Themes
The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, is a classic autobiography that has the following theme(s):
=============================================================
Task 1: Pretest time to complete task - ½ hour
Please complete the pretest BEFORE attempting ANY assignments. Please relax this will only test what you know at this point in time. You are
graded for doing it regardless of your score.
Task 2: Background 1 time to complete task - 1 hour
Watch the following videos:
A Crash Course in Slavery - Write one paragraph on each of the following: Oppression and Resistance, Family and Faith, and Religion.
The Underground Railroad - Write a one paragraph synopsis of this video.
Task 3: Making Connections time to complete task - 1 hour
Read/listen to the the following Robert Hayden poems:
Frederick Douglass - Write a one paragraph summary about what the poet is saying.
The Wait - Write a one paragraph summary about what the poet is saying. (Hint: How do you think slaves were treated after abolition?)
Task 4: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass time to complete - 8 hours
Free online text Free online audio book
Complete the study guide.
Task 5: Themes in modern non-fiction time to complete task - 2 hours
Read the following articles:
Polaris Project
The FBI
National Geographic
The Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations in 1948 following the atrocities committed against the Jews and
others during WWII. This link has both the original language and a simplified version. At a minimum, read the first seven (7) articles of
the Declaration.
Write a three paragraph essay in which you discuss how the rights of people discussed in the articles were violated based on the UN
Declaration.
Task 6: Essay time to complete task - 4 hours
Essay must be typed and submitted using Google Docs, unless you receive other instructions. You MUST DOUBLE-SPACE AND LEFT-JUSTIFY
YOUR PAPER. You must complete the rubric handout and turn it in to have your essay graded. Essay must be at least 400 words and include
examples from the book. Please note that the grading of your essay may take 24 hours or more. Please be sure to read “Writing the
Persuasive Essay” for a complete understanding of what is involved in writing a persuasive essay. Note: You will need to do some extra
research to back up your argument. Also, it’s always good to choose your topic, do the research, then take your stand. You may change your
mind!
Write a persuasive essay on: choose 1:
1. The Supreme Court recently ruled that minors who are imprisoned for life constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. Do you agree or
disagree?
2. Former President, Jimmy Carter once said, “America did not invent human rights. In a very real sense, human rights invented America.”
Do you agree or disagree?
3. Should people who come to the United States to escape persecution be sent back to their country of origin?
4. Some people think that providing economic help to poorer countries (rather than building walls) would improve human rights. Do you
agree or disagree?
Argumentative/persuasive essay:
Unlike other classes, this task does not deal directly with music, but with slave narratives. This short clip is comprised of recordings of the
actual former slaves. During the Great Depression, the government paid people to go out and interview former slaves. While most are just
transcripts kept in the Library of Congress, these are real! They have been digitized for higher quality.
After listening to this clip, write a one paragraph response to the narratives. Be sure to use specific examples.
Found Voices: Slave Narratives Part 1.
By the way, what is the difference between a narrative and a memoir? Check this out.
Task 8: Art and Literature time to complete task - 1 hour
Go to: Slavery Poster . Write one paragraph explaining this poster. Think of who, what, where, when and why when writing your paragraph.
Task 9: Exam time to complete task - 1 hour
Must achieve a 70% or greater to pass.
Task 10: FIT/Grammar
Activities assigned on a daily basis.
Task 11: Contemporary Fiction time to complete task - 10 hours
Read House of Dies Drear or Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman or Uncle Tom’s Cabin. 5 paragraph essay. Choose one:
Essay Topic 1: Choose one character and discuss how you think the author, of your book, wants the reader to view him/her. Explain your
reasoning.
Essay Topic 2: Examine the significance of the Underground Railroad for the setting of your book. Use examples from the book to support
your discussion.
Essay Topic 3: Define foreshadowing and discuss how Hamilton uses this literary element in The House of Dies Drear" Use examples from
the book to support your discussion.
You must increase your TABE score to receive credit for this section.
Task 12: Projects time to complete task - 6 hours
First Presentation: Prepare a presentation in which you discuss the themes from Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass across
literature, film, art, and music.
Second Presentation: Prepare a presentation, using a different tool than the one used in the first presentation, in which you discuss
human rights across the pieces you have studied.
The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, is a classic autobiography that has the following theme(s):
- The self-destructive hypocrisy of Christian slaveholders
- Knowledge and ignorance
- Truth and justice
- The inexpressibility of enslavement
- Fellowship
=============================================================
Task 1: Pretest time to complete task - ½ hour
Please complete the pretest BEFORE attempting ANY assignments. Please relax this will only test what you know at this point in time. You are
graded for doing it regardless of your score.
