31.3. "A Home at the End of Google Earth," David Kushner

31.3. "A Home at the End of Google Earth," David Kushner
What is Our Goal This Week?

We're just practicing the skills we've learned all year long to work out the kinks -- answering open-ended questions and multiple choice questions connected to a reading and a range of writing skills.

Do Now
On a piece of paper, execute a plan for the following prompt and write your thesis under the plan. Then, draw a line under that and write your conclusion only (whichever one you choose from the supporting reasons in your thesis). 5 minutes to plan and compose thesis, 5 minutes to write a body paragraph -- 10 minutes

Writing Situation
Let's imagine a scenario . . .
Thomas is fifteen years old. One day, his mother, Claire, tells him a surprising secret -- she is not his biological mother. He had been left on her doorstep when he was a year old. Claire had clearly seen the woman place a basket on the porch, but had not gone out to talk to her, and the woman disappeared quickly into a waiting car. Claire states that the entire thing had happened so fast that she was unable to react until the woman was gone.

A note attached to the basket gave the boy's name and birthday and asked that whoever find the basket consider taking care of him. Claire quickly fell in love with the baby and decided to do just that. She never told Thomas the story; she was worried that he would be upset by it at first, and the more time that passed, the less comfortable she felt revealing the secret.

However, that changed the night before. Claire had been watching television and seen the woman, plain as day, being interviewed on the news. Thomas's biological mother's name was Jennifer, and she lived about a half an hour away. She was being interviewed about a huge rainstorm that had knocked down power lines. Claire wrote down her name and hometown, and had the woman's address and Facebook page within five minutes. She explained that she thought that Thomas was old enough to decide what to do, and simply gave him the name of the woman and the address. Claire expressed a desire that he not even bother meeting her, afraid of what he might find.

Writing Prompt
Should Thomas go and visit his biological mother? Why or why not? Write a letter to him persuading him to go or to refrain from going.

Independent Practice

Today's Text
Today, we're going to read a story about homeland that is roughly similar to the kind of story that people give on standardized tests. The story is "A Home at the End of Google Earth," by David Kushner. We'll use it to practice  4 web screens long, should take 15-20 minutes to read

Open-Ended Question
The first question that Saroo wants to ask of his family is, "Did you look for me?"

• How do you think his mother's answer makes him feel?
• Imagine the answer was opposite . . . do you think Saroo would have regretted finding out?

Write this answer in Criterion, the prompt is entitled "1.8.6. SAROO GOOGLE EARTH Open-Ended."