The Sacco-Vanzetti Trial – Doreen Rappaport

Book: Be the Judge/Be the Jury: The Sacco-Vanzetti Trial
Subject: Social Science/History
Suggested Grade Levels: 7-8

Reading

RI.7.2 Determine two or more central ideas in a text and analyze their development over the course of the text; provide an objective summary of the text.
RI.8.6 Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how the author acknowledges and responds to conflicting evidence or viewpoints.
RI.8.8 Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; recognize when irrelevant evidence is introduced.

Writing

W.8.1 Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence
W.8.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1–3 above.)
W.7.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

Speaking and Listening

SL.8.2 Analyze the purpose of information presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and evaluate the motives (e.g., social, commercial, political) behind its presentation.

Language

L.7.4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 7 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.

Teaching Links
Ideas to extend the learning with Common Core links:

Select key words from the selection that are essential to understanding the content. Write each one on a separate sticky note. Arrange the notes in an order that allows you to create a powerful summary. Share the summary orally with a partner or use the key words to create a written summary.
Have students create a written argument for a strength of this book. The argument should include a statement of opinion, followed by a series of statements offering support and citing specific reference to the text or the visuals. The argument should end with a restatement of the opinion as a conclusion.
Consider the author’s purpose and the techniques used to ensure this purpose is met. How does the author make his or her opinions clear in this selection?