This Lesson:

What Skin are
You In?

comparing who you know you are to who people think you are in an expository essay

This lesson was created by Nevada teacher Allie Eckert at the NNWP's iPods Across the Curriculum inservice class.

This writing prompt inspired by

"Video" and "I Am Not My Hair" sung by India Arie

Overview of this Lesson:

Using two songs by India Arie as well as an excerpt out of Sharon Flake’s The Skin I’m In, students will explore their own self image. After analyzing the qualities that each student feels that they embody, they will compare these to the qualities that they portray to others. The students will then be creating and taking through the writing process an expository essay comparing who they are internally vs. who they are seen as externally. Teachers: Click here to see the entire lesson plan.

6-Trait Overview for this Lesson:

The focus trait for this activity is idea development; students will self-reflect and then "show" themselves to their readers through writing. The support trait is organization; students will create a strong introduction, and their essay's conclusion will somehow link back to their introduction.