LEARN NC

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

About this resource

Appropriate grades
7
Provider
IRA/NCTE

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In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students read and analyze the advice given in Mary Schmich's 1997 Chicago Tribune column “Advice, Like Youth, Probably Just Wasted on the Young,” which inspired the popular recording “Everybody's Free (to Wear Sunscreen)” by Baz Luhrmann.

Exploring the column and its recording, students focus on both content and style through the following central questions: What advice is being given? To whom is it given? How good is this advice? Using similar analytical techniques, students explore the advice that Polonius gives to Laertes in Shakespeare's Hamlet and then write their own advice poems. This lesson incorporates several interactive activities, including an Advice Text Comparison Chart.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 7

  • Goal 1: The learner will use language to express individual perspectives in response to personal, social, cultural, and historical issues.
    • Objective 1.03: Interact in group settings by:
      • responding appropriately to comments and questions.
      • offering personal opinions confidently without dominating.
      • giving appropriate reasons that support opinions.
      • soliciting and respecting another person's opinion.
    • Objective 1.04: Reflect on learning experiences by:
      • analyzing personal learning growth and changes in perspective.
      • examining changes in self throughout the learning process.
      • determining how personal circumstances and background shape interaction with text.
  • Goal 2: The learner will synthesize and use information from a variety of sources.
    • Objective 2.01: Respond to informational materials that are read, heard, and/or viewed by:
      • monitoring comprehension for understanding of what is read, heard and/or viewed.
      • analyzing the characteristics of informational works.
      • summarizing information.
      • determining the importance of information.
      • making connections to related topics/information.
      • drawing inferences and/or conclusions.
      • generating questions.
  • Goal 3: The learner will refine the understanding and use of argument.
    • Objective 3.01: Analyze a variety of public documents that establish a position or point of view by:
      • monitoring comprehension for understanding of what is read, heard and /or viewed.
      • identifying the arguments and positions stated or implied and the evidence used to support them.
      • recognizing bias, emotional factors, and/or semantic slanting.
      • examining the effectiveness of style, tone, and use of language.
      • summarizing the author's purpose and stance.
      • examining the importance and impact of establishing a position or point-of-view.
      • making connections between works, self and related topics.
      • drawing inferences.
      • responding to public documents (such as but not limited to editorials, reviews, local/state/national policies/issues).
    • Objective 3.02: Use the problem-solution process by:
      • studying problems and solutions within various texts and situations.
      • utilizing the problem-solution process within various contexts/situations.
      • constructing essays/presentations that respond to a given problem by proposing a solution that includes relevant details.
      • recognizing and/or creating an organizing structure appropriate to purpose, audience, and context.
    • Objective 3.03: Create arguments that evaluate by:
      • understand the importance of establishing a firm judgment.
      • justifying the judgment with logical, relevant reasons, clear examples, and supporting details.
      • creating an organizing structure appropriate to purpose, audience, and context.
  • Goal 4: The learner will refine critical thinking skills and create criteria to evaluate text and multimedia.
    • Objective 4.01: Analyze the purpose of the author or creator by:
      • monitoring comprehension for understanding of what is read, heard and/or viewed.
      • examining any bias, apparent or hidden messages, emotional factors, or propaganda techniques.
      • exploring and evaluating the underlying assumptions of the author/creator.
      • understanding the effect of the author's craft on the reader/viewer/listener.
    • Objective 4.02: Develop (with assistance) and apply appropriate criteria to evaluate the quality of the communication by:
      • using knowledge of language structure and literary or media techniques.
      • drawing conclusions based on evidence, reasons, or relevant information.
      • considering the implications, consequences, or impact of those conclusions.
    • Objective 4.03: Develop the stance of a critic by:
      • considering and presenting alternative points of view or reasons.
      • remaining fair-minded and open to other interpretations.
      • creating a critical response/review of a work/topic.
  • Goal 5: The learner will respond to various literary genres using interpretive and evaluative processes.
    • Objective 5.01: Increase fluency, comprehension, and insight through a meaningful and comprehensive reading program by:
      • using effective reading strategies to match type of text.
      • reading self-selected literature and other materials of individual interest.
      • reading literature and other materials selected by the teacher.
      • assuming an active role in teacher-student conferences.
      • engaging in small group discussions.
      • taking an active role in whole class seminars.
      • analyzing the effects on texts of such literary devices as figuarative language, dialogue, flashback, allusion, and irony.
      • analyzing the effects of such elements as plot, theme, point of view, characterization, mood, and style.
      • analyzing themes and central ideas in literature and other texts in relation to personal issues/experiences.
      • extending understanding by creating products for different purposes, different audiences and within various contexts.
      • analyzing the connections of relationships between and among characters, ideas, concepts, and/or experiences.
  • Goal 6: The learner will apply conventions of application of grammar and language usage.
    • Objective 6.01: Model an understanding of conventional written and spoken expression by:
      • using a variety of sentences correctly, punctuating them properly, and avoiding fragments and run-ons.
      • using subject-verb agreement and verb tense that are appropriate for the meaning of the sentence.
      • applying the parts of speech to clarify language usage.
      • using pronouns correctly, including clear antecedents and correct case.
      • using phrases and clauses correctly, including proper punctuation (e.g., prepositional phrases, appositives, dependent and independent clauses).
      • determining the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary words using context clues, a dictionary, a glossary, a thesaurus, and/or structural analysis (roots, prefixes, suffixes) of words.
      • extending vocabulary knowledge by learning and using new words.
      • determining when and where dialects and standard/nonstandard English usage are appropriate.
      • applying language conventions and usage during oral presentations.
      • choosing language that is precise, engaging, and well suited to the topic and audience.
      • experimenting with figurative language and speech patterns.
    • Objective 6.02: Continue to identify and edit errors in spoken and written English by:
      • using common spelling rules, applying common spelling patterns, and developing and mastering an individualized list of words that are commonly misspelled.
      • mastering proofreading symbols for editing.
      • producing final drafts/presentations that demonstrate accurate spelling and the correct use of punctuation, capitalization, and format.
      • listening to and monitoring self to correct errors.