To Kill A Mockingbird introduction

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

write down in your To Kill A Mockingbrd notebook, Have you ever used the n word ? If so, has the word changed for you since we started to discuss these matters?How do you regard the word now? 

Read the following article and form an opinion.

www.bbc.com

How do we approach the 'n" word as we read To Kill A Mockingbird in class?

we do not say the word even when we are reading the text

We may say the word when we are reading it from the book

Pre- Reading The Individual and Society

Work in pairs or three's 

Discuss and write down your answers to the following questions in your To Kill  Mockingbird notebooks:

What is identity?

To what extent do we determine our own identities?

 What influence does society have?

Aim

By first reflecting on the relationship between the individual and society and how that relationship influences one’s identity we’ll get a deeper understanding of the characters of the novel and be able to analyse more deeply the way this tension plays out in the world of Maycomb, Alabama, during the great Depression ( 1930’s)where the story takes place.

But to do that, let’s first engage in an exploration of our own identities and the challenges we face when our own choices and desires come into conflict with the rules and expectations of our society.

Before we continue….let’s take a closer look at the significance of culture.

Third Culture Kids

“All children face a myriad of developmental tasks as they grow from helpless infants into healthy adults. One of those is the need to develop a strong sense of personal identity that is rooted in an identity as part of a group, answering the questions Who am I? and Where do I belong?

Traditionally, the family and community mirror back similar answers as the child sees his or her image reflected in them.

Through the ages, this process of learning culture as part of our identity formation has occurred as naturally as breathing.

Significance of culture

“All children face a myriad of developmental tasks as they grow from helpless infants into healthy adults. One of those is the need to develop a strong sense of personal identity that is rooted in an identity as part of a group, answering the questions Who am I? and Where do I belong?

Traditionally, the family and community mirror back similar answers as the child sees his or her image reflected in them.

Through the ages, this process of learning culture as part of our identity formation has occurred as naturally as breathing.

What is Culture?

Culture can be compared to an iceberg, with a visible part on the surface, while underneath the water there is evidence of a much larger chunk.

The part above the water can be considered surface culture- what we can physically see or hear, such as words, behaviour, customs, language and traditions. Underneath the water, invisible to all is the deep culture such as beliefs, values, assumptions, worldview and thought processes which include language.

Surface Culture

Deep Culturee

Customs, food, behaviour

traditions

language

Worldviews

Beliefs

values

language

thought processes

assumptions

Creating an identity chart

1) begin with the words and phrases that describe the way you see yourself.Add them to your chart

2)Most people define themselves by using categories important to their culture. They include gender, age, and physical characteristics but also ties to a particular religion, class, neighbourhood, school and nation.

3)How much of your identity do you create and how much of it is determined by things beyond your control? What other factors influence your identity?What can you add that doesn't fall into any of the categories listed above?

4) How does the way that other people think about you impact your identity?

-what labels would others attach to you?

Do they see you as a leader or a follower? A conformist or a rebel?

- Are you a peacmaker , a bully or a bystander?

- How do society's labels influence the way your see yourself? The kinds of choices you and others make each day

Work in pairs

Each pair receives one of the four stories:

1) Two Names, Two Worlds- Jonathan Rodriguez

2)A rainbow Creation - Lori Duron

3)Finding One's Voice - Julius Lester

4) Stories We tell Ourselves - Dalton Conley

Read individually the story first

Use evidence from the text to create an Identity chart of the person you read about.

look at example

Create your own identity chart

Using the instructions on the previous slide and from the example in your TKAM journal create your own identity chart

Draw an iceberg and write down what your surface culture is and what lies beneath the surface in the deep culture area.

Surface culture

deep culture