BREAKING IT DOWN: HOW TO INTERPRET THE MEANING OF A QUOTE

FIRST STEP: What words are familiar? What can I connect with (aka PRIOR Knowledge)? “I saw all races, all colors, blue eyed blonds to black skinned Africans in true brotherhood! In unity! Living as one! Worshiping as one! No segregationists, no liberals; they would not have known how to interpret the meaning of those words” ― Malcolm X, The Autobiography of Malcolm XMalcolm XThe Autobiography of Malcolm X Teacher’s Picks/Thoughts: All Races = Malcolm X at the end became more peaceful and hopeful for equality for everyone. Unity/Brotherhood/One = Words describing the world Malcolm X wanted to see. Segregationists and Liberals = must be opposite of Unity since the quote says that these types of people would not understand the meaning of the words Unity/Brotherhood/One. Therefore, the terms “Segregation” and “liberals” in Malcolm’s mind are referring to people who were anti-unity.

SECOND STEP: CREATE A THESIS! Ask: What does this mean to me? Teacher’s Thesis: There will always be those who are opposed to unity, but equality for all races is a war that is worth fighting for.

LAST…. PRE-WRITE A QUICK OUTLINE/Expository Outline Hook: (Statement) Malcolm X once wrote that he saw all races together in brotherhood and unity. Thesis: There will always be those who are opposed to unity, but equality for all races is a war that is worth fighting for. Paragraph 2-4 Malcolm X – How he faced racial prejudice as a child Malcolm X – How he faced racial prejudice himself (hesitant to shake a white reporter’s hand). Malcom X – How he became more peaceful towards the end of his life. Conclusion (Restate Thesis, Wrap up main points, and END WITH A HOOK) Ending Hook: Malcolm X’s own words mirrored his personal journey as well as the journey for humanity as whole in becoming unified as brothers and sisters of “all races, all colors, blue eyed blonds to black skinned Africans in true brotherhood.”

PRACTICE TIME 1. Your teacher will write two paragraphs explaining or “BREAKING DOWN” the quote. YOUR TEACHER WILL ONLY HAVE 5 MIN. TO DO THIS! One paragraph will be explaining the quote. The next paragraph will connect the quote to a book (Text to text Connection). TAKE NOTES DURING THIS TIME!

EXPLAIN THE QUOTE:

YOUR TURN 1. GET INTO YOUR GROUPS 2. TAKE LIST OF SIX QUOTES 3. EVERYONE AT YOUR TABLE MUST PICK ONE QUOTE (CHOOSE DIFFERENT QUOTES) 4. WRITE TWO PARAGRAPHS 5. SWAP ASSIGNMENTS WITH EVERYONE AT YOUR TABLE. 6. YOUR CLASSMATES MUST TELL YOU WHAT THEY THINK OF YOUR WRITING. DID IT EXPLAIN THE QUOTE? WAS IT HELPFUL? WOULD THEY HAVE WRITTEN IT DIFFERENTLY?