Lesson Plans for O Henry Unit
8th Grade Pre-AP English
Day 1
TEKS: 8.8B-C; 8.10A-K; 8.11A-D; 8.12A; 8.22B,C
Introduce the Author
1. Give a brief biography of O Henry and watch the A&E video of his life
2. Emphasize the importance of his time spent in Texas by reading the Houston Chronicle article, “O. Henry Honored by Texas Town He Fled”. Discuss how these events influenced the future choices he made and how they influenced his writing. Include information on the O. Henry museum in Austin, Texas.
Day 2
TEKS: 8.8B-D; 8.10A-K; 8.11A-D; 8.12A,C,E-K; 8.14A; 8.15A; 8.23B
Read the story “A Retrieved Reformation”
Opening Journal before reading: Do you believe that a person who has demonstrated criminal behavior in the past can change permanently? If yes, what influences could be responsible for that change? If not, explain why.
Read the story and discuss the journal question in relation to the story. Watch a video segment of “Jimmy Valentine”.
Day 3
TEKS: 8.8B-D; 8.10A-K; 8.11A-D; 8.12A,C,E-K; 8.14A; 8.15A
Read the story “After Twenty Years”
Opening Journal before reading: Would you turn in a friend that you knew had committed a crime? Why or why not?
Read the story and discuss the journal question in relation to the story.
Day 4
TEKS: 8.10A-H, J-K;8.11A-D; 8.12A,K; 8.14A; 8.15A-C
Read the Houston Chronicle editorial, “In the Case of My Brother”. Discuss the brother’s viewpoint and how it relates to the two stories we read and the journals you wrote prior to reading the two stories and this article.
Answer these questions after reading the article:
1. What changed the young brother’s life, in his words?
2. Why did his older brother want him to go to prison?
3. What role did his older brother feel society played in his younger brother’s decisions?
4. Which character in the two stories you read could have an older brother who felt the way this author does? Explain your choice.
5. After reading the two stories and the editorial, go back to your original journal questions and revisit your answers.
1. Can a person who has demonstrated criminal behavior change for the better? If yes, what influences can facilitate this change? If not, why?
2. If you had a friend who had committed a crime, would you turn them into to the police? Why or why not?
Day 5
TEKS: 8A,B,D,H; 8.18A-19; 8.19A,C
Write a persuasive essay on one of your journal topics. In your persuasion use examples from the story, the article you read, and the class discussions. Your essay should be two pages long, double-spaced, 12 font.
*Additional resource is an article about an Internet scam artist found in the Houston Chronicle (I have included it with my resources).