Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2017, director Raoul Peck credits the late James Baldwin’s words, narrated by Samuel Jackson, as the screenwriter of his film. The power of Baldwin’s words still resonates in 21st Century America.
There are several links to videos, interviews, resources for qualifying the argument that James Baldwin makes. Also included in the resource is a TED Talk on being brave about race, and various clips with James Baldwin, Raoul Peck, and Ta-Nehisi Coates speaking on Baldwin. There are sources from The New York Times Room for Debate and a film review of the documentary from The New Yorker Magazine.
The lesson features a link to the 1995 AP English Language and Composition prompt qualifying a Baldwin argument, as well as a graphic organizer designed as a rhetorical triangle where students will look for appeals from a Fresh Air interview with James Baldwin and Raoul Peck. Students will craft an argumentative thesis sentence. Instructions and strategies are included on how to teach how to qualify an argument, a rhetorical précis, and hold an inner and outer Socratic Circle.
These lessons fit any Honors Literature class, Pre-AP, American Literature, AP English Language or Literature class to prepare students for AP English Language exams, Common Core extended response assessments, American Literature Course exams, the SAT and ACT essay and critical thinking activities. Now adaptable for ESOL classes.
The packet includes complete lessons, Common Core standards, essential and key questions. I've made the following revisions to this product: I have added an addendum that describes how to adapt the lessons for ELL students.
Tags: Close Reading, writing, Pre-AP, critical thinking, race, documentary, theme, ELL adaptable material