English @ CCHS
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jimmy santiago baca

from prison to poetry

what can we learn from vignettes?

This week, we'll hang out with a poet who learned to write while he was in prison. Jimmy Santiago Baca had a rough childhood, ended up in prison, had a pretty rough time of it - but discovered that writing poetry was a saving grace. We'll use Baca's stories to explore the idea of vignettes, short stories about lessons we've learned from life.

​essential questions

  • What is a theme, and how does it enhance a story?
  • How do literary devices add depth to writing?
  • How can stories share lessons we've learned?

goals

Students will understand that themes are central, big picture ideas that make writing universal.
  • Students will understand that an author's choice of words and syntax deepen writing by allowing the reader to visualize and connect with the text.
  • Students will understand that vignettes are powerful because of their ability to share a lesson the author has learned from an experience

activities

Tuesday
  • Warm-up: literary devices
  • Group activity: identify literary devices in "It would be neat if in the New Year" poem
  • Watch A Place to Stand documentary
    • Take notes on events from Baca's life and what he learned from them
    • Discuss: what can we learn from Baca's stories?
Wednesday
  • Vignette: "Saving a Tree"
    • Read as a group
    • Discussion:
      • What is the lesson in this vignette?
      • How does Baca use language intentionally to draw out this lesson?
      • If you miss the discussion, write out your responses to each question
  • Choose two more vignettes to read
    • In each vignette, annotate your copy three ways:
      • summarize chunks of the story to understand key plot points
      • identify uses of intentional language or literary devices
      • in a margin at the beginning or end, label the lesson shared through the vignette
Thursday
  • Review plot arc: intro, conflict, rising action, climax, resolution
  • Write your own vignette (about 2 pages double spaced) responding to a prompt below (scroll down to the next section)
    • Tell a story to share a lesson you have learned
    • Incorporate at least three literary devices intentionally
  • Assess your rough draft using the Narrative/Short Story Writing Scoring Guide
    • Conference with Christine about your rough draft assessment
Friday
  • Revise and polish vignette

vignette prompts

Choose one of these prompts to kick-start your own vignette:
  • Incorporate a symbol as you write about a time you were scared or nervous to do something but did it anyway to prove yourself to someone else. 
  • Experiment with hyperbole as you write about a time you risked everything for a grand ambition.
  • Describe a time when you looked out for someone, or they looked out for you. Use imagery with your description of the other person so your audience can picture them.
  • Write about an opportunity you have had for a new start, a new perspective, or a dashed dream. Play with contrasting tones to describe the 'before' and 'after.'

c-tachs

Reading
  • Explain the development of two or more themes in a story
  • Analyze author’s choices and their impact on the story (connotation [word choice], elements of story, organization structures [flashbacks], irony)
  • Interact with a variety of genre, emphasizing personal narrative, mentor texts, poetry, novella, memoir, short fiction

helpful docs

Baca Module Syllabus
File Size: 45 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

"Saving the Tree"
File Size: 1994 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

"The Swing Test"
File Size: 786 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

"The Magic Marble"
File Size: 1138 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

"Eleven Cents"
File Size: 1703 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

"The Birdhouses"
File Size: 2320 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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“We engage and empower our society through innovative education to make a more positive and peaceful world." 

Contact Us

  • Home
    • About
  • Research
  • Reading & Writing
  • Recent Modules
    • Connect >
      • Board Game Reviews (mini)
      • CCHS Powtoon
      • Coco!
      • Creative Writing Seminar >
        • Calvin and Hobbes
        • Pieces of art
        • Tell Tale Cards
      • Dragon Post
      • Editorializing
      • E-mail Etiquette (Dead Poet's Society)
      • E-mail Etiquette (Star Wars)
      • English Skills
      • Go Write Outside
      • HONY and Narrative Essays
      • Nature Poetry
      • Passion Project
      • Persons, Places, Things
      • Photo Essays
      • Rebel Girls >
        • Jane Goodall
      • Stereotypes
      • Teach Me Something
      • Virtual Reality-ing
      • What Music Means
    • Construct >
      • 2018 in Review
      • Book Censorship
      • Live Anywhere
      • Picture Book Inquiry
      • Propaganda Bombs
      • PSA Powtoon
      • Self-Improvement
      • State of the Union
      • Rant to Reason
      • TED Topics
      • Who Cares?
    • Be Curious >
      • Art Time is Fun Time!
      • Caper with the Classics
      • CCHS Librarians
      • Emma: Friend or Foe?
      • Fahrenheit 451
      • Found Poetry
      • Google Expeditions
      • Hero's Journey
      • Irreverence
      • Macbeth
      • Poetry
      • The Lottery
      • "Worthy" Art