Lesson Overview 

Quiz

No quiz unless you give a quiz on the first part of "Big Two-Hearted River" - with this assignment sandwiched in between the two parts and giving them more time to get the reading done at home.

The Partner-Work Handout

The worksheet is pretty straightforward and I'll include the directions below.  Two students, working together, fill out the chart in an effort to try and find the "purpose" of the Inter-Chapters and to give them an opportunity to discover how those vignettes are linked to the stories - and the stories to each other.  They will fill out a summary of each Inter-chapter, the name of the story before, a possible link with that story, the name of the story that proceeds the Inter-Chapter, and a possible link with that story.  One thing that is missing from the instructions - that you need to make sure they do is that each group of partners should find another set of partners, and periodically, check what each of them are coming up with  Here are the directions:

fill in this chart, working with a partner.  Interchapters refers to the text in italics that occurs between each of the stories – in the 3rd & 5th column put the title of the story – in the 4th and 6th possible links – begin looking for the big picture.  This is after all a “novel disguised as a collection of stories.”  What links them together.  Get as much done in class as you can – each person fills in her own chart – finish the chart and questions for homework. Do this for ALL the stories that have been assigned so far. Turn in what you have at the end of the period (you will be graded) – be thoughtful and creative in your links and connections.  If you have any time left tackle the questions at the bottom. 

The Questions at the end of the worksheet

The four questions at the end of the worksheet should be answered by individual students - on their own time.  The answers can be short and are designed to give the students an over-view of their (the Inter-Chapters') purpose.  Here are the questions:

1.  Do all (or nearly) all of the inter-chapters have any one thing in common?  What?

2.  Do the inter-chapters serve to link the story which came before with the story which follows it?  How?

3.  Do the inter-chapters tend to bind the stories together, making them more like (though not entirely) a   novel, and less like a  collection of unrelated short  stories?

4.  Do the inter-chapters, and the other stories as well, show any sign of progression or movement?  Do the  stories, like a novel,  have a plot, and ultimately, a  climax?