Laura+McDougal


 * Critical Thinking with Letter Writing through Analysis of “The Things They Carried **”

Laura McDougal, Susanne Rubenstein, English educator in Holden, Massachusetts and author of “Go Public! Encouraging Student Writers to Publish” and “Raymond Carver in the Classroom: A small, good thing.”

This lesson would be particularly useful in an urban school setting as many of these students have to deal with stressful situations in their everyday lives. This lesson would help them identify and examine personal struggles which are faced by themselves and their classmates. This lesson would also be useful for all high school students as it explores themes/situations which are similar to all walks of life. This lesson plan combines the study, discussion, and reading of Tim O’Brian’s “The Things They Carried”, in order to promote empathy and connection to the main characters of the book, and the courage soldiers must possess to carry them through the Vietnam War. This lesson plan goes one step further to help students examine the symbolic weights that they carry themselves, and how these weights affect their lives and the lives around them. Finally, students will compose letters with appropriate tone which addresses their personal burden/weight they carry. These letters will be addressed to the person/circumstance that is responsible for their weight.
 * Grade Level 9-12**
 * Time Needed:** 12: 50 minute sessions
 * Overview:**

Rubenstein, Susanne; “Worth Its Weight: Letter Writing with “The Things They Carried”, assessed from http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=1061, March 17, 2009. Spandel, Vicki, “The Right to Find Your Own Voice” in “The 9 Rights of Every Writer: A Guide for Teachers”, 128-144. This lesson allows students to examine a literary work and make connections to the work in their own lives. This literary work connects with students by helping them understand that all people carry burdens in their lives. By making this connection students can gain empathy not only for characters in literary works but real people whom they may have seen in a different light prior to this lesson. Students will also learn to compose a writing piece in a letter form serving them well in the future. This letter should invoke powerful emotion for the reader, thereby teaching students how to write pieces with a certain tones or emotions. · Students will read and discuss an emotional literary work to promote insightful, character studied reading and will make connections to their personal lives and current events. · Students will enhance their writing abilities through writing prompts and activities. · Students will engage in multiple forms of revising to understand how to create an effective letter. · Students will gain new insights into peer review and revision, and the writing process. · Students will learn how to write in a powerful tone, with audience consideration to create, through all processes of writing, a publishable writing piece.
 * From Theory to Practice:**
 * Student Objectives:**


 * Michigan** **ELA Content Expectations**


 * CE 1.1.3** Select and use language which is appropriate for its purpose (tone, audience).
 * CE 1.1.4** Compose drafts which convey an impression or explore a topic.
 * CE 1.1.5** Revise drafts to more clearly convey meaning and purpose.
 * CE 1.1.7** Edit for style and tone
 * CE 1.1.8** Proofreading
 * CE 1.3.5** Identify and assess audience needs and expectations
 * CE 2.3.6** Reflect on personal understanding of reading, listening and viewing

Hardcopies of the book “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brian. Access to the computer lab or a classroom computer which can be projected to big screen. Writing utensils and paper.
 * Resources Needed:**

Depending on school district and the cultural environment of a school, teachers may want to send a letter/permission slip explaining this assignment and its purpose due to the graphic nature/events which take place in this book. This would potentially solve any issues which may arise by the teaching of this unit and the reading of this book. Have the students complete the reading of “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brian Make photocopies of Assignment sheet and Reader response for the class. Secure the computer lab for at least two class periods. Lessons Plans for The Things They Carried
 * Teacher Preparation:**