Synthesizing Sources: Autobiography, Poem, and Interviews
Autobiography-I know Why the Caged Bird Sings in current textbook on page 480
Poem-Caged Bird on page 488 in textbook
Video – Interview with Maya Angelou http://www.scholastic.com/browse/video.jsp?pID=1640183585&bcpid=1640183585&bclid=10100818001&bctid=1688365590
Book Talk with Maya Angelou - http://digitalbooktalk.com/?p=22
Common Core Standards: RI 5 Analyze how an author’s ideas are developed; RI 6 Determine and author’s point of view RI 10 Read and comprehend literary nonfictionDirections: Read the autobiographical excerpt from, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” and then the poem, “Caged Bird.” Next watch the two interviews with Maya Angelou.
When you have finished reading and watching, answer the questions below. Your final task will be to synthesize the information you received from the four sources.
After-Reading Questions
1. Recall (DOK 1) -What is Mrs. Flower’s feeling about language?
2. Summarize (DOK 2)-What kinds of assignments does Mrs. Flowers give Marguerite?
3. Clarify (DOK 2)-What does Mrs. Flowers mean when she tells Marguerite that some people, though lacking formal schooling, are “more educated and even more intelligent than college professors?”
4. Understand Motives (DOK 3)-What motivates Mrs. Flowers to help Marguerite?
5. Analyze Perspective (DOK 3) -How does the Angelou’s adult perspective help you to understand the long-range effect that Mrs. Flowers had on her life? Cite specific evidence.
6. Evaluating Characterization in Autobiography (DOK 3) – Go back to the text and find examples of various methods of characterization used by Angelou in her autobiography. Which would you say is the most powerful method used to characterize Mrs. Flowers? Use the list below to help outline your response.
Methods of Characterization / Examples from the textDescription of person’s physical appearance
Examples of the person’s speech, thoughts or feelings
The speech, thoughts, or feelings of other people
The narrator’s ideas and comments about the person
7. Comparing literary work (DOK 4) – Reread the poem, “Caged Bird.” Does Mrs. Flowers teach the young Marguerite to “sing”? If so, in what way? Explain.
8. Synthesize (DOK 4)- Now that you have read the literature by and about Angelou, watch her talk about her experiences and writing in the two videos and answer the questions below.
A. What new information do you learn about Angelou from the videos?
B. How does hearing Angelou talk about herself on video change or enhance your understanding of her and her literature?
C. Which of the modes (autobiography, videos, or poem) was the most powerful form of information for you?
D. Complete the “Synthesizing Information from Multiple Sources” Assignment next. Think about the questions, “What different information is provided through each sources (autobiography, poem, and video)? Which source provides the best information about the author?”
Go to “Synthesizing Information from Multiple Sources” Assignment below.
Synthesizing Information Graphic Organizer Assignment
Purpose: The graphic organizer provides a space for organizing your thought around evidence about a text or source and then combining those thoughts with textual evidence in order to produce a sound opinion. There are two graphic organizers. Choose one to use for this assignment.
Standards: RL and RI #3Graphic Organizer Level 1
Topic: “What different information is provided through each sources (autobiography, poem, and video)? What do I learn about the author from each source?
What the text says:What I am thinking:
My opinion based on details from the text:
Graphic Organizer Level 2
Topic: “What different information is provided through each source (autobiography, poem, and video)? What do I learn about the author from each source?
“Evidence” from the texts / What I learned: My inferences or ConclusionsSynthesis: Compose a paragraph using the evidence to support your conclusions.