1. “Self-Reliance”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

2. Before we read, consider:
How would you rank the excerpts we read last week, in terms of readability?
1 being very easy, 10 being incredibly difficult

3. What makes a text difficult to read?
Turn and talk with a partner and then share with the class

4. Consider the reading strategies you use when you encounter a difficult text
Make a list of strategies you use
When you are finished, read through your list and star the strategy you use most often/find most effective

5. My Strategy: Translation
I read a text section by section and “translate” it into my own words
After I have the meaning down, then I can focus on other parts of the text

6. Read “Self-Reliance” Use the strategy you like best
If you finish early, reread the essay using a new strategy you learned or reconsidered today
Write a small note to yourself after you finish: did this new strategy help or not so much?

7. Connecting Texts
How does “Self-Reliance” tie to George and Lennie from Of Mice and Men? How might Emerson view the way these men live their lives?