Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

Comparing Portrayals of Slavery in Nineteenth-Century Photography and Literature

Subject Area

English Language Arts

Grade(s)

6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Overview

Huck Finn's moral journey parallels Mark Twain's questions about slavery.  Like the photographers of the nineteenth-century, Twain, a Realist, struggled with how best to portray fictionalized characters, while still expressing truth and creating social commentary.  In this lesson, students use a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast Mark Twain's novel and excerpts from Frederick Douglass' narrative to original photographs of slaves from the late-nineteenth century.  Then they write an essay to compare the different portrayals, arguing to what extent art can reliably reflect truth.  In addition, they will discuss art as social commentary.

    English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 6

    ELA21.6.7

    Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writing in which the development, organization, style, and tone are relevant to task, purpose, and audience, using an appropriate command of language.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:ELA21.6.7

    Vocabulary

    • Narrative writing
    • Argument writing
    • Informative/explanatory writing
    • Writing development
    • Writing organization
    • Style
    • Tone
    • Task
    • Purpose
    • Audience
    • Command of language

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • A narrative is a piece of writing that tells a story.
    • Informative or explanatory text is a piece of writing that provides factual information that was gathered from multiple research sources.
    • The purpose of argumentative writing is to convince the reader to take action or adopt a particular position.
    • The development, organization, style, and tone of writing will change depending on the writing task, the purpose of the writing, and the intended audience.
    • Formal academic writing should demonstrate an appropriate command of language.

      Skills

      Students are able to:
      • Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writings.
      • Identify the writing task, the purpose of writing, and the intended audience in order to appropriately adapt the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
      • Demonstrate command of the written language.

      Understanding

      Students understand that:
      • There are different genres of writing that serve various purposes.
      • The writing task, purpose, and audience should be considered in the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
      • Formal academic writing should display their command of the English language.
      English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 7

      ELA21.7.7

      Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writing in which the development, organization, style, and tone are relevant to task, purpose, and audience, using an appropriate command of language.

      Unpacked Content

      UP:ELA21.7.7

      Vocabulary

      • Narrative writing
      • Argument writing
      • Informative/explanatory writing
      • Writing development
      • Writing organization
      • Style
      • Tone
      • Task
      • Purpose
      • Audience
      • Command of language

      Knowledge

      Students know:
      • A narrative is a piece of writing that tells a story.
      • The purpose of argumentative writing is to convince the reader to take action or adopt a particular position.
      • Informative or explanatory text is a piece of writing that provides factual information that was gathered from multiple research sources.
      • The development, organization, style, and tone of writing will change depending on the writing task, the purpose of the writing, and the intended audience.
      • Formal academic writing should demonstrate an appropriate command of language.

      Skills

      Students are able to:
      • Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writings.
      • Identify the writing task, the purpose of writing, and the intended audience in order to appropriately adapt the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
      • Demonstrate command of the written language.

      Understanding

      Students understand that:
      • There are different genres of writing that serve various purposes.
      • The writing task, purpose, and audience should be considered in the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
      • Formal academic writing should display their command of the English language.
      English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 8

      ELA21.8.5

      Compare and contrast the perspectives in a variety of fiction, nonfiction, informational, digital, and multimodal texts produced from diverse historical, cultural, and global viewpoints.

      Unpacked Content

      UP:ELA21.8.5

      Vocabulary

      • Fiction texts
      • Nonfiction texts
      • Perspectives
      • Informational texts
      • Digital texts
      • Multimodal texts
      • Historical viewpoints
      • Cultural viewpoints
      • Global viewpoints

      Knowledge

      Students know:
      • Strategies to identify the perspective of fiction, nonfiction, informational, digital, and multimodal texts.
      • Strategies to identify the historical, cultural, and global viewpoints of a variety of texts.
      • Methods to compare and contrast texts.

      Skills

      Students are able to:
      • Compare and contrast perspectives in fiction, nonfiction, informational, digital, and multimodal texts.
      • Compare and contrast diverse historical, cultural, and global viewpoints demonstrated in a variety of texts.

