Essential Question

In the novel Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, how is education related to human freedom?

Sub-Questions:

1. What is a Human Right?
2. Why is reading comprehension a statement about Freedom?
3. How will strong skills in reading, writing, and speaking make your life better?
4. How does literature affect Social Justice, Social Reconciliation and Social Transformation?

Objectives

The three-week activities presented in this lesson include strategies for learning Expository Reading. The student will also learn literary strategies that aid critical thinking.

The dialogue strategies will be implemented for determining how knowledge of Human Rights guides the Essential Question response. The dialogue activities are also designed to show how the social themes of the lesson boost both morale and self-esteem.

Therefore, the ultimate goal of this lesson is to present intriguing Human Rights issues, as they relate to the Frederick Douglass novel. Thus, the student will critically read the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, and engage in meaningful dialogue. The students will also develop their writing skills, literary responses, and critical thinking skills.

Connection to Standards

• Reading Comprehension Standards: Students will look for markers, e.g., ethics, moral values, loyalties, and the political aspect of the novel.
  
  
• Listening/Speaking Standards: Students will also engage in meaningful dialogue about how words are used to humiliate and redeem one’s character.
  
  
• Literary Response & Writing Standards: Students will learn to identify the main ideas, use main ideas to draw inferences, conclusions, and generalizations about the novel. In an effort to strengthen their critical thinking skills, the students will complete the expository reading guide, using textual evidence, write responses to the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” quiz, and dialogue their findings on Human Rights issues e.g., right to life, freedom, full equality, and education. Hence, this lesson plan will emphasize the theme Social Justice, Social Reconciliation, and Social Transformation. Therefore, it is anticipated that this unit will aid the students in developing their critical thinking, reading comprehension, oral speaking, and writing skills.