Founding Documents
The main purpose of the Declaration of Independence
to declare the colonies free from British rule
What was Reconstruction, and why was it important?
It was the period after the Civil War when the U.S. tried to rebuild the South and give rights to formerly enslaved people.
Who is the author of Brown Girl Dreaming and where in NY did she grow up?
What is the name of the cultural movement that celebrated Black voices in poetry, music, and art during the 1920s?
Harlem Renaissance
What is setting in a story?
Where and when the story takes place
The first three words of the U.S. Constitution
We the people
Name one of the demands of the Black Panther Party's 10 point program that goes beyond self defense
The Ten-Point Program listed demands for justice, housing, education, etc.
What are 3 main themes of Akata Witch?
Identity and Belonging
The Individual vs The Collective
Friendship and Teamwork
Education
Power and Corruption
Gender roles & Stereotypes
Name a famous poet from the Harlem Renaissance.
Langston Hughes, Claude McKay, Georgia Douglass Johnson
What is a thematic statement?
the author's message or lesson on a topic
Name one right guaranteed by the First Amendment.
Speech, religion, press, assembly, petition
What was unique about the way Ella Baker viewed organizing in the Civil Rights Movement?
She believed in grassroots leadership. She encouraged SNCC to let young people lead and challenged top-down leadership styles.
Name 3 major symbols in As Brave as You
Birds, gun, glasses, notebook, toy truck, birdcages, yellow house
What is a metaphor? Give an example.
A comparison without "like" or "as"; e.g., “Her voice is music
What are the five parts of plot?
Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution
How is the Declaration of Independence different from the Constitution?
Declaration says we’re free; Constitution sets up how we govern
What was the goal of the 1619 Project?
To reframe U.S. history by placing slavery and Black contributions at the center
What was a main thematic statement from As Brave as You?
- No matter the situation, your brother will always have your back.
- You can only be brave if you are doing something that you are afraid of.
What poetic device does this line use: “The rain whispered against the window”?
Personification
What is the difference between tone and mood?
Tone is how the speaker feels in a text
The feeling the reader gets from a text
What were the Reconstruction Amendments and what did they do?
The 13th ended slavery, the 14th granted citizenship and equal protection, and the 15th gave Black men the right to vote.
Name three student-led movements or organizations (other than the Black Panther Party and SNCC) that we studied this year.
Young Lords, Brown Berets, East LA Walkouts, Children’s March, Freedom Riders, or student protests at MCS during the Civil Rights era.
Both “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut and “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson show societies that blindly follow rules. What message or warning do these authors seem to be sending about conformity or tradition?
the danger of blindly following authority or tradition; loss of individuality and critical thinking; how extreme equality or tradition can become oppressive.
Name 5 literary devices (not including metaphors or personification)
Alliteration
Allusion
Hyperbole
Idiom
Imagery
Onomatopoeia
Refrain
Repetition
Rhyme
Rhythm
Simile
What is the difference between internal and external characterization? Then, give one example of each from any story or novel we read this year
Internal characterization shows thoughts, feelings, or motivations; external shows how a character looks, speaks, or acts. Example: Genie’s curiosity (internal) and how he asks lots of questions (external) in As Brave As You