      Understanding

      Students understand that:
      • The texts they read will have a variety of historical, cultural, and global viewpoints, which offer a multitude of perspectives on different topics.
      English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 8

      ELA21.8.8

      Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writing in which the development, organization, style, and tone are relevant to task, purpose, and audience, using an appropriate command of language.

      Unpacked Content

      UP:ELA21.8.8

      Vocabulary

      • Narrative writing
      • Argument writing
      • Informative/explanatory writing
      • Writing development
      • Writing organization
      • Style
      • Tone
      • Task
      • Purpose
      • Audience
      • Command of language

      Knowledge

      Students know:
      • A narrative is a piece of writing that tells a story.
      • The purpose of argumentative writing is to convince the reader to take action or adopt a particular position.
      • Informative or explanatory text is a piece of writing that provides factual information that was gathered from multiple research sources.
      • The development, organization, style, and tone of writing will change depending on the writing task, the purpose of the writing, and the intended audience.
      • Formal academic writing should demonstrate an appropriate command of language.

        Skills

        Students are able to:
        • Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writings.
        • Identify the writing task, the purpose of writing, and the intended audience in order to appropriately adapt the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
        • Demonstrate command of the written language.

        Understanding

        Students understand that:
        • There are different genres of writing that serve various purposes.
        • The writing task, purpose, and audience should be considered in the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
        • Formal academic writing should display their command of the English language.
        English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 9

        ELA21.9.R2

        Read and comprehend a variety of literary texts to develop a literal and figurative understanding as appropriate to the type of text, purpose, and situation.

        Unpacked Content

        UP:ELA21.9.R2

        Vocabulary

        • Literary texts
        • Literal understanding
        • Figurative understanding
        • Text
        • Purpose
        • Situation

        Knowledge

        Students know:
        • Necessary skills to read and comprehend a variety of literary texts.
        • Strategies to analyze literary text to develop a literal and figurative understanding.
        • Literary texts have different intended meanings depending on the genre, purpose, and situation.

        Skills

        Students are able to:
        • Read and comprehend a variety of literary texts.
        • Develop literal and figurative understanding of literary texts appropriate to the text, purpose, and situation.

        Understanding

        Students understand that:
        • Literary texts can be understood on both a literal and figurative level.
        English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 9

        ELA21.9.6

        Compare and/or contrast the perspectives in a variety of fiction, nonfiction, informational, digital, and multimodal texts produced from diverse historical, cultural, and global points of view, not limited to the grade-level literary focus.

        Unpacked Content

        UP:ELA21.9.6

        Vocabulary

        • Fiction texts
        • Nonfiction texts
        • Perspectives
        • Informational texts
        • Digital texts
        • Multimodal texts
        • Historical viewpoints
        • Cultural viewpoints
        • Global viewpoints

        Knowledge

        Students know:
        • Strategies to identify the perspective of fiction, nonfiction, informational, digital, and multimodal texts.
        • Strategies to identify the historical, cultural, and global viewpoints of a variety of texts.
        • Methods to compare and contrast texts.

        Skills

        Students are able to:
        • Compare and contrast perspectives in fiction, nonfiction, informational, digital, and multimodal texts.
        • Compare and contrast diverse historical, cultural, and global viewpoints demonstrated in a variety of texts.

        Understanding

        Students understand that:
        • The texts they read will have a variety of historical, cultural, and global viewpoints, which offer a multitude of perspectives on different topics.
        • Similar and different ideas and themes can be presented in a variety of textual formats.
        English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 9

        ELA21.9.9

        Compose both short and extended narrative, informative/explanatory, and argumentative writings that are clear and coherent, use an appropriate command of language, and demonstrate development, organization, style, and tone that are relevant to task, purpose, and audience.

