Get Lit! Book Club & Analysis About Classic Banned Black Books/Male Writers

Through interactive and engaging BWA Text Talks, learners will learn and apply critical thinking and analysis strategies to make valid claims, support claims with text-based evidence, and use claims and evidence to construct short oral and written responses about a text. The activities are designed to support learners in thinking, reading, and responding beyond, within, and about texts (BWA). 

In alignment with most state English Language Arts and/or literacy standards, scholars will learn and apply critical thinking and analytical skills as they read, write, speak, listen, and use language effectively across the content areas, developing the literacy skills required for success in college, career, and life.

Reading Standard: Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.

Writing Standard 1: Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
Writing Standard 2: Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others.

Speaking & Listening Standard 1: Come to discussions prepared, having read and researched the material under study; explicitly draw on that preparation by referring to evidence from texts and other research on the topic or issue to stimulate a thoughtful, well-reasoned exchange of ideas.
Speaking & Listening Standard 2: Propel conversations by posing and responding to questions that probe reasoning and evidence; ensure a hearing for a full range of positions on a topic or issue; clarify, verify, or challenge ideas and conclusions; and promote divergent and creative perspectives.
Speaking & Listening Standard 3: Respond thoughtfully to diverse perspectives; synthesize comments, claims, and evidence made on all sides of an issue; resolve contradictions when possible, and determine what additional information or research is required to deepen the investigation or complete the task.

I am a mom, published author, and a former National Board-Certified Adolescent Literature & Composition, African American History, and college writing instructor who enjoys reading, teaching, and promoting classic books by Black female authors that offer diverse perspectives about the Black experience in America and challenge readers to question, explore, and think critically about these perspectives and the historical contexts in which they were written. 

Along with reading, I have an appreciation for book discussion, so I have been a part of various book clubs for many years.  My hope is to foster a conversation that sparks students' thinking about how they see themselves, others, and our world through the medium of a book.    

Students will read the book or listen to the audiobook prior to class. The learners will spend an estimated 1 - 7 days independently reading or listening to the book (depending on the learner's reading comprehension and fluency levels). Each class, there will be a guided reading question that affords learners an opportunity to post their favorite passage. Learners will spend approximately 30 minutes per week outside of class selecting and posting their favorite passage.

1. PRIOR TO CLASS: The learners will read the print or digital book or listen to the audiobook before the class date.

2. PRIOR TO EACH CLASS: In response to a guided reading question (classroom post), the learners will post their favorite passage, stanza, or scene to share with the group. Their favorite passage must relate to the focus literary element (e.g., historical context, speaker or character, main idea or theme, character/narrator/speaker).

3. DURING EACH CLASS: The learners will use the BWA Text Talk strategy to make a valid claim, support the claim with evidence from the text, and use both to draw a valid conclusion about the focus literary element (please see the “Course Schedule” under the “Course Description” of this class listing to learn more).

Each week, the learners will receive oral feedback from their teacher and peers on their posted responses and classroom discussion. 

50 minutes per week in class, and an estimated 1 - 2 hours per week outside of class.

Aside from the teacher-provided Get Lit! Book Club BWA Text Talk Notebook (Google slides) and books that learners purchase, check out, or download, the learners will not use any resources external to Outschool. Most of the course-selected texts are available for free online. Please ask the teacher prior to making a purchase.