Lit Analysis Gamifiction with Make Dice Lite

What is Make Dice Lite?

Make Dice Lite in an iPad that allows the user to customize dice and use up to 6 at a time. To roll the dice, students can tap the screen or shake the iPad.

Lit Analysis Set Up

In groups of three to 4, students use 1 iPad to create two dice. The first die is whatever literary elements you want your students to analyze. I use character, conflict, symbol, theme, connect two topics, setting.

The second die is one about thematic topics. Examples from The Outsiders: violence, family, loyalty, redemption, social pressure, equality, etc. (Students can choose their own).

Roll the Die

Students roll the dice and create a question with those two things. Provide question stems or example for the different literary elements. EX:

Theme: What is the lesson we are supposed to learn about ______?

Symbol: What object in the text represents _____?

Setting: How does the setting contribute to the lesson we can learn about ______?

Two topics: How are _____ and _____ related?

For character and conflict, it so much depends on the topic I encourage my students to come up with their own way of asking. 

Gamification

Students number off A, B, and C. Students then complete to answer questions. Students take turn answering the question and give text support. For each question, 1 participant answers it and gives support. The other two people then rate the answer with evidence and explanation on a scale of 1-3. The person who answered the question get the combined score. The other group members can each get 1 bonus point for providing approved additional evidence. 

EX: How is setting related equality?

Student A: Tulsa is divided east and west in the novel. The rich Socs are on one side and the poor Greasers on the other, which keeps them separated and continues the idea that by being separated, they aren't able to take down the walls that divide them. If they got to know each other more, the inequality may not create hate. 

Student B: that was really good, I give a 3 out of 3.

Student C: I'm not clear on the theme you think Hinton has about equality so I say 2.

**Student A gets 5 points**

Student B: another thing that supports what you said as an answer is the setting of the dive-in. At the drive in the Socs get to sit in their cars while the greasers have to be out in the elements of the bleachers. 

*** student B gets a point ***

Student C: The school setting also supports that. Remember when Ponyboy talked about how he was in the more advanced classes? He pulled out a knife to dissect a frog and a Soc girl who was his lab partner was horrified. The way there is that divide in the classes at school also makes there be a divide int he social classes. 

*** Student C gets a point. It is now student B's turn to answer a question and try to get the three points ***

Setting's Impact on Theme Foldable for A Midsummer Night's Dream:

This foldable is being used for A Midsummer Night's Dream, but can be adapted for any text that has two locations that contribute to the plot. For example: In Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, it could be adapted for Strawberry vs. the town where the Logan's live. Or for The Outsiders, West Side vs. East Side. In the case of Midsummer's, each setting treats a topic differently, but in the case of a text like The Outsiders, the schism that divides the Greasers and the Socs proves not to be all that wide as Ponyboy and Cherry discover that things are rough all over. This could be good for The Great Gatsby, Pride and Prejudice, Invisible Man, etc.

Mini-essay: In the blank space inside the house, explain how the setting influenced the theme of the work. Make sure to include information regarding how the topic was treated and why, but don't forget to add supporting evidence and explain. 

Introducing Tone Using Art

Since Tone is how the speaker feels about a subject, it can be illustrated by starting off by comparing two images that deal with the same topic. 

What do you think is Thomas Kinkade's tone while painting The Spirit of New York?

1. First, I like making sure students have a tone words list to keep for themselves. I usually make this a blue color and students refer to it throughout the year. 
2. Next, I collect 2-3 different paintings of the same subject. Landscapes are great. Nature landscapes tend to have more similar tones, so taking and urban landscape - like New York - works best.
3. Then I have my students who are artists come up with a list of terms the class can use to discuss a painting and how it is painted:use of light, colors, textures, etc. I display one painting and have them discuss in groups, share out one whole class observation, and then I ask them to determine the best tone word and what supports their answer the most.  

Here are two that are both Time Square in the rain:

See the energy and excitement? Kids won't even notice it is raining and at night until they really analyze it!

Same location, same weather, and exact same time of day but completely different tone!

4. Then we transition in poetry/lyrics about the subject. You don't need to use the work in the entirety. Post a stanza from a poem. Simply search a phrase on http://www.poetryfoundation.org and you can find a poem about most anything. I, personally, love Dar Williams and must plug her song "Hudson" but the others on this list are also great to pair: http://manhattan.about.com/od/best-of-new-york/tp/Best-Songs-About-New-York-City.htm
You can ask students which painting the stanza is most paired with.

Writing workshop suggestion: do this lesson while your students are in midst of revising a narrative. After doing this lesson, have them enter their draft and work on description of setting with an emphasis on writing the imagery and diction that enhance the tone of their work.