        Unpacked Content

        UP:ELA21.9.9

        Vocabulary

        • Short writings
        • Extended writings
        • Narrative writing
        • Argumentative writing
        • Informative/explanatory writing
        • Writing development
        • Writing organization
        • Style
        • Tone
        • Task
        • Purpose
        • Audience
        • Command of language

        Knowledge

        Students know:
        • Writing pieces can be short, such as a paragraph, or extended, such as constructed responses and essays.
        • A narrative is a piece of writing that tells a story.
        • The purpose of argumentative writing is to convince the reader to take action or adopt a particular position.
        • Informative or explanatory text is a piece of writing that provides factual information that was gathered from multiple research sources.
        • The development, organization, style, and tone of writing will change depending on the writing task, the purpose of the writing, and the intended audience.
        • Formal academic writing should demonstrate an appropriate command of language.

        Skills

        Students are able to:
        • Compose short and extended clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writings.
        • Identify the writing task, the purpose of writing, and the intended audience in order to appropriately adapt the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
        • Demonstrate command of the written language.

        Understanding

        Students understand that:
        • There are different genres of writing that serve various purposes.
        • The writing task, purpose, and audience should be considered in the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
        • Formal academic writing should display their command of the English language.
        English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 10

        ELA21.10.R2

        Read and comprehend a variety of literary texts to develop a literal and figurative understanding as appropriate to the type of text, purpose, and situation.

        Unpacked Content

        UP:ELA21.10.R2

        Vocabulary

        • Literary texts
        • Literal understanding
        • Figurative understanding
        • Text
        • Purpose
        • Situation

        Knowledge

        Students know:
        • Necessary skills to read and comprehend a variety of literary texts.
        • Strategies to analyze literary text to develop a literal and figurative understanding.
        • Literary texts have different intended meanings depending on the genre, purpose, and situation.

        Skills

        Students are able to:
        • Read and comprehend a variety of literary texts.
        • Develop literal and figurative understanding of literary texts appropriate to the text, purpose, and situation.

        Understanding

        Students understand that:
        • Literary texts can be understood on both a literal and figurative level.
        English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 10

        ELA21.10.6

        Compare and/or contrast the perspectives in a variety of fiction, nonfiction, informational, digital, and multimodal texts produced from diverse historical, cultural, and global viewpoints, not limited to the grade-level literary focus.

        Unpacked Content

        UP:ELA21.10.6

        Vocabulary

        • Fiction texts
        • Nonfiction texts
        • Perspectives
        • Informational texts
        • Digital texts
        • Multimodal texts
        • Historical viewpoints
        • Cultural viewpoints
        • Global viewpoints

        Knowledge

        Students know:
        • Strategies to identify the perspective of fiction, nonfiction, informational, digital, and multimodal texts.
        • Strategies to identify the historical, cultural, and global viewpoints of a variety of texts.
        • Methods to compare and contrast texts.

        Skills

        Students are able to:
        • Compare and contrast perspectives in fiction, nonfiction, informational, digital, and multimodal texts.
        • Compare and contrast diverse historical, cultural, and global viewpoints demonstrated in a variety of texts.

        Understanding

        Students understand that:
        • The texts they read will have a variety of historical, cultural, and global viewpoints, which offer a multitude of perspectives on different topics.
        • Similar and different ideas and themes can be presented in a variety of textual formats.
        English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 10

        ELA21.10.9

        Compose both short and extended narrative, informative/explanatory, and argumentative writings that are clear and coherent, use an appropriate command of language, and demonstrate development, organization, style, and tone that are relevant to task, purpose, and audience.

        Unpacked Content

        UP:ELA21.10.9

        Vocabulary

        • Short writings
        • Extended writings
        • Narrative writing
        • Argumentative writing
        • Informative/explanatory writing
        • Writing development
        • Writing organization
        • Style
        • Tone
        • Task
        • Purpose
        • Audience
        • Command of language

        Knowledge

        Students know:
        • Writing pieces can be short, such as a paragraph, or extended, such as constructed responses and essays.
        • A narrative is a piece of writing that tells a story.
        • The purpose of argumentative writing is to convince the reader to take action or adopt a particular position.
        • Informative or explanatory text is a piece of writing that provides factual information that was gathered from multiple research sources.
        • The development, organization, style, and tone of writing will change depending on the writing task, the purpose of the writing, and the intended audience.
        • Formal academic writing should demonstrate an appropriate command of language.

