1. The Southpaw by Judith Viorst
Monday, January 9, 2017

2. Do Now Which is the best alternate title for this passage? RI.6.2
Underwater Vehicle Dives Thousands of Times
Oceanographers Map the Seafloor
Scientists Discover New Marine Life
New Sub Designed for Underwater Challenges

3. Daily Report Date Agenda Do Now Daily Report Do Now Review
January 9, 2017
Agenda
Do Now
Daily Report
Do Now Review
Theme Mini Lesson
The Southpaw
Closure
Homework
Read The Southpaw
2 Read Theory quizzes 85%+
Objective
Scholars will identify themes in the text, The Southpaw, and analyze how those themes are conveyed.
Standard
RL6.2, RL6.5 3

4. Do Now Review:
Which is the best alternate title for this passage? RI.6.2
Underwater Vehicle Dives Thousands of Times
Oceanographers Map the Seafloor
Scientists Discover New Marine Life
New Sub Designed for Underwater Challenges

5. Moving On…
S L A N T

6. Themes
“What are we talking about when we refer to the themes in a text?”

7. Theme
A theme is a significant idea or lesson conveyed in a text. It is a message the author conveys through important details or events.
Copy what’s in RED

8. Thematic what?
Friendship Friendships have rewards and responsibilities. T/P/S: What do you notice between the first statement and the second?

9. Thematic Statement
A thematic statement is expressed in a complete sentence and conveys a complete idea about the topic.
It is a statement or claim about the topic; it’s the writer’s thinking.
Hint: Ask - “What idea or lesson does this story convey or communicate about the topic?”
In this case, the theme answers the question: “What ideas does The Southpaw convey about friendships?”

10. Moving On…
S L A N T

11. Thematic Statement
What do you think the author of “The Southpaw” is saying about friendship?

12. Theme: Friendships Can Survive Setbacks
Note 1
Janet: Give back the Disneyland sweatshirt I said you could wear
Note 2
Richard: I want my comic books now–finished or not.
Janet and Richard throw verbal jabs at each other because Richard won’t let Janet play on the baseball team that he leads and Janet won’t accept this status quo. Their verbal jabs are parallel in level of intensity; they go tit for tat insulting each other. Neither character crosses the boundary into more intense insults that would violate their basic level of respect for each other.
• character’s words and external conflict with chance for resolution

13. Theme: Friendships Can Survive Setbacks
Note 7
Janet: Why don’t you and your team forget about baseball and learn something nice like knitting maybe?
Note 8
Richard: I didn’t think you’d be the kind who’d kick a man when he’s down.
Note 9
Janet: I wasn’t kicking exactly. I was kicking back.
These moments develop the theme further in another tit for tat balanced attack by each main character. Janet proposes knitting to Richard after Richard proposed the same earlier. In note 9, she counters Richard’s assertion, “kick a man when he’s down,” by reminding him she is only “kicking back” to his earlier insult. The dance of insults continues.
• developing theme; character

14. Theme: Friendships Can Survive Setbacks
Final three notes–
Richard writes: “Please! Not Marilyn Jackson.”
Janet writes: “How about Lizzie Martindale instead?”
Richard signs his last note, “Your friend.”
In these final three notes, both characters listen to each other. Richard really doesn’t want Marilyn Jackson on the team and Janet offers Lizzie Martindale instead.
• resolution

15. Partners Reread “The Southpaw” to identify and analyze another theme.
Create a theme related to identity or gender roles.
Write your thematic statement at the top of your paper.
Create a T-chart. In the left column identify several moments from across the text that work together to convey a common theme.
In the right column explain how the moments convey that theme. Name the author’s methods with literary vocabulary.

16. Closure
Whip Around:
Explain whether or not using literary vocabulary helps in communicating theme.