The Contender by Robert Lipsyte

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The Contenderby Robert Lipsyte

• Cyberlesson by Renée DeLeon
• 8th grade language arts

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Introduction

• We face conflicts in our lives everyday. A
  conflict is a struggle between two opposing
  forces. We show resiliency when we are able to
  face our conflicts, use good judgment, and
  overcome them.
• The novel that we will be reading deals with a
  teenage boy, Alfred Brooks, who faces several
  conflicts growing up an African American during
  the Civil Rights Movement, dropping out of school
  to help pay the bills, avoiding the neighborhood
  gangsters, and avoiding drugs.
• We will find out if Alfred has the resiliency to
  deal with the numerous conflicts in his life.

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Materials

• Copies of the novel for each student
• Reader response journals for each student
• Pens
• Internet access
• Copies of writing assignment
• Copies of writing rubric

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Before Reading

• Quick Writes
• In your reader response journals, respond briