Script for Collaborative Learning Using Girl by Jamaica Kincaid (and Four Women by Nina Simone if time permits)

1. Free Writing (5) 2. Read the Kincaid text aloud, each student taking one sentence (5) 3. Repeat, underlining striking or confusing phrases (5) 4. Break into groups of 3 or 4 5. Each group writes a sentence about the text that attempts to explain the central point: I hear Kincaid saying.One person writes the sentence on the board (10) 6. Each group discusses the following three questions and writes one sentence in response (15): What is the tone of this text? Who is the narrator of the piece and what kind of girl does that narrator imagine? What do you think Kincaid is saying about being a girl? Who is the person who speaks the phrases in italics? How do the phrases in italics change the meaning of the piece? Why do you think Kincaid included them? 7. One person from each group writes a brief answer to each question on the board. 8. As a whole group choose the three clearest, most comprehensive answers to each question or synthesize an answer to each question (10) 9. One person reads the text again (5) 10. Process: What did you learn about the text from hearing and reading it aloud several times? What did you learn about the text from your peers? How has this exercise changed your understanding of the text? (5) 11. If time permits, read the Simone text aloud, one person taking one stanza (5) 12. In the same small groups answer the following three questions (10): What is the tone of this text? How would you describe each of the four women? Why did Simone choose these four women in particular to write about?

13. Write a fifth stanza for the Simone song about Kincaids girl. One person from each group writes the stanza on the board. (10)