksome apartment of the prison. (continued for approx. 2 pages)

SAMPLE QUESTIONS 1. The entrance of the beadle has which effect on the gathering-place? a. It brings calm to an unruly crowd. b. It imposes seriousness on the happy gathering. c. It gives the impatient crowd a sense of anticipation. d. It brings darkness into the outdoor light. 2. What feature of the beadle’s appearance most communicates his role in the society? a. His facial expression b. His clothing c. The pace of his walking d.The royal insignia on his staff What is Hawthorne’s tone in this passage? (tone= attitude toward main subject)

Have students create a page for a graphic novel for chapter 15. They can model the components found in chapters carefully choosing significant text from the novel. THE SCARLET LETTER – CHAPTER 11-14

BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND Frame novel Big ideas Essential Questions How does one achieve significance in his or her life? Does tragedy in one’s life justify revengeful acts / sinful actions or behaviors? Page 10

MAKING CONNECTIONS Literary Period Presentations Kelly Gallagher’s AoW Post-it Connections

YOUR TURN – SOCRATIC SEMINARS – PAGE 13 WORLD CONNECTION QUESTION: Write a question connecting the text to the real world. Example: If you were given only 24 hours to pack your most precious belongings in a back pack and to get ready to leave your home town, what might you pack? (After reading the first 30 pages of NIGHT). CLOSE-ENDED QUESTION: Write a question about the text that will help everyone in the class come to an agreement about events or characters in the text. This question usually has a "correct" answer. Example: What happened to Hester Prynne's husband that she was left alone in Boston without family? (after the first 4 chapters of THE SCARLET LETTER).

SOCRATIC SEMINARS OPEN-ENDED QUESTION: Write an insightful question about the text that will require proof and group discussion and "construction of logic" to discover or explore the answer to the question. Example: Why did Gene hesitate to reveal the truth about the accident to Finny that first day in the infirmary? (after mid-point of A SEPARATE PEACE). UNIVERSAL THEME/ CORE QUESTION: Write a question dealing with a theme(s) of the text that will encourage discussion about the universality of the text. Example: Some people require peace and quiet to complete a task; how does this theme apply to Dr. Manette?

SOCRATIC SEMINARS LITERARY ANALYSIS QUESTION: Write a question dealing with HOW an author chose to compose a literary piece. How did the author manipulate point of view, characterization, poetic form, archetypal hero patterns, for example? Example: In MAMA FLORA'S FAMILY, why is it important that the story is told through flashback?

DRAMATIC PRESENTATIONS Student Sample Presentation

POETRY ANALYSIS WITH TP-CASTT Prediction based on title Read once for basic understanding Read again to complete the form

RESOURCES