Mr. Chiaravalli & Ms.

Cobo English 12
2018-2019 Semester 2

The Discovery of Oneself

Overview

Socrates once stated, “​Wonder is the beginning of wisdom​.” So, where do we begin? Consider the following
questions: Who are you? What makes you who you are? Why do you do what you do? What do you believe?
Many scholars, philosophers, and writers—and, really, humankind in general—have dedicated their lives to
raising and answering these questions and others like them. Throughout this unit, we begin to grapple with the
concept of identity as we seek to understand ourselves, each other, and the characters we read about. This unit
challenges you to know yourself better so that you can make yourself known to the world around you. In turn,
we hopefully come to know ourselves and each other on a deeper, richer level.

How to Use This Packet​: This packet has all the work that we are doing for the coming weeks, so don’t be
intimidated! I will be providing guidance and instruction at a pace that will have you finished by the end of the
unit. Each step has its own ​rationale​, ​objectives,​ ​sequence​, and ​assignments​ (explained below).

Rationale​: This tells you ​why​ we are doing something, why it’s important now or in the future.

Objectives​: These are the skills you should be able to demonstrate by the end of each step.

Sequence​: This lists work you must complete in order to progress toward meeting our objectives.

❏ represents an assignment to turn in

○ represents steps leading up to assignments

Assessments​: On the last page of the packet, the assessments are check-listed in order. I may add, subtract or
change assessments as needed throughout the term.

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Mr. Chiaravalli & Ms. Cobo English 12
2018-2019 Semester 2

Step One​: Personality as perspective

Rationale

There are many things in life we take for granted as normal. Often, we assume that others see as we see and feel
as we feel. In reality, people’s perspectives of the world are vast and complex, and our underlying assumptions
about what is important are often different from those of others. In this step, we consider different aspects of our
lives that make up our identity—who we are—and discern the innermost part of what makes us ​us​. Referring to
the Myers-Briggs personality test as a reference, we consider the way our personalities shape our perspective of
life and why those different perspectives are powerful to share with each other.

Objectives

After completing this step you should be able to

● Use brainstorming and prewriting strategies.

Sequence

○ Using a strategy called Concentric Circles, you identify 10 different aspects of your identity that you value
and write them on index cards. You share your values with different partners, giving away your cards and
explaining to your partner why you gave up the card you did. In the end, you end up with the most valuable
aspect of your identity. This activity gives you a better understanding of what you truly value.

❏ Afterward, you create a ​collage or a life map​ that illustrates who you are as a person and shows the different
components of your identity that have shaped you into the person that you are today. Finally, you type out a
one-page response that allows you to reflect on your collage or life map.

○ Lastly, you take a Myers-Briggs personality test and share the results with classmates. Using the ​summary
sheet​ provided, research your and others’ personality types and discuss the value within each of them.

Step Two:​ Taking a stance

Rationale

Why do we act the way that we do? Have you ever thought about it? Much of what we think goes unsaid and
even unnoticed to ourselves. In this next step, we read Socrates’s “final words” in Plato’s​ Apology​ as we seek to
unpack the fundamental beliefs that drive the way we treat others and the choices we make in life. More
importantly, we learn how to articulate those beliefs to the people around us, so that they might see the value of
and the reasoning behind the ways we add meaning to our lives.

Objectives

After completing this step you should be able to

● Define and accurately use high-level vocabulary.

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Mr. Chiaravalli & Ms. Cobo English 12
2018-2019 Semester 2

● Use technology to communicate ideas and publish work, employing a wide range of media, strategies,
and formats.
● Use correct conventions, including MLA formatting and citation style, in a variety of contexts.

Sequence

○ As a class, use read Plato’s ​Apology​ and outline the argument behind Socrates’s final words, using a new
method for annotating and analyzing an argument​. Then consider your own reaction to Socrates’s ideas.
What belief, cause, or movement might you be willing to “take the blame” for, no matter the consequence?