Task 2: Background 1 time to complete task - 1 hour
Watch the following videos:
A Crash Course in Slavery - Write one paragraph on each of the following: Oppression and Resistance, Family and Faith, and Religion.
The Underground Railroad - Write a one paragraph synopsis of this video.
Task 3: Making Connections time to complete task - 1 hour
Read/listen to the the following Robert Hayden poems:
Frederick Douglass - Write a one paragraph summary about what the poet is saying.
The Wait - Write a one paragraph summary about what the poet is saying. (Hint: How do you think slaves were treated after abolition?)
Task 4: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass time to complete - 8 hours
Free online text Free online audio book
Complete the study guide.
Task 5: Themes in modern non-fiction time to complete task - 2 hours
Read the following articles:
Polaris Project
The FBI
National Geographic
The Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations in 1948 following the atrocities committed against the Jews and
others during WWII. This link has both the original language and a simplified version. At a minimum, read the first seven (7) articles of
the Declaration.
Write a three paragraph essay in which you discuss how the rights of people discussed in the articles were violated based on the UN
Declaration.
Task 6: Essay time to complete task - 4 hours
Essay must be typed and submitted using Google Docs, unless you receive other instructions. You MUST DOUBLE-SPACE AND LEFT-JUSTIFY
YOUR PAPER. You must complete the rubric handout and turn it in to have your essay graded. Essay must be at least 400 words and include
examples from the book. Please note that the grading of your essay may take 24 hours or more. Please be sure to read “Writing the
Persuasive Essay” for a complete understanding of what is involved in writing a persuasive essay. Note: You will need to do some extra
research to back up your argument. Also, it’s always good to choose your topic, do the research, then take your stand. You may change your
mind!
Write a persuasive essay on: choose 1:
1. The Supreme Court recently ruled that minors who are imprisoned for life constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. Do you agree or
disagree?
2. Former President, Jimmy Carter once said, “America did not invent human rights. In a very real sense, human rights invented America.”
Do you agree or disagree?
3. Should people who come to the United States to escape persecution be sent back to their country of origin?
4. Some people think that providing economic help to poorer countries (rather than building walls) would improve human rights. Do you
agree or disagree?
Argumentative/persuasive essay:
- Take a firm stand on your position. Make a claim statement.
- Paragraph 1: Introduction ending with a claim statement
- Paragraph 2, 3, 4,and more: In each paragraph focus on one point which supports your claim statement. Be sure to support your claim with specific examples from Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and/or other readings.
- Last paragraph: Conclusion. A conclusion ties it all together and leaves your reader knowing that the essay is finished.
Unlike other classes, this task does not deal directly with music, but with slave narratives. This short clip is comprised of recordings of the
actual former slaves. During the Great Depression, the government paid people to go out and interview former slaves. While most are just
transcripts kept in the Library of Congress, these are real! They have been digitized for higher quality.
After listening to this clip, write a one paragraph response to the narratives. Be sure to use specific examples.
Found Voices: Slave Narratives Part 1.
By the way, what is the difference between a narrative and a memoir? Check this out.
Task 8: Art and Literature time to complete task - 1 hour
Go to: Slavery Poster . Write one paragraph explaining this poster. Think of who, what, where, when and why when writing your paragraph.
Task 9: Exam time to complete task - 1 hour
Must achieve a 70% or greater to pass.
Task 10: FIT/Grammar
Activities assigned on a daily basis.
Task 11: Contemporary Fiction time to complete task - 10 hours
Read House of Dies Drear or Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman or Uncle Tom’s Cabin. 5 paragraph essay. Choose one:
Essay Topic 1: Choose one character and discuss how you think the author, of your book, wants the reader to view him/her. Explain your
reasoning.
Essay Topic 2: Examine the significance of the Underground Railroad for the setting of your book. Use examples from the book to support
your discussion.
Essay Topic 3: Define foreshadowing and discuss how Hamilton uses this literary element in The House of Dies Drear" Use examples from
the book to support your discussion.
You must increase your TABE score to receive credit for this section.
Task 12: Projects time to complete task - 6 hours
First Presentation: Prepare a presentation in which you discuss the themes from Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass across
literature, film, art, and music.
Second Presentation: Prepare a presentation, using a different tool than the one used in the first presentation, in which you discuss
human rights across the pieces you have studied.