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Making the Case for Equality: A Comparison Lesson PlanMaking the Case for Equality: A Comparison Lesson Plan
Publisher
Albert Shanker Institute
Resource Details
Curator Rating
Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
Grade
9th - 12th
Subjects
English Language Arts
5 more...
Resource Type
Lesson Plans
Audience
For Teacher Use
Duration
2 days
Instructional Strategies
Collaborative Learning
4 more...
Technology
Audio
Video
Internet Access
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Fine Print: Educational Use
Lesson Plan

Making the Case for Equality: A Comparison

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Making the Case for Equality: A Comparison lesson plan also includes:
  • Informational Text
  • Reading Passage
  • Activity
  • Informational Text
  • Reading Passage
  • Activity
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Martin Luther King Jr's " I Have a Dream" speech and Atticus Finch's closing argument during the trial of Tom Robinson both address the societal need to overcome racism. After examining the rhetorical devices and figurative language used in both speeches, individuals craft an argument for which text builds a more persuasive case for changing the pattern of systemic discrimination.

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CCSS: Designed

Concepts

racism, civil rights, civil rights leaders, the civil rights movement, reading comprehension, to kill a mockingbird, i have a dream speech, martin luther king jr., persuasion, rhetorical devices

Additional Tags

social studies

Instructional Ideas

  • Show the scene from the 1962 film version of To Kill A Mockingbird in which Atticus Finch delivers his closing argument 
  • Include the lesson in a unit study of To Kill a Mockingbird

Classroom Considerations

  • The fifth in a series of six related resources
  • Class members should have prior knowledge of rhetorical devices and persuasive techniques
  • Make sure the class members understand that the version of the"I Have a Dream" speech they will be reading is not the one delivered during the March on Washington

Pros

  • The text of both speeches is included in the resource
  • For homework, individuals craft their own speech on injustice identifying inequalities and solutions


Cons

  • None

Common Core

W.9-10.2.a W.9-10.3.a W.9-10.4 W.9-10.5 W.11-12.2.a W.11-12.3.a W.11-12.4 W.11-12.5 SL.9-10.1.a SL.9-10.3 SL.11-12.1.a SL.11-12.3 L.9-10.1.a L.9-10.2.a L.9-10.3.a L.9-10.4.a L.11-12.1.a L.11-12.2.a L.11-12.3.a L.11-12.4.a RH.9-10.1 RH.9-10.2 RH.9-10.3 RH.9-10.5 RH.11-12.1 RH.11-12.2 RH.11-12.3 RH.11-12.5

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