The Warmth of Other Suns (2020)

Lesson 5
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ELA

Unit 11

8th Grade

Lesson 5 of 8

Objective


Reread an excerpt of an introduction to identify prominent themes to trace throughout the text.

Read an article about reverse migration and identify, using evidence from The Warmth of Other Sons, what would motivate people to participate in a reverse migration.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson  pp. 8 – 15

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Target Task


Writing Prompt

Based on your reading, why are so many African-American families in Chicago participating in this reverse migration to the South?

Key Questions


The Warmth of Other Suns

  • (Review) What is the genre of The Warmth of Other Suns?
  • (Review) The historical era covered in The Warmth of Other Suns is called the _.
  • (Review) This era lasted from 19 to 19_.
  • (Review) Interestingly, the author tells the story of six million African-Americans through the voices of only __ people.
  • In your opinion, what are the strengths of Wilkerson's choice to have only a handful of people narrate? What are the weaknesses?
  • Thinking about all the other historical eras you have learned/read about this year, in what ways was the Great Migration similar to those other eras?

"Chicago's Great Migration":

  • Why did Middleton's family move to Chicago?
  • Explain the allusion in "The New Demographics" when the author states, "in what was once the 'promised land' of the North." What is the author alluding to here and what does it mean?
  • Which word best describes the tone of the article? Support your answer with details from the text.
  • What is motivating people to return to the South? What is causing this reverse migration?
  • How does the author respond to conflicting viewpoints about this reverse migration?

Notes


A map would be helpful here so students can understand the geography of the cities referenced in the article.

Common Core Standards


  • RI.8.2 — Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
  • RI.8.3 — Analyze how a text makes connections among and distinctions between individuals, ideas, or events (e.g., through comparisons, analogies, or categories).

Next

Identify author's purpose from an interview.

Compare and contrast how the different structures of texts by August Wilson, Lorraine Hansberry, August Wilson, Isabel Wilkerson and Bessie Smith, contribute to their portrayals of the African American experience.

Lesson 6
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