Exploring Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Learning Objective

Total Time: 5 minutes

Students will understand the key concepts of Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay 'Self-Reliance', including the importance of individuality and nonconformity.

Assessments

Total Time: 5 minutes

Students will complete a reflective journal entry on how the ideas in 'Self-Reliance' can be applied to their own lives.

Key Points

Total Time: 5 minutes

• Individualism: The importance of trusting oneself.

• Nonconformity: The dangers of conforming to societal expectations.

• Self-Trust: The necessity of having confidence in one's own thinking and beliefs.

• Authenticity: The value of living according to one's true self.

Opening

Total Time: 10 minutes

• Start with a quick video clip that introduces the concept of individualism vs. conformity.

• Ask students to think-pair-share: 'What does self-reliance mean to you?'

• Facilitate a brief discussion based on their responses to activate prior knowledge and connect personal experience to the topic.

Introduction to New Material

Total Time: 10 minutes

• Introduce Ralph Waldo Emerson, providing background on his life and the Transcendentalist movement.

• Distribute excerpts from 'Self-Reliance' (digital copies accessible on Chromebooks).

• Discuss key sections and clarify common misconceptions, such as the difference between self-reliance and selfishness, using guiding questions.

Guided Practice

Total Time: 10 minutes

• Divide students into small groups to analyze different excerpts from 'Self-Reliance'.

• Each group will identify key themes and relate them to contemporary issues (e.g., social media, peer pressure).

• Students will present their findings to the class, promoting collaboration and discussion.

Independent Practice

Total Time: 5 minutes

• Instruct students to write a personal reflective journal entry responding to the prompt: 'How can I practice self-reliance in my daily life?'

• Make clear that this should include specific examples and practical applications.

Closing

Total Time: 5 minutes

• Conduct a quick recap of the main concepts discussed and invite students to share excerpts from their journal entries.

• Ask a couple of students to briefly explain how they plan to incorporate Emerson's ideas into their lives, reinforcing understanding.

Extension Activity

Total Time: 5 minutes

• For interested students, provide the option to create a digital poster summarizing the main ideas of 'Self-Reliance' to present in the next class.

Homework

Total Time: 5 minutes

• Assign students to read a current event article and identify how the themes of self-reliance and nonconformity are reflected in the content, preparing to share with the class.

Standards Aligned

Total Time: 5 minutes

• Common Core ELA Standards: RL.9-10.1, RL.9-10.2, and RL.9-10.4 - focusing on textual analysis, theme identification, and vocabulary understanding.