Introduction to The Alchemist

November 1, 2017

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.5
Analyze how an author's choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within it (e.g., parallel plots), and manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.2
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.

E.Q: Define each component of a texts structure and identify each part in Cinderella.

Determine a theme in your own writing.

Starter: 

If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go and why?

Vocabulary: 

Word: Theme

Part of Speech: Noun

Dictionary Definition: the subject of a talk, a piece of writing, a person's thoughts, or an exhibition; a topic.

Your Definition: 

Activity: What is one thing you know about theme. 

Activity: 

1.  Cinderella by The Brothers Grimm Review of Plot

As a class, we will read through the short story.  

While we are reading, reflect on why the story is structured the way it is. 

With your tables, complete a plot diagram.

2.  Creative Writing

We will use the Google VR goggles to look at several different places.

We will first start with they pyramids that are a major focus in The Alchemist.

Then, we will look at different places for inspiration.

Find a picture that inspires you.

Use the picture to help you write a piece of flash fiction (approximately 300 words).

Purposefully craft your story to have a strong foundation/structure. 

Eventually, you will swap stories to identify the parts of the plot.

3.  Theme  

Read through the ReadWriteThink link and take Cornell notes on identifying the theme. 

When you finish, write down a couple examples of common themes from Literary Devices. 

Closure: 

How confident do you feel reading books independently?

Why.