1. Launching the Novel: Character Analysis of Ha
Lesson # 2
Launching the Novel: Character Analysis of Ha

2. Today’s target: DO NOW:
We can analyze things that close readers do by practicing with the poem “1975: Year of the Cat”.
DO NOW:
Copy the quote

3. INSIDE OUT & BACK AGAIN
“ No one would believe me, but at times I would prefer wartime in Saigon over peacetime in Alabama.” (Page 195)
Based on what you saw and read yesterday, what do you think might have to happen to a little girl to make her say that she would prefer war at home in Saigon (Vietnam) to peace in Alabama (the United States)?”
Take a few minutes to discuss this and the “4’s” in your group will share with the class your groups thought.

4. INSIDE OUT & BACK AGAIN Browse through the pages of the novel.
Consider these questions one at a time
Turn and Talk strategy with a partner:
“What do you notice about how this novel is written?”
“How is it like other novels you have read?”
“How is it different?”

6. Is it Poetry…?
FREE VERSE POETRY- is poetry that doesn’t use a regular rhythm of rhyming pattern.
It does look like a poem with the layout and line breaks.
STANZA- a group of lines that form the smaller chunks of a poem.

7. LESSON #2 LEARNING TARGETS:
I can make inferences to deepen my understanding of Inside Out & Back Again. (RL.8.1)
I can cite evidence from the novel to explain how incidents reveal aspects of Ha’s character. (RL.8.3)
I can use context clues to figure out the meaning of words (L.8.4)
I can participate in discussions about the texts with a partner, small group, and the whole class.(SL .8.1)

8. Read aloud: “1975: Year of the cat”
Things Close Readers Do chart

9. What do you think the gist of this poem is?
TURN &TALK
“1975: Year of the Cat”
What do you think the gist of this poem is?

10. What have you learned about Ha in this very first poem?
Close reading
“1975: Year of the Cat”
What have you learned about Ha in this very first poem? 10

11. What this shows about Ha’s interests, traits, values, or beliefs.
Journal entry
Today’s date: ________________
Question: Who is Ha? What have I learned about Ha from the novel so far?
Detail/Evidence
Information about Ha
Page
Inference/Reasoning
What this shows about Ha’s interests, traits, values, or beliefs.
“Now I am ten”` 1
She is on the edge of growing up.
“Mother warns” and “Mother insisted”
1,2
She has a mom who is pretty stern, in charge, demanding. I’m guessing Ha doesn’t like this
“but last night I pouted” and “An old, angry knot expanded in my throat” 2
Ha has a temper (She doesn’t say it directly, but I can infer from evidence in the text and my background knowledge)

12. Close reading
“1975: Year of the Cat”
Q1: “Tet” is a special day. When is Tet, and what two events are celebrated on Tet?

13. Q2: How does the family celebrate Tet?
Close reading
“1975: Year of the Cat”
Q2: How does the family celebrate Tet?

14. Q3: So, how does this day affect the other days?
Close reading
“1975: Year of the Cat”
Q3: So, how does this day affect the other days?

15. Q4: What does the narrator (Ha) do that might bring bad luck?
Close reading
“1975: Year of the Cat”
Q4: What does the narrator (Ha) do that might bring bad luck?

16. Close reading
“1975: Year of the Cat”
Q5: What can you infer about the narrator based on this action? In other words, what can you figure out about her, based on what you see in the text, and what you already know?

17. Read aloud: “1975: Year of the cat”
Things Close Readers Do chart 17

18. Homework #
Reread “1975: Year of the Cat”. Add at least three more details to your notes that helped you learn about Ha.
Read pages 4-9 for the first time to get the gist. “Inside Out” through “Papaya Tree”

19. Did you use the text to cite evidence today?
Self-assess
Did you use the text to cite evidence today?
Did you use the text to prove your thinking?