Demonstration of Common Core Lesson Charles Dickens’ Hard Times

FIRST READING OF TEXT: Read the excerpt from Hard Times (1854) by Charles Dickens silently. As you read, try to visualize some of the specific details he describes.

SECOND READING OF TEXT: This time, your teacher will read the text out loud as you follow along. Pay particular attend to the underlined words in the passage and how the words are used.

A Closer Look at Key Vocabulary Working with your partner, use the clues from the sentence and word parts to determine the meaning of the underlined words in the selection. In the second column write specific clues to the word’s meaning, followed by what you think the word means in the third column. Highlight any other words you do not know that you can ask about later.

From Hard Times by Charles Dickens “It was a town of red brick, or of brick that would have been red if the smoke and ashes had allowed it…it was a town of machinery and tall chimneys, out of which interminable serpents of smoke trailed themselves forever and ever. What does it mean to terminate something? What does the prefix “in” mean? How does the suffix “able” affect the meaning of the word? How do the words “forever and ever” help you understand the meaning? Read the excerpt outloud. Pose the questions to participants.

From Hard Times by Charles Dickens “…the piston of the steam-engine worked monotonously up and down, like the head of an elephant in a state of melancholy madness.” Can you think of other words with the prefix “mono” in them? (monologue, monogamy) What does the prefix “mono” mean? Do you see parts of any other words in the word? What does “tone” mean? What does monotone mean? If you add –ly, what does it do to the word? Read the excerpt outloud. Pose the questions to participants.

From Hard Times by Charles Dickens “….every day was the same as yesterday and tomorrow, and every year the counterpart of the last and the next.” What clues in this sentence helps us understand the meaning of the word “counterpart”? Read the excerpt out loud. Pose questions to the participants.

From Hard Times by Charles Dickens “These attributes of Coketown were in the main inseparable from the work by which it was sustained; against them were to be set off, comforts of life which found their way all over the world, and elegancies of life which made, we will not ask how much of the fine lady, who could scarcely bear to hear the place mentioned.” What word forms the basis of “elegancies”? Do you know what elegant means? What clues in the sentence help the reader determine the meaning of the word? Read the excerpt out loud. Pose questions to the participants.

From Hard Times by Charles Dickens “The solitary exception was the New Church; a stuccoed edifice with a square steeple over the door, terminating in four short pinnacles like florid wooden legs.” How does the structure of the sentence and the use of the semi colon help you determine the meaning of “edifice”? With other clues exist in the sentence? Read the excerpt out loud. Pose questions to the participants.

What is the Text Structure? Narrative Descriptive Problem-Solution Comparative Cause-Effect Sequence Question-Answer Cyclical Identify clues to the text structure in the text. Ask participants to identify text structure of passage. Pose the question, “What characteristics does a descriptive text hav?

What is the Text Structure? Narrative Descriptive Problem-Solution Comparative Cause-Effect Sequence Question-Answer Cyclical Identify clues to the text structure in the text. Read this out loud while participants follow along.

Text Marking Write the letter “T” over any words in the text describing the town in the passage. Write the letter “P” over any words describing the people in the passage.

Challenging Text-based Questions Work with a partner in creating challenging text- based-questions based on the passage and text markings.

Let’s Take a Look at Your Questions. Get participants to share questions. Write on board or projection device for all to view.

Culminating Writing How does the author’s description of Coketown serve as an editorial on industrial England? In your analysis, address the techniques Dickens uses to create his descriptions and what the descriptions indicate about his views of industrialization. What will a student have to do to answer this question? Identify author’s view of industrialization. Identify the descriptions that support his view. Explain techniques the author uses to create the descriptions. Relate how the techniques support his viewpoint.

A Sample Writing Review the sample student paper on the writing prompt. Look at evaluation slide scale. What does this student do well? What does this student need to improve? What will a student have to do to answer this question? Identify author’s view of industrialization. Identify the descriptions that support his view. Explain techniques the author uses to create the descriptions. Relate how the techniques support his viewpoint.

Document 2: “Observations on the Effect of the Manufacturing System” by Robert Owen Reading #1: As I read the text aloud, follow along with the purpose of determining the author’s opinion of industrialization.

Determining Meaning Through Context Factory Owners …the character of the lower orders in Britain is formed chiefly by circumstances arising from trade, manufactures, and commerce. All are sedulously trained to buy cheap and to sell dear… Based on the sentence before, who is the “all” the author is referring to? If the factory owners’ character is formed chiefly by trade, then how are they being trained? Intensely, Earnestly

Reading #2 Work with a partner to read the excerpt again and develop text-based questions that could be used in a discussion. Ex: Please read the first 2 sentences. The manufacturing system has already so far extended its influence over the British Empire, as to effect an essential change in the general character of the mass of the people. This alteration is still in rapid progress; and ere long, the comparatively happy simplicity of the agricultural peasant will be wholly lost amongst us. What is the author implying when he refers to “the comparatively happy simplicity of the agricultural peasant”? What is the fallacy, or error, in this reasoning?

The Basic Elements of Argument A claim is a statement or assertion that conveys the writer’s interpretations or beliefs. In an argument, there is usually a governing claim and supporting sub- claims. Evidence is facts, figures, details, quotations, examples, or other sources of data and information that provide support for claims or analysis that can be evaluated by others. A warrant is the logical connection between a claim and the evidence.

The Case of the Dead Musician Claim Evidence “The musician didn’t kill himself. Look at where his feet are. If he hanged himself, his feet would’ve been below the top of the stool.” Warrant

Reading #3 – Text Marking Read through the article again and mark the text using the following code: C – Claim E – Evidence W – Warrant Let’s find the governing claim(s) together.

Text Marking The manufacturing system has already so far extended its influence over the British Empire, as to effect an essential change in the general character of the mass of the people. This alteration is still in rapid progress; and ere long, the comparatively happy simplicity of the agricultural peasant will be wholly lost amongst us. It is even now scarcely anywhere to be found without a mixture of those habits which are the offspring of trade, manufactures, and commerce. C C

Text Marking Now, read through the article independently and mark the text using the following code: C – Claim E – Evidence W – Warrant

Text Marking Talk with your table about your text marking. Pay special attention to areas in which you disagree or marked differently.

Writing Prompt Consider the argument Robert Owens presents on the negative influences of industrialization. Write a response that analyzes the strengths and/or weaknesses of the argument. Remember to use textual evidence to support your ideas.

Writing Check To ensure that your response contains all of the elements of an analysis, re-read your response and mark it with the following text code: C – Claim E – Evidence W - Warrant

Making Evidence-Based Claims

Extension of Activity The painting on the next slide is William Wylde’s Manchester from Kersal Moor (1852). Teachers could use Reading Standard 7 (Analyze the representation of a subject or a key scene in two different artistic mediums, including what is emphasized or absent in each treatment.) and develop teaching activities and a prompt that addresses the text documents and the painting.

Homework For next time, review the CCSS for your content and grade. Select one document to teach that aligns with the CCSS. Be sure the text is rich enough to support a discussion of complex ideas and themes. “Pour over” the document to identify the questions that stimulate close reading. Bring your text and questions to our next meeting on Monday, February 18th.