        Skills

        Students are able to:
        • Compose short and extended clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writings.
        • Identify the writing task, the purpose of writing, and the intended audience in order to appropriately adapt the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
        • Demonstrate command of the written language.

        Understanding

        Students understand that:
        • There are different genres of writing that serve various purposes.
        • The writing task, purpose, and audience should be considered in the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
        • Formal academic writing should display their command of the English language.
        English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 11

        ELA21.11.R2

        Read and comprehend a variety of literary texts to develop a literal and figurative understanding as appropriate to the type of text, purpose, and situation.

        Unpacked Content

        UP:ELA21.11.R2

        Vocabulary

        • Literary texts
        • Literal understanding
        • Figurative understanding
        • Text
        • Purpose
        • Situation

        Knowledge

        Students know:
        • Necessary skills to read and comprehend a variety of literary texts.
        • Strategies to analyze literary text to develop a literal and figurative understanding.
        • Literary texts have different intended meanings depending on the genre, purpose, and situation.

        Skills

        Students are able to:
        • Read and comprehend a variety of literary texts.
        • Develop literal and figurative understanding of literary texts appropriate to the text, purpose, and situation.

        Understanding

        Students understand that:
        • Literary texts can be understood on both a literal and figurative level.
        English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 11

        ELA21.11.1

        Read, analyze, and evaluate complex literary and informational texts written from various points of view and cultural perspectives, with an emphasis on works of American literature.

        Unpacked Content

        UP:ELA21.11.1

        Vocabulary

        • Analyze
        • Evaluate
        • Complex literary text
        • Complex informational texts
        • Points of view
        • Cultural perspectives
        • American literature

        Knowledge

        Students know:
        • Necessary skills to read, analyze, and evaluate complex literary and informational texts.
        • Strategies to identify and describe various points of view and cultural perspectives.

        Skills

        Students are able to:
        • Read complex texts.
        • Analyze elements within complex texts.
        • Evaluate text based on specific criteria provided by teacher.

        Understanding

        Students understand that:
        • Texts written from various cultural perspectives and viewpoints can provide them with valuable information about the thoughts, opinions, and experiences of others.
        English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 11

        ELA21.11.7

        Compare and/or contrast the perspectives in a variety of fiction, nonfiction, informational, digital, and multimodal texts produced from diverse historical, cultural, and global viewpoints, not limited to the grade level literary focus.

        Unpacked Content

        UP:ELA21.11.7

        Vocabulary

        • Fiction texts
        • Nonfiction texts
        • Perspectives
        • Informational texts
        • Digital texts
        • Multimodal texts
        • Historical viewpoints
        • Cultural viewpoints
        • Global viewpoints

        Knowledge

        Students know:
        • Strategies to identify the perspective of fiction, nonfiction, informational, digital, and multimodal texts.
        • Strategies to identify the historical, cultural, and global viewpoints of a variety of texts.
        • Methods to compare and contrast texts.

        Skills

        Students are able to:
        • Compare and contrast perspectives in fiction, nonfiction, informational, digital, and multimodal texts.
        • Compare and contrast diverse historical, cultural, and global viewpoints demonstrated in a variety of texts.

        Understanding

        Students understand that:
        • The texts they read will have a variety of historical, cultural, and global viewpoints, which offer a multitude of perspectives on different topics.
        • Similar and different ideas and themes can be presented in a variety of textual formats.
        English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 11

        ELA21.11.11

        Compose and edit both short and extended products in which the development and organization are relevant and suitable to task, purpose, and audience, using an appropriate command of language.

        Unpacked Content

        UP:ELA21.11.11

        Vocabulary

        • Compose
        • Edit
        • Short products
        • Extended products
        • Writing development
        • Writing organization
        • Task
        • Purpose
        • Audience
        • Command of language

        Knowledge

        Students know:
        • Writing products can be short, such as a paragraph, or extended, such as constructed responses and essays.
        • The skills required by the writing process.
        • The development and organization of writing will change depending on the writing task, the purpose of the writing, and the intended audience.
        • Formal academic writing should demonstrate an appropriate command of language.

