LEARN NC

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

Goal 2

The learner will evaluate problems, examine cause/effect relationships, and answer research questions to inform an audience.

Objective 2.03

Pose questions prompted by texts (such as the impact of imperialism on Things Fall Apart) and research answers by:

  • accessing cultural information or explanations from print and non-print media sources.
  • prioritizing and organizing information to construct a complete and reasonable explanation.

Resources aligned to this objective

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
Students study the symbolism, setting, and characterization in Kafka's work.
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–10 English Language Arts)
By Laura Rose.
Improving Student Essay Writing
English II teachers are constantly searching for strategies to improve students' analytical responses to literature. This lesson is designed for all types of learners, offering various activities for all learning styles. Individual, small group, and whole class activities on essay writing culminate with the student writing his or her own formal response to literature.

This generic writing activity may be used with any literary unit and at any point in your students' development of the writing process.
Format: lesson plan (grade 10 English Language Arts)
By Shawn Parker.
India's path to independence
This interdisciplinary plan includes the study of the effects of imperialism and India's struggle for independence through history texts, literary works, and online resources. Activities include a seminar, research, and a news broadcast. Although this unit is designed for integrated English II and World Civilizations, lessons can be adapted to other class structures.
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–10 Social Studies and English Language Arts)
By Marian Johnson.
Replica of a Period Newspaper/World Literature
Students will research a specific time in history in order to create the front page of a newspaper relevant to the selected time period.
Format: lesson plan (grade 10 English Language Arts)
By Kim Dechant.
Setting and Symbolism in A Doll's House
This lesson is designed as a follow-up to the reading and discussion of the play A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen. An understanding of the two literary terms setting and symbolism, and their impact on a work of literature, are essential to students' success in following the guidelines outlined in the North Carolina English Language Arts Standard Course of Study. This lesson has been modified for English Language Learners at the intermediate high proficiency level, but would also be adaptable for learners at the novice or advanced levels.
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts and English Language Development)
By Guy Hill and Crystal Brown.

Lesson plans on the web

Analyzing symbolism, plot, and theme in Death and the Miser
In this lesson, students apply analytical skills to an exploration of the early Renaissance painting Death and the Miser by Hieronymous Bosch. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 10 English Language Arts)
Provider: IRA/NCTE
Audio listening practices: Exploring personal experiences with audio texts
In this lesson designed to develop students’ involvement with media literacy, students keep a daily diary that records how and when they listen to radio, music (e.g., songs on MP3 players, podcasting), and other streaming media or archived broadcasts. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–11 English Language Arts)
Provider: IRA/NCTE
Critical reading: Two stories, two authors, same plot?
This lesson encourages students to read and respond critically to two different pieces of literature with the same title. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–10 English Language Arts)
Provider: IRA/NCTE
Geography and history in songs
Students look at some historical paintings on the Internet and describe the things the paintings reveal about the places depicted in the paintings. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts and Visual Arts Education)
Provider: National Geographic
Holocaust and resistance
Students reflect on the Holocaust from the point of view of those who actively resisted Nazi persecution. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–10 English Language Arts and Social Studies)
Provider: National Endowment for the Humanities
Literary scrapbooks online: An electronic reader-response project
This lesson leads students to reflect on and respond to literature by creating an online scrapbook. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts)
Provider: IRA/NCTE
Using student-centered comprehension strategies with Elie Wiesel's "Night"
Working in small groups, students use reciprocal teaching strategies as they read and discuss Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel’s memoir Night. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)
Provider: IRA/NCTE
Using technology to analyze and illustrate symbolism in Night.
This step-by-step lesson introduces students to Elie Wiesel's use of symbolism in his autobiographical novel, Night. After learning about symbolism and discussing its use in the book, students create photomontages using online resources. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 10 English Language Arts)
Provider: IRA/NCTE