Page 129 - SpringBoard_ELA_CA_Smapler_Flipbook

aCTIVITy 4.5
continued
Finding Truth in Comedy
my Notes
12. Brainstorm other precise verbs that will help in your discussion. Do you have any other tips for using formal language?
13. Use your analysis and questions to engage in a Socratic Seminar discussion.
Check Your Understanding
WRITING to SOURCES Expository Writing Prompt
How does Barry use humor to convey a truth about life? Be sure to:
• Establish a clear controlling idea about conveying a truth.
• Use transitions to create cohesion and clarify relationships among ideas and concepts.
• Use precise diction to describe humorous effects.
• Cite specific evidence from the text.
INdepeNdeNT
readING lINk
Read and Discuss
For independent practice, choose one of the humorous texts from your list and explain the theme using specific evidence for support. Write several Levels of Questions for a specific section of reading in your Reader/Writer Notebook. Use the Level 3 questions
to have a discussion about themes with your peers.
aSSeSS
aDaPT
acTIVITY 4.5 continued
a Discuss the information on maintaining a formal style in Student Step 11. Using a formal style is important to academic discussions and writing. Help students brainstorm more tips and provide examples before commencing
the seminar.
b Before beginning a Socratic Seminar, review the procedure and norms (Unit 2). Set up a fishbowl (inner and outer circles) so that only half of your class is discussing at a time. After 10 minutes, switch the inner and outer circles so that everyone has an opportunity to discuss.
c Provide students with time to complete the Independent Reading Link activity in class. They will need time to complete the exercise and to discuss themes with their peers.
The seminar serves as an opportunity to generate ideas relating to humor analysis prior to writing. During the discussion, make sure students are able to cite textual evidence to support their analysis, use precise diction to explain the humor, and articulate a theme (universal truth) revealed through the humor.
The writing prompt is another opportunity to practice writing an analysis of a humorous text. Be sure students come to the writing task with a topic sentence about the truth Barry is communicating.
Consider supporting students with a list of possible topics that Barry is commenting upon. Barry’s writing anticipates the parody and satire of the next activity.
276 SpringBoard® English Language Arts Grade 8
9781457304644_TCB_LA_SE_L8_U4.indd 276 15/04/15 1:48 AM
276 SpringBoard® English Language Arts Grade 8
© 2017 College Board. All rights reserved.
© 2017 College Board. All rights reserved.