### 9th Grade Language Arts Lesson Plan: Literary Analysis
**Topic:** Literary Analysis: Understanding and Analyzing Themes in Literature
**Grade:** 9th Grade
**Duration:** 5 class periods (50 minutes each)
**Objectives:**
- Understand what a theme is in literature.
- Identify themes in a given text.
- Analyze how literary elements (e.g., character, setting, plot) contribute to the development of the theme.
- Develop skills to write a coherent and compelling literary analysis essay.
**Standards:**
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.1: Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.2: Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
**Materials:**
- Copies of a selected short story (e.g., “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson)
- Whiteboard and markers
- Projector and screen
- Notebooks and pens
- Literary analysis handouts/guides
- Rubrics for literary analysis essay
**Lesson Sequence:**
**Day 1: Introduction to Themes**
1. **Warm-Up (10 minutes):** Quick write - "What do you think a theme is in literature? Can you give examples from any books or movies?"
2. **Direct Instruction (15 minutes):** Define and discuss the concept of a theme. Use examples from familiar texts (e.g., "Harry Potter" - friendship, "To Kill a Mockingbird" - racial injustice).
3. **Group Activity (15 minutes):** In small groups, students choose a book or movie they are familiar with and identify potential themes, then share with the class.
4. **Class Discussion (10 minutes):** Discuss how themes are conveyed through various story elements (e.g., characters, setting, plot).
**Day 2: Reading and Identifying Themes**
1. **Warm-Up (5 minutes):** Review concepts discussed on Day 1.
2. **Reading (30 minutes):** Read “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson either as a class, in pairs, or individually.
3. **Group Activity (15 minutes):** In small groups, discuss initial thoughts on the theme of “The Lottery” and identify textual evidence to support their ideas.
**Day 3: Analyzing Literary Elements**
1. **Warm-Up (5 minutes):** Claim-Support-Question activity on initial theme impressions.
2. **Direct Instruction (20 minutes):** Teach how to analyze literary elements (character development, setting, plot) to see how they contribute to the theme. Provide examples from “The Lottery.”
3. **Group Activity (20 minutes):** Each group is assigned a different literary element (character, setting, plot) to analyze in “The Lottery.” They present their findings to the class.
**Day 4: Writing a Literary Analysis Essay**
1. **Warm-Up (5 minutes):** Quick brainstorming - What makes a good essay?
2. **Direct Instruction (20 minutes):** Discuss the structure of a literary analysis essay (introduction with thesis, body paragraphs with topic sentences, conclusion). Provide an outline/template.
3. **Individual Work (25 minutes):** Begin drafting literary analysis essays focused on the theme of “The Lottery,” using textual evidence and analysis conducted in previous days.
**Day 5: Peer Review and Final Draft**
1. **Warm-Up (5 minutes):** Review the key points of a strong essay.
2. **Peer Review (20 minutes):** Exchange drafts with a partner for peer review using a provided checklist/rubric.
3. **Revision (25 minutes):** Based on peer feedback, work on revising the essay. Finalize for submission.
**Assessment:**
- Participation in group discussions and activities.
- Completion of the literary analysis essay with attention to structure, use of textual evidence, and depth of analysis.
**Reflection:**
At the end of the week, students will complete a brief reflection on what they learned about theme, their writing process, and any challenges they encountered.
**Homework:**
- Days 1-4: Reading and responding to questions about “The Lottery.”
- Day 4-5: Completing the literary analysis essay.