Essential

Question(s) /
Central Focus

Learning
Objective(s)

CCGPS or GPS
Standard(s)

What are some ways to implement methods of characterization?

What is a biography?

Identify and analyze methods of characterization

Read a biography
Monitor reading
ELAGSERL8.9 Analyze how a modern work of fiction draws on
themes, patterns of events, or character types from myths, traditional
stories, or religious works such as the Bible, including how the
material is rendered new.
ELAGSE8RI8.3 Analyze how a text makes connections among and
distinctions between individuals, ideas, or events (e.g. through
comparisons, analogies, or categories)
ELA8R1.1 Identifies the characterizations of various genres

Introduction to
Lesson

As a bell ringer activity students will engage in a quick-write. The quick write
will be displayed on the smart board. Students will be asked to think about a
time when they took a risk. They will have to describe the risk and explain
why they took it. Students will also reflect on their risk and answer whether
the risk was worth taking or not. This is to activate their prior knowledge and
introduce the key idea of the lesson. (5-8 minutes)
Next, teacher will select a few volunteers to share their writings with the
class.

Body of
Lesson

The body of this lesson will begin with a PowerPoint slide that will
introduce the definition of biography and characterization. This will
explain methods in which authors use characterization to bring
characters to life. Teacher will ask students to pay close attention to
the methods Ann Petry uses to create a portrait of the biography
subject, Harriet Tubman.
Teacher will pass out a handout, a chart to help students monitor their
compression and take notes for characterization. Students will use
Audio Anthology CD to read from Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the
Underground Railroad biography by Ann Petry.
Students will be following along in their textbook as we read. Teacher
will pause the recording at important points to ask questions that
monitor comprehension- students will fill out their
monitor/characterization charts as we go.
After we finish reading the biography, students will be placed in
groups. Each group will be given a quote from the biography that
focus. Students will analyze their quotes group members.
Students will choose one person from the group to share their
collective answers with the class. Teacher will facilitate this
discussion.

Instructional Strategies & Learning Tasks that Support Diverse Student Needs

Closure

Learning
Supports:
Differentiation,
Modification(s)
and
Accommodation(s)

For the exit ticket, students will share their explanation of the quote or
question they were given. These questions are targeted to emphasize the
objectives of this lesson. This will allow teacher to evaluate students
comprehension of the text.

Formal and
Informal
Assessment

During this lesson students will be filling out guided notes, teacher will
go over answers with students to check for true understanding.
For less proficient readers specific passages will be targeted to
ensure that students focus on key events and concepts. Students will
re-read passages and teacher will elaborate on the background
needed for comprehensions.
For ESL students there will be a focus on idioms and sayings found in
the reading

Students will be assessed formally by a quiz they will have to complete.

Gifted classes will be given a quiz that will include essay format questions.
General education classes will receive a multiple choice test with 1 essay
question.

Students will be assessed informally by the quality of their answers by

questions to the questions discussed in class. Students will also write one
method of characterization author use to bring their character to life.
Formal Assessment: Quiz next week
Informal Assessment: Exit ticket
3. Resources
Language
Functions

Students will be introduced to the relevant language before we read the

excerpt. These terms will be on the PowerPoint as well as the word. Students
will be given the definition to these to ensure they understand the biography.

Academic Language

Students will demonstrate their understanding of characterization by

identifying lines and passages the author uses to describe Harriet Tubmans
character. They explained they understood the concept by engaging in the
class discussions- sharing their ideas and thoughts with teacher and
classmates.
Vocabulary

Fugitive Slave
Eloquence
Biography
Characterization

Students will have received the meaning to these terms. We will have used
context clues to define the words within the short story.
Syntax or
Discourse

Materials

Technology

Students will demonstrate their understanding of syntax/discourse by

connecting how the key idea of the lesson to their individual life. Students will
gain understanding of what elements make an individual distinct. Through our
discussions students are able to orally express concepts enforcing the
learning objectives and standards.

Textbook
Pencils/paper
Monitor Handouts
PowerPoint
Audio book