Dan+Piskorz+Monster+Novel+Study


 * __ Monster __ Novel Study - Dan Piskorz **

Walter Dean Myers was born August 12th, 1937 in West Virginia but was raised in the care of family friends in Harlem. He is the grandson of a slave and still feels a strong bond with Harlem, the setting of this piece.

** Summary ** · The story of Steve Harmon, a 16 year old black teenager · Steve is charged from murder and is incarcerated, awaiting trial · He suffers from self doubt and longs for freedom · The trial is documented by Steve in the form of a script, and his feelings are revealed through the use of a journal · At the conclusion of the novel, Steve is found not guilty

** a) **** In what grade level / course would you teach this text? Are there other courses for which it might also be appropriate? ** English, Grade 9, Academic (ENG1D) English, Grade 9, Applied (ENG1P) This text may also be useful in the Essentials stream of English. The language and layout are simple, and students can easily identify the progression of the novel. The novel may not be appropriate for higher grade levels due to its length and lack of complex language and literary terms. ** b) **** What are the main ideas/ issues/ teaching points which you would emphasize when teaching the text? (Consider the knowledge possibilities: Social, topic, cultural, textual.) ** **__Textual: __** ** · ****First person narrative told by Steve Harmon, the main character ** ** · ****Steve narrates the events in the present tense ** ** · ****The text is presented in two ways; as a journal and as a film script ** ** · ****The dated journal entries correspond with the trial and offer insight into Steve’s feelings about jail and his trial ** ** o ****Journal entries proceed in a chronological manner ** ** · ****The film script details the events of the trial and offers flashbacks to his childhood and the time immediately before the crime was committed ** ** · ****Film script utilizes technical terms for different camera shots employed during the production of a film ** ** · ****Contrast between the formal language used by lawyers and the informal vernacular used by gang members and criminals ** **__Social __****: What knowledge of our own personal experience and our society does this text elicit/explain/describe? ** **Depression: ** **<span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-weight: normal;">The text addresses the theme of depression as it occurs in a prison setting. Steve Harmon allows the reader to be privy to his thoughts through the inclusion of his journal entries. There is much discussion of his hatred for prison, and he discusses the possibility of suicide as a means of escape from imprisonment. ** **<span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Racial Discrimination: ** **<span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-weight: normal;">Racial discrimination is touched upon throughout the text as Steve is a young black male who is on trial for murder. This theme is closely tied in with stereotyping as many of the characters within the text assume that Steve is guilty before the trial has come to its conclusion. As a black male, certain individuals seem to assume that Steve is guilty. ** **<span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Stereotyping: ****<span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-weight: normal;">The crown attorneys seen in the text attempt to make Steve Harmon look like a criminal throughout the text. The parade of witnesses that are called upon are known criminals, and the prosecutors attempt to associate Steve with these young men in an attempt to make him appear guilty. Steve, a young black man from Harlem, is presented with other young men from Harlem that engage in criminal activity in an attempt to make him appear similar. **

**__<span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Cultural: __****<span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> What questions can we ask and discover about our culture through reading this text? ** ** · ****__<span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-weight: normal;">Monster __****<span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-weight: normal;">examines the culture of fear that surrounds gang life and criminals. Throughout the text, we see different characters called to act upon a sense of fear that is instilled by others involved in this way of life. Those that are called to the witness stand testify that they acted out of fear. ** ** · ****__<span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-weight: normal;">Monster __****<span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-weight: normal;"> also examines the different ways that people speak in our culture. ** **__<span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Topic: __****<span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> What topics does this text introduce, explain or inform us about? ** **<span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Scientific: ****<span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-weight: normal;">The medical examiner that examines the body of Alguinaldo Nesbitt, the murdered drugstore owner, offers insight regarding autopsies (p. 135). ** **<span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Geographical: ****<span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-weight: normal;">The text provides information about Harlem and the Manhattan Detention Center where Steve is being detained. Riker’s Island, a prison located in New York State, is also discussed. ** **<span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Environmental: ****<span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-weight: normal;">The text illustrates life in prison, courtroom proceedings, and offers a glimpse into Harlem. The setting and its affect on the stories characters is discussed. ** **<span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Social Justice: **  The text examines the American judicial system, including both the workings of the prison and the courtroom. ** c) **** What are the issues/ challenges you might encounter in teaching the text? **  · sensitive issues such as    o racial discrimination    o coarse language    o rape    o violence/murder    o depression    o discussion of drug use    o gangs    · students that have personal experience with any of these issues may have a difficult time reading or discussing the text    · as a white educator, may be difficult to talk about racial discrimination with young, black students    · discussion of rape as an expression of power in a prison setting    o students may not be aware of the realities of prison, including the accompanying depression    · students may have little understanding of the workings of the American judicial system    · students may have a difficult time comprehending the technical terms used in the film script    · students must be prepared to deal with sensitive issues with a certain level of maturity ** d) **** Describe one possible assignment / activity which you could use when teaching the text. How does it connect to the curriculum expectations of the course you are teaching? ** Journal Writing:  Throughout the text, Steve Harmon reveals his feelings about prison through the journal entries that are provided. These journal entries are often intimate in nature and cover topics that vary from his disdain of incarceration to questioning his parent’s faith in him during the trial. Have students choose a journal entry and focus on the same topic that is discussed by Steve. Examples include a place that the students loathe themselves and an instance when they may have questioned whether their parents, guardians, or another important person’s faith in them may have been wavering. This activity will allow students to link their person experience with the text, increasing its relevance to them. ** Writing ** ** 4. Reflecting on Skills and Strategies: ** reflect on and identify their strengths as writers, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful at different stages in the writing process

Group Research Assignment and Presentation: Students may have a limited understanding of the American judicial system and the production of film prior to reading __Monster__. Divide the students into groups and have them research the different aspects of the prison system, courtroom procedures, and the production of film prior to reading __Monster.__ Have the students present their findings to the rest of the class in order to give background information that is important to understand the progression of the novel. ** Oral Communication ** ** 2. Speaking to Communicate: ** use speaking skills and strategies appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes