Senior Inquiry 14-15

August Wilson’s Project- Due 10/16

Standards: Analyze the impact of the author’s choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a drama (e.g., the development of the characters and relationships through the lens of socialization)

Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, connecting insights gained from specific details to an understanding of the text as a whole.

Targets: I can analyze a play structure and identify themes, as well as make inferences from the August Wilson’s Piano Lesson with a lens of socialization.

I can create a presentation of a August Wilson play and highlight the themes, characters, and storyline, as well as connect it to Race and Social Justice, as well as discuss guiding questions.

August Wilson’s plays are a window into the 1900’s African American experience.

The big question: How does August Wilson give voice to the African American experience in the United States through his characters?

Read your play and as a group do the following: Map out the characters in the play and describe who they are and why August Wilson might of created that character as social commentary on racism in the United States. Capture at least 2 quotes from the main characters in the play and connect how those quotes represent who they are.

Map out the themes and storyline of the play, including introduction, rising action, climax, and ending, as well as what the story is really telling us about the African American experience and their struggles. Some themes I have noticed are police harassment/brutality, dreams of making it big, knowing one’s place, displacement, splitting up of families, music, women needing a man, healers, and belief in the supernatural.

While you’re reading, please put sticky notes on possible important passages that will make up the 3 most important passages your group will select. What do the passages tell us about life in the United States? Write out each of the passages and your group analysis of it. Be prepared to read or act out one passage and explain it to your classmates.

Try to find things in the play that relate to Race and Social Justice.

Try to find things that relate to the four university goals.

Try to find things that relate to current events in the United States.

Try to chart how socialization and the characters’ or audience’s social construction of knowledge impacts the events of the play

Prepare a presentation and a poster on your play to last 10 minutes. Be prepared to field questions and feel free to be creative with your poster and presentation. Use the things you did above to put your poster together, as well as other important information.