| 1. |
Focus: |
In his book On Writing, Stephen King makes this astounding claim: "If I had not been able to make a career of writing, I am certain that alcohol and drugs would have been my end or I would have done some other vile thing like commit suicide." Journal writing: commentary. |
| 2. |
Objective: |
To view and participate in a discussion of "Finding Forrester" and to write a follow-up essay that is a comprehensive and persuasive answer to the basic question of interpretation. |
| 3. |
Purpose: |
To increase our understanding, and, as a result our enjoyment of "Finding Forrester"--the story of how writing saved the lives of a sixteen-year-old teenager, Jamal Wallace, (Rob Brown) and a seventy-year-old recluse, William Forrester (Sean Connery). Columbia Pictures 2001 |
| 4. |
Input: |
While viewing "Finding Forrester" (130 minutes) make notes on five specific ways that Forrester helps Jamal to become a better writer and person and five ways that Jamal helps Forrester to find himself. |
| 5. |
Modeling: |
At key moments, stop the film to ask students for specific examples of how Forrester is helping Jamal and how Jamal is helping Forrester. |
| 6. |
Checking for understanding and guided practice: |
Conduct a Socratic discussion of the film by asking follow up questions of clarification, substantiation, consistency, and more opinion to resolve the basic question: Does the title refer more to Forrester’s helping Jamal to become a better writer and person or to Jamal’s helping Forrester to find himself? |
| 7. |
Closure: |
Write a follow-up essay based on the class discussion that is each the student’s individual and comprehensive answer to the basic question. See Guidelines.
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