A House Divided

Writing Workshop

Workshop Title: Divide

Step 1

Have your students watch the embedded video. Then simply ask them, “How did we end up here?”

Step 2

Read “A House Divided” by Kyle Dargan. Then discuss how and why he feels the same sense of division.

Step 3

Have your students take some time to think about the reasons why they feel that we are growing further and further apart from one another. Then share.

Step 4

Have your students write a poem similar to “A House Divided” in which they discuss the reasons why our country’s divide continues to grow deeper.

Step 5

When the students are done, have them share their responses with one another.

The full presentation may be found HERE.

Analytical Lesson

Area of Focus: Various

Step 1

This lesson allows students to analyze various concepts and skills, so it is recommended that you have covered several of the “standalone” lessons before assigning this one. The prominent literary devices & techniques that this particular poem includes are: selection of detail, diction, syntax, and imagery.

Step 2

Show the following video about the deepening divisions taking place in our country. Then take a few minutes to discuss this issue.

Step 3

Read “A House Divided” by Kyle Dargan.

Step 4

Break your students into groups and have them determine the specific textual details that Dargan utilizes to illustrate this divide. Students may work in the following document. Directions are provided at the top of the page.

Step 5

When your students are done, have them share their responses. Then read the exemplar essay if time permits.