Close Reading Lesson The Nobel Acceptance Speech Delivered by Elie Wiesel

First Reading: First Impression  Read the passage silently. Your focus is on understanding the meaning of the passage. Think about the words that are unfamiliar to you. Use context clues to try to figure out their meanings.  Circle words you don’t know.  Paraphrase meaning of any of the text that you understand on the left hand side.

Teacher Model…I do… Content 1I am moved, deeply moved by your words, Chairman Aarvik. And it is with a profound sense of humility that I accept the honor—the highest there is—that you have chosen to bestow upon me. I know your choice transcends my person. 2Do I have the right to represent the multitudes who have perished? Do I have the right to accept this great honor on their behalf? I do not. No one may speak for the dead, no one may interpret their mutilated dreams and visions. And yet, I sense their presence. I always do—and at this moment more than ever. The presence of my parents, that of my little sister. The presence of my teachers, my friends, my companions … Text Dependent Questions

Rate Your Understanding of the Text 1- No idea what the passage is about 2- Kind of understand what the passage is about 3- Have a fairly good understanding what the passage is about 4- Have a solid understanding what the passage is about 5- Completely understand everything in the passage

Discussion You will now have three minutes to discuss the text with your group. Each person should get a turn to:  1. Share a word they do not know  If someone knows the word, explain the word and add this to your notes OR  Go back into the text and see if the group can figure it out using context clues  2. Share their summary notes  If you learn something, write it down  Timer Timer

Second Reading: Metacognitive Markers Listen and follow along. As you read along with the video, use The Metacognitive Markers that have been provided to you. Remember if you make a mark, you should make a note. _____________ IMPORTANT ! Aha moment; now I get it * I have a comment to make ? I don’t understand this

Teacher Model…I do… Content 1I am moved, deeply moved by your words, Chairman Aarvik. And it is with a profound sense of humility that I accept the honor—the highest there is—that you have chosen to bestow upon me. I know your choice transcends my person. 2Do I have the right to represent the multitudes who have perished? Do I have the right to accept this great honor on their behalf? I do not. No one may speak for the dead, no one may interpret their mutilated dreams and visions. And yet, I sense their presence. I always do—and at this moment more than ever. The presence of my parents, that of my little sister. The presence of my teachers, my friends, my companions … Text Dependent Questions

Read Aloud Note: If your understanding is increasing you should have at least one ! with a note explaining something new you are understanding

Rate Your Understanding of the Text 1- No idea what the passage is about 2- Kind of understand what the passage is about 3- Have a fairly good understanding what the passage is about 4- Have a solid understanding what the passage is about 5- Completely understand everything in the passage

Discussion You will now have three minutes to discuss your metacognitive markers. Each person should get a turn to:  1. Share a mark they made and  2. Explain why they made that mark  If you learn something, add it to your notes. If you agree, disagree, or would like to add to what the person sharing has said, make a comment.  Timer Timer

Third Reading: TD Questions Now review the question on the right hand side. This time highlight textual evidence that will support your answer to the question.

3 This honor belongs to all the survivors and their children and, through us, to the Jewish people with whose destiny I have always identified. 4 I remember: it happened yesterday, or eternities ago. A young Jewish boy discovered the Kingdom of Night. I remember his bewilderment, I remember his anguish. It all happened so fast. The ghetto. The deportation. The sealed cattle car. The fiery altar upon which the history of our people and the future of mankind were meant to be sacrificed. 5 I remember he asked his father: “Can this be true? This is the twentieth century, not the Middle Ages. Who would allow such crimes to be committed? How could the world remain silent?”

Synthesize Your Understanding Writing Prompt: Closely examine paragraphs 6 and 7. What is Wiesel saying about memory and silence?

Discussion You will now have three minutes to discuss your thoughts about the question. Each person should get a turn to respond to each question.  If you learn something, add it to your notes. If you agree, disagree, or would like to add to what the person sharing has said, make a comment.  Timer Timer

Differentiated Paragraph In Elie Wiesel’s speech, he is speaking to _____________ about _____________. He talks about memory and silence. Wiesel implies ______________________. I know this because Wiesel says, “________”. This proves ____________. Wiesel’s words inspire me to _____________________.