At the beginning of class, we will review our reading from the last class, wherein we met Faber and learned all the ways that he is different from everyone else in society. I will ask students what makes him different. I will also ask their impressions of him: do you think he's just a wimp or does he have a right to be afraid? What do you think of his lifestyle? (RL.9-10.3)
This conversation is important because it gives the students a chance to think about what they have read and vocalize it, something that they wouldn't do on their own, unless they really took Faber's advice to heart. It is also an appropriate transition into the section we will read today.
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The section of text that we will read today is great to read together because we hear from some of Mildred's friends, who are just as superficial as she is. We are going to read this section using scripts I copied and highlighted for each speaking role, so that each character is read by a different student. The scripts helps us hear the distinctive voices of the characters, which in turn highlights the pervasive nature the superficiality and selfishness and its destruction, a theme of the novel (RL.9-10.2). Here's a glimpse of the class. As we read, we will pause to discuss key elements of the text (SL.9-10.1):
Focusing on each of these elements will highlight the difference between Faber and these women, which, in turn, actually shows how a life spent "unthinking" destroys everything that makes you human.
In the last few minutes of class, I will assign the homework. Students will finish the second section of the text, select a quote that stands out to them, and explain their choice in a paragraph (W.9-10.10). The writing helps them read actively, making connections to the text, instead of purely separate from themselves.