Lesson 12: Innocence

What’s on for today and why?

            Book One has just ended, so students need to question in this lesson why.  Students are also ready for a Socratic Seminar where they run the discussion and they interpret and argue over controversial parts of the novel that have no clear cut answer.

            This whole class is revolved around backing up your points with the text and getting the students to debate.  The students are to respect each other and their opinions, but they are also encouraged to argue points, asks for evidence to support claims, and to reinterpret and offer different analyses on points they do not agree with.  This forces students to take sides, change sides, and reevaluate their beliefs.

What to do?

1.      Music:

Play Miles Davis  (Kind of Blue) music when the students come into the class and continue it through while they are writing in their journals.

2.      Journal:

Reflect on the novel so far.  Why did Book 1 End here? Are there things in the text that you can relate to or that are particularly confusing?  Does the text create questions you cannot answer?  Do you think that the questions should be answered?  Any suggestions on how to do so?

3.      Socratic Seminar:

Students move desks in circle.  The teacher will briefly explain what will go on and then let the students go.  The teacher will not be involved in the discussion unless they explicitly ask the teacher’s opinion or information, if they begin to disrespect each other and their opinions, or if they get off topic or start to leave the text.

The teacher will begin the discussion by writing questions on the board to trigger discussion.

1.      Is Innocent innocent?

2.      What is innocence and how does Innocent exemplify these qualities or how does he not? 

3.      What has he been through?  Does that justify his behavior?

4.      Is he excused from sin? 

5.      Does his name cleanse him or is it there to mock what he is not?

Students discuss until the end of the period, being sure to use the chapters they had just read to make their points.

4.      Homework:

Read Chapters 21-23

How’d it go?

            Was there constant discussion and little need for the teacher to step in?  Did the students become heated and passionate in their interpretations, using the text to prove their points?  Did the students respect each other and everyone took turns speaking?  If these things happened, count this activity and lesson as a success!  If students left the room still arguing/discussing, it is an extra bonus!  This lesson is entirely evaluated on student participation and since the teacher is not actively involved the teacher will be taking notes of what each student says the whole time.