We will look at this question today at the beginning of class. Our discussion will include:
- Novels help us imagine a world outside our own and then see ourselves in it.
- Novels can help us make sense of the conflicts in our own lives - the places where we feel alone and unsupported, and ways in which we can feel less alone.
- Research on the importance of studying long texts with complex themes and character development for all students (not just students at wealthy, flash schools)
- We learn to show understanding of how characters change over time, and the impact of a setting on a person's life.
- We develop our essay writing skills - introductions, main body paragraphs and conclusions. We get better at writing by stretching ourselves to write more or more deeply than before on the novel. If we wrote ten words yesterday, then 20 today. If we wrote 100 words yesterday, then 200 today.
- We learn to show our understanding of how the obvious (Khalil died) is shaped by the less obvious (that many US police believe all black men are dangerous) and make our own lessons (that when we try to understand the lives of others by walking in their shoes, we become stronger and build a better world). We can link it to our own experiences - what do we know about people in our class who we don't usually talk to? How can building new relationships build a better class?
How will you go outside of your comfort zone and learn something new today?
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