Monday, October 5 - Conclusion of Everyday Use by Alice Walker

Objective: By the end of class, students will analyze character and narrative perspective in short fiction in order to improve reading comprehensive skills.

DO NOW

The story, "Everyday Use" is told from 1st person POV - Mama's perspective. Because of this, we don't always know what others characters think and feel for themselves. 

Go back to the text. On page 62 Mama says (lines191-193), "He just stood there grinning, looking down on me like somebody inspecting a Model A car. Every once in a while, he and Wangero sent eye signals over my head." What do you infer they were saying to each other with their eye signals?

Direct Instruction

Finish reading - pages 64-66 soft holt reader. 

clip from Everyday 

 Guided

analysis of Everyday Use

Independent

Answer the following questions:

• Why does Maggie have a real smile at the end of the story? Comment on the mother’s choice at the end.
• Why is the story titled “Everyday Use”?
• Why does the mother compare her daughters to different animals? What does this reveal about her attitudes toward Dee and Maggie?
• To what extent would you consider the story a critique of the Black Power Movement?
• Rewrite the end of this short story from a different character’s point of view. 

•  Which daughter, do you think, should have the quilt and why? 

Check for Understanding

Individual student checks during independent work

Closure 

Review for test tomorrow

Exit Pass

Name one specific trait that each MAMA, Dee and Maggie have that are reflective of Alice Walker herself.