Donna Petherbridge eci 511, Comprehensive Unit Plan, Summer II, 2003

NCDPI objectives 

 

Language Arts, English I 

5.01 Read and analyze various literary works by explaining and interpreting 

archetypal characters, themes, and settings. 

 

Information Skills Grade 9 

4.07 Organize and use information. 

 

Learning 

Objectives in 

Technology: 

NCDPI objectives 

 

Computer/Technology Skills Curriculum, Grades 9-12 

3.1 Use word processing and/or desktop publishing for a variety of writing 

assignments/projects. 

 

Instructions: 

In this lesson, students will be challenged to find themes in the short stories 

that have been read from this unit.  The short story “

The Scarlet Ibis

” will be 

examined for theme(s) as an example, then, students will choose a story from 

this unit to write a paper about theme. 

 

Beginning of class, approximately 20/30 minutes: 

 

Review “

The Scarlet Ibis

,” answering the following questions: 

 

1.  Recall the two main characters (brother & Doodle). 

2.  Is the narrator (Brother) in any way responsible for Doodle’s death?  

Why or why not? 

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ECI 511, Donna Petherbridge, Comprehensive Unit Plan 

 

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3.  In what ways does Brother love Doodle?  In what ways is he cruel? 

 

Then, review the meaning of “theme.” 

Theme:

  central message or insight into life revealed through the literary 

work.  It is NOT a condensed summary of the plot; instead, it is a 

generalization about human beings or the human condition. 

 

Class should face the area of the room with the instructor’s projected 

machine. 

 

While projecting the computer’s information to a screen all students can see, 

open a pre-made Microsoft Word document that has the following headings: 

 

Generate a list of topics for The Scarlet Ibis 

[Examples: Pride, rites of passage, sibling rivalry] 

 

What did the author believe about these topics? 

[Example:  pride can be good and bad] 

 

What evidence does the author give to support this theme? 

[Example:  The narrator’s pride means that he helps his brother do things he 

couldn’t do before [good – he taught him to walk].  But that same pride meant 

he overtaxed Doodle, and may have contributed to his death [bad]. 

 

Formulate a thesis statement  

[Example: Pride is both a wonderful and terrible thing, as shown by the 

actions of Brother towards Doodle in “

The Scarlet Ibis

.”] 

 

Give the students the

 Literary Analysis

 handout and the grading rubric (see 

end of lesson).  Review the assignment with them [stated on the handout] and 

take them to the computing lab.   

 

Remainder of class, approximately 60/70 minutes:

 

In the computer lab, have students open a new copy of Microsoft Word, and 

hand them each a disk.  Explain that they should save their work to the disk so 

that they can easily edit and rewrite later drafts.  They should save their work 

as “