❏ Take Plato’s ​Apology​ Vocab Scramble (study these ​Quizlet cards​, ​mentor sentences​).

○ As a class, we brainstorm different beliefs, causes, and movements we hold dear. On your own, determine
one of these that you think most impacts the way you choose to live your life.

❏ Stand Up Project​: Research and present a case for your topic. First, identify two longform journalistic pieces
on the topic. Next, you will be exploring different genres and using certain pieces to support your stance.
Then, share this information with classmates and the world by developing an attractive, user-friendly
website.

Step Three:​ Discovering identity in theatre and tragedy

Rationale

Like so many other literary texts, drama and performances consider underlying questions about the human
condition and experience. Tragedy can evoke feelings of pity and fear within us as we recognize the parallels
between us and the tragic hero. Like Oedipus, the main character of the famous play, ​Oedipus the King​, we each
encounter forces that are seemingly beyond our control, all while trying to stay true to who we are and
becoming who we long to be. In this last step of the unit, we apply our personal learning from the previous steps
to analyze elements of tragedy and themes of identity in ​Oedipus the King.​

Objectives

After completing this step you should be able to

1. Read with developing fluency, using a variety of strategies to construct meaning.

2. Use effective strategies to take notes during a lecture.
3. Describe and use a variety of critical lenses to analyze literature (Aristotelian lens).
4. Initiate and participate in collaborative discussions, building on the opinions of others and expressing
your own clearly.

Sequence

○ As a class, create a concept map defining “tragedy” and brainstorm examples of tragedy.

○ In preparation to view college-level lectures on Greek tragedy and drama, we watch “​How to Take Notes in
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Mr. Chiaravalli & Ms. Cobo English 12
2018-2019 Semester 2

Class: The 5 Best Methods​” by College Info Geek. Choose one methods to take notes during the lectures:
1. Outline Method (not required, but he mentioned trying ​Evernote​ or ​Byword​ for this)
2. Cornell Notes Method
3. Mindmap Method (not required, but he was demonstrating ​Coggle​ in the video)
4. Flow Method
5. Write-on-the-Slides Method

❏ Watch and take notes on a ​college lecture​ on Greek tragedy and ​Oedipus the King​, demonstrating the skills
of college-level lecture notetaking.

❏ Quiz on Greek Drama and Tragedy

○ Read and watch Sophocles’s ​Oedipus the King​, focusing class discussion around Aristotle’s elements of
tragedy and the themes of identity.

○ Using the literature circle approach, students participate in a discussion about their text through the lens of
the topics and questions that we have focused on.

○ As we read, create a timeline with your group, outlining the events of ​Oedipus the King​, identifying
elements of tragedy and themes of identity.

❏ Individually, take notes using the ​Oedipus graphic organizer

❑ Take ​Oedipus the King​ Vocab Scramble (study these ​Quizlet cards​, mentor sentences)

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Mr. Chiaravalli & Ms. Cobo English 12
2018-2019 Semester 2

Assessments

From ​Step One:

❑ Collage/Life Map and one-page response

From ​Step Two​:

❏ Plato’s ​Apology​ Vocab Scramble

❑ Stand-up Project

From ​Step Three:​

❑ Lecture Notes on Aristotle and ​Oedipus the King

❑ Quiz on Greek Tragedy and Drama
❑ Notes on ​Oedipus Rex
❑ Oedipus​ Vocab Scramble

Standards​: This unit, you will have the opportunity to show your mastery of the following skills and concepts:

Reading​:
1. Define and accurately use high-level vocabulary.
2. Read with developing fluency, using a variety of strategies to construct meaning.
5. Identify, describe, and recognize a variety of literary movements and critical lenses, using them to analyze
literature.

Writing​:
1. Use correct conventions, including quotation rules and MLA style, in a variety of contexts.
3. Use prewriting strategies.
5. Use technology to communicate ideas and publish work, employing a wide range of media, strategies, and
formats.

Academic Discourse​: Initiate and participate in collaborative discussions, building on the opinions of others
and expressing your own clearly.