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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

From Friedan forward—considering a feminist perspective

http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=955

A lesson plan for grades 9–12 English Language Arts

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Students write letters expressing their views on an important and potentially controversial topic—feminism. After students have read “We” by Mary Grimm, they analyze certain quotes from the piece and participate in a small group discussion about feminism. Then, students independently read “The Problem That Has No Name,” from The Feminist Mystique by Betty Friedan and write about and discuss the core issues of the feminist movement. Upon completion of these critical questioning activities, students write an informal, friendly letter to themselves about their opinions of the feminist movement. Readwritethink provides discussion questions, guidelines for assignment, questions for student reflection, and suggestions for using other texts that discuss controversial topics.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 9

  • Goal 1: The learner will express reflections and reactions to print and non-print text and personal experiences.
    • Objective 1.02: Respond reflectively (individually and in groups) to a variety of expressive texts (e.g., memoirs, vignettes, narratives, diaries, monologues, personal responses) in a way that offers an audience:
      • an understanding of the student's personal reaction to the text.
      • a sense of how the reaction results from a careful consideration of the text.
      • an awareness of how personal and cultural influences affect the response.
  • Goal 3: The learner will examine argumentation and develop informed opinions.
    • Objective 3.02: Express an informed opinion that:
      • states clearly a personal view.
      • is logical and coherent.
      • engages the reader's interest or curiosity.
    • Objective 3.03: Support that informed opinion by:
      • providing relevant and convincing reasons.
      • using various types of evidence, such as experience or facts.
      • using appropriate and effective language, reasons, and organizational structure for the audience and purpose.
      • demonstrating awareness of the possible questions, concerns, or counterarguments of the audience.

Grade 10

  • Goal 1: The learner will react to and reflect upon print and non-print text and personal experiences by examining situations from both subjective and objective perspectives.
    • Objective 1.02: Respond reflectively (through small group discussion, class discussion, journal entry, essay, letter, dialogue) to written and visual texts by:
      • relating personal knowledge to textual information or class discussion.
      • showing an awareness of one's own culture as well as the cultures of others.
      • exhibiting an awareness of culture in which text is set or in which text was written.
      • explaining how culture affects personal responses.
      • demonstrating an understanding of media's impact on personal responses and cultural analyses.
  • Goal 3: The learner will defend argumentative positions on literary or nonliterary issues.
    • Objective 3.03: Respond to issues in literature in such a way that:
      • requires gathering of information to prove a particular point.
      • effectively uses reason and evidence to prove a given point.
      • emphasizes culturally significant events.

Grade 11

  • Goal 1: The learner will demonstrate increasing insight and reflection to print and non-print text through personal expression.
    • Objective 1.02: Reflect and respond expressively to texts so that the audience will:
      - discover multiple perspectives.
      - investigate connections between life and literature.
      - explore how the student's life experiences influence his or her response to the selection.
      - recognize how the responses of others may be different.
      - articulate insightful connections between life and literature.
      -consider cultural or historical significance.
  • Goal 3: The learner will demonstrate increasing sophistication in defining issues and using argument effectively.
    • Objective 3.02: Select an issue or theme and take a stance on that issue by:
      - reflecting the viewpoint(s) of Americans of different times and places.
      - showing sensitivity or empathy for the culture represented.
      - supporting the argument with specific reasons.

Grade 12

  • Goal 1: The learner will express reflections and reactions to print and non-print text as well as to personal experience.
    • Objective 1.02: Respond to texts so that the audience will:
      - empathize with the voice of the text.
      - make connections between the learner's life and the text.
      - reflect on how cultural or historical perspectives may have influenced these responses.
      - examine the learner's own response in light of peers' responses.
      -recognize features of the author's use of language and how the learner relates these features to his/her own writing.
  • Goal 3: The learner will be prepared to enter issues of public concern as an advocate.
    • Objective 3.02: Organize and deliver an argument so that an intended audience respects it by:
      - wording the claim clearly.
      - specifying reasons in support of the claim that are likely to be convincing.
      -- adopting an appropriate tone and stance toward the issue.