L I T E R A T U R E
Comedy or Tragedy?
1. WORKSHEET: Ideas are tricky to convey in a second language class! Illustrations can be more powerful than words–especially in the realm of ideas! Print a “cartoon” worksheet for each student to fill in and keep.
2. ANALOGY: An analogy is a comparison between two things. Analogies are often used in humor, poetry, and metaphors. They are word puzzles that train students to analyze relationships, build vocabulary, and increase their creativity. Analogies are an exercise in inductive reasoning. Many qualifying examinations include analogies.
DEFINITIONS
Tragedy – a story that begins in joy but ends in pain.
Comedy – a story that begins in pain but ends in joy.
A. COMPETITION: Devise a competition to solve the analogies. Try pairs and teams. Award points or privileges!
Conflict is to plot as artist is to (pizza, popcorn, painting).
Comedy is to happy ending as tragedy is to (ruined, rained, robbed).
Tragedy is to comedy as villain is to (help, hero, hair).
What is the relationship between the pairs of words in these analogies? ANSWER: Opposites.
OPPOSITES EXERCISE: Demonstrate how to play. The teacher says a word and everyone yells out the opposite. Always (never); king (queen); ask (answer); black (white); wise (foolish).
Now–give students a chance to think of a word, say it to the class, and the class must call out the opposite. Play briskly!
B. COMPOSITION: Explain how analogies are constructed. Let students compose analogies to pose to the class! A higher order skill is to compose one that pertains to the lesson topic.
3. QUOTE: “Read between the lines.”
Ask the class to guess the meaning. Ask how the quote relates to the ideas in the lesson. Last–ask if they have a similar quotes in their own language! Thinking about the empty spaces between the lines refers to what is left unsaid–to the values.
4. DRAW & TALK
Before class, listen to the podcast. Illustrate the literature ideas on the board or big sheets of paper. Instruct the class to draw the literature ideas on their worksheets. Have the class find famous locations on a world map. Be creative! Bring objects to demonstrate the ideas!
30SEC SPEECHES: Impromptu speeches are a chance to use reason and imagination. Students have 30 seconds to present their ideas on the issues. There are a series of three Impromptu Speeches.
A. Students line up in two lines. Turn and face one another. Slide about to face a partner.
B. Designate one the North Line and the other the South Line–or Line “A” and Line “B.”
C. Announce the first topic. Give class 1MIN to collect their thoughts.
D. At your instruction, everyone in the North facing line deliver their 30SEC speech to their partner. Then rotate! ONLY ONE LINE ROTATES. First person in ONE line turn and walk to the opposite end of the line. All slide one space to face new partner.
E. Next the partners in the opposite line deliver their 30SEC impromptu speech.
F. Rotate again so new partners face one another.
G. Announce the second speech topic–and begin. Rotate again and so on.
H. Follow this pattern for all impromptu speeches in the lesson.
THE ETHIOPIAN: IMPROMPTU SPEECHES
1. My favorite book. 30SEC.
2. Explain a conflict you had. 30SEC.
3. QUOTE: ”Never judge a book by its cover.” 30SEC.
COMIC: IMPROMPTU SPEECHES
1. TRUE/FALSE: Life is a comedy. 30SEC.
2. What is your idea of “happily ever after”? 30SEC.
3. If you were to write a comedy, what would be the plot? 30SEC.
TRAGIC: IMPROMPTU SPEECHES
1. TRUE/FALSE: Life is a tragedy. 30SEC.
2. What is a flaw that can ruin people? 30SEC.
3. Will your life be a tragedy or a comedy? 30SEC.
COMPREHENSION CHECK: Erase the board or take down the big pieces of paper and sit on the worksheets! Have the class re-create the three boxes that illustrate literature.