        Skills

        Students are able to:
        • Compose short and extended writing products.
        • Identify the writing task, the purpose of writing, and the intended audience in order to appropriately adapt the development and organization of the writing.
        • Demonstrate command of the written language.

        Understanding

        Students understand that:
        • There are different genres of writing that serve various purposes.
        • The writing task, purpose, and audience should be considered in the development and organization of the writing.
        • Formal academic writing should display their command of the English language.
        English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 12

        ELA21.12.R2

        Read and comprehend a variety of literary texts to develop a literal and figurative understanding as appropriate to the type of text, purpose, and situation.

        Unpacked Content

        UP:ELA21.12.R2

        Vocabulary

        • Literary texts
        • Literal understanding
        • Figurative understanding
        • Text
        • Purpose
        • Situation

        Knowledge

        Students know:
        • Necessary skills to read and comprehend a variety of literary texts.
        • Strategies to analyze literary text to develop a literal and figurative understanding.
        • Literary texts have different intended meanings depending on the genre, purpose, and situation.

        Skills

        Students are able to:
        • Read and comprehend a variety of literary texts.
        • Develop literal and figurative understanding of literary texts appropriate to the text, purpose, and situation.

        Understanding

        Students understand that:
        • Literary texts can be understood on both a literal and figurative level.
        English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 12

        ELA21.12.7

        Compare and/or contrast the perspectives in a variety of fiction, nonfiction, informational, digital, and multimodal texts produced from diverse historical, cultural, and global viewpoints, not limited to the grade level literary focus.

        Unpacked Content

        UP:ELA21.12.7

        Vocabulary

        • Fiction texts
        • Nonfiction texts
        • Perspectives
        • Informational texts
        • Digital texts
        • Multimodal texts
        • Historical viewpoints
        • Cultural viewpoints
        • Global viewpoints

        Knowledge

        Students know:
        • Strategies to identify the perspective of fiction, nonfiction, informational, digital, and multimodal texts.
        • Strategies to identify the historical, cultural, and global viewpoints of a variety of texts.
        • Methods to compare and contrast texts.

        Skills

        Students are able to:
        • Compare and contrast perspectives in fiction, nonfiction, informational, digital, and multimodal texts.
        • Compare and contrast diverse historical, cultural, and global viewpoints demonstrated in a variety of texts.

        Understanding

        Students understand that:
        • The texts they read will have a variety of historical, cultural, and global viewpoints, which offer a multitude of perspectives on different topics.
        • Similar and different ideas and themes can be presented in a variety of textual formats.
        English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 12

        ELA21.12.11

        Compose, edit, and revise both short and extended products in which the development, organization, and style are relevant and suitable to task, purpose, and audience, using an appropriate command of language.

        Unpacked Content

        UP:ELA21.12.11

        Vocabulary

        • Compose
        • Edit
        • Revise
        • Short products
        • Extended products
        • Writing development
        • Writing organization
        • Writing style
        • Task
        • Purpose
        • Audience
        • Command of language

        Knowledge

        Students know:
        • Writing products can be short, such as a paragraph, or extended, such as constructed responses and essays.
        • The skills required by the writing process.
        • The development, organization, and style of writing will change depending on the writing task, the purpose of the writing, and the intended audience.
        • Formal academic writing should demonstrate an appropriate command of language.

        Skills

        Students are able to:
        • Compose, edit, and revise short and extended writing products.
        • Identify the writing task, the purpose of writing, and the intended audience in order to appropriately adapt the development, organization, and style of the writing.
        • Demonstrate command of the written language.

        Understanding

        Students understand that:
        • There are different genres of writing that serve various purposes.
        • The writing process is a series of steps that improve writing over time.
        • The writing task, purpose, and audience should be considered in the development, organization, and style of the writing.
        • Formal academic writing should display their command of the English language.
        Link to Resource

        CR Resource Type

        Lesson/Unit Plan

        Resource Provider

        ReadWriteThink
        Accessibility

        Accessibility

        Text Resources: Content is organized under headings and subheadings
        License

        License Type

        Custom
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