Rebecca Fundator English 203 The Semplica-Girl Diaries Lesson Plan Student Objectives/Student Outcomes: Students will read

read The Semplica-Girl Diaries by George Saunders. Students will analyze themes and other literary devices in the text. Students will complete a series of discussion questions that analyze significant themes, characters, and literary devices. Students will write an analytical paragraph, explaining how the author uses literary devices to make a statement about wealth, power, and the relationship between America and other countries.

Content Standards: Common Core Reading Standard 1: Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. Common Core Writing Standard 2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.

Materials/Resources/Technology: Smart Board Power Point Presentation The Semplica-Girl Diaries by George Saunders The Semplica-Girl Diaries questions worksheet The Semplica-Girl Diaries analysis worksheet

Start of Class: Day One Pass out Book Club Reflections worksheet. Have students write down the discussion prompt posted on Power Point for this week on their new Book Club Reflections worksheet as I take attendance. o Discussion Prompt for Friday: How are Americans and immigrants portrayed in The Semplica-Girl Diaries? How are they portrayed in your independent choice text? Compare and Contrast. (Consider for discussion: Which portrayal is more realistic?)

Introduction of Lesson:

For the next few days, we will be reading George Saunders short story, The SemplicaGirl Diaries, which will elucidate our understanding of the experiences of underprivileged immigrants and refugees in America. As we read through this short story, we should be analyzing the push-pull factors associated with the SGs immigrating to America. We should also analyze the power that money and power have on people, as well as the Discussion Prompt for Friday: How are Americans and immigrants portrayed in The Semplica-Girl Diaries? How are they portrayed in your independent choice text? Compare and Contrast. (Consider for discussion: Which portrayal is more realistic?) Before we begin reading the short story, we should examine a few literary devices so we can analyze them as we read the story.

Lesson Instruction: We will begin this lesson by discussing what literary devises are and what role they play in how we interpret literature. Popular Literary Devices + examples displayed on Power Point Presentation AllegoryDefinition DictionDefinition Irony Definition JuxtapositionDefinition Personification Definition Point of View Definition Satire Definition Setting Definition Stream of consciousness Definition Tone Definition Begin reading The Semplica-Girl Diaries as a class, using DR-TA. Make sure students know that they are NOT supposed to know what an SG (Semplica Girl) is before they begin reading. o P. 1 (Sept. 3rd): What do we know about the speaker? What is he writing? What kind of writing style does he have? What literary device is this? o P. 1 (Sept 5th): What does the speaker aspire for? What kind of attitude does he have? o P. 1: ( Sept. 6th) How does the speakers familys wealth compare to Leslie Torrinis familys fortune? o P. 2: How does Leslie Torrinis mother respond to the speakers excitement of their luxurious house and possessions? o P. 2: How does Leslies dad respond to the speakers job? What does the speakers response to his insult tell us about himself (lack of respectsocial climber)

o P. 3: What kind of attitude does the speaker have towards rich people? What kind of attitude does he have towards working hard? o P. 3: What is an SG? Predict. Why do you think the speaker refers to SGs as something we readers ought to know? Day Two Discuss students thoughts/predictions about SGs. What are they? What do we know about them? How do people perceive them? Why does the speaker think we should know about SGs? Begin reading The Semplica-Girl Diaries as a class, using DR-TA. o P. 3: What kinds of gifts does the speaker want to give his daughter? What does his consumption with material goods say about him? Show clip from The Office: I got Ryan an IPod!! o P. 4: What kinds of problems is the speaker facing? (money troubles). How does he handle these troubles? o P. 4: Why is the speakers story about his fathers paper route important? What does the speaker say Why should we care about his clothes? o P. 4: What is the speakers state of mind? What ways does he think he can show his love for his family? o Begin reading The Semplica-Girl Diaries individually or with a partner. o Read to September 25th: What are SGs? How do the different characters view them? o Read to end of story. If you do not complete the story in class, you will complete it as homework.

Day Three Begin class by discussing the following questions to check for understanding: o P. 8: What do the SG contraptions sound like? (slavery contraptions) o P. 9: What does the act of putting a price on human beings remind you of? What is the speaker and Pam most concerned about right now? What do you think of them not reading their contract? o P. 9: Does the speaker have a point about the SGs being in a tricky spot now too? Are they better off having someone to care for them? o P. 9: In what ways is Farmer Rich different than the speaker? o How has Farmer Rich responded to Pams request to help her family? Are the speaker and Pam sin eaters or really just sinners? Have students use the rest of class time to begin working on their Semplica-Girl Diaries Worksheet individually, with a partner, or in a group of three students. Go over answers to worksheet and discuss as a class.

Pass out The Semplica-Girl Diaries Analysis worksheet and explain that students should use their Literary Devices worksheets. Give students the rest of the hour to work on their analysis paragraph. Students should finish the paragraph for homework. Due Monday (March 4) at the beginning of class.

Assessments/Checks for Understanding: As students read through the text, discussion-based questions check for understanding. The Semplica-Girl Diaries Questions Worksheet is a formative assessment that requires students to look past the obvious, plot-driven aspects of the story and analyze the importance of the themes and literary devices. The Semplica-Girl Diaries Analysis Paragraph requires students to use their knowledge of literary devices and analyze them (using quotes) through close reading in written form.

Closure/Wrap-Up/Review: Announce that tomorrow will be an independent reading day for students to read their choice text, and Friday we will meet with our book clubs. (Next week we will have 2 days for independent reading) Prompt for Friday: How are Americans and immigrants portrayed in The Semplica-Girl Diaries? How are they portrayed in your independent choice text? Compare and Contrast. (Consider for discussion: Which portrayal is more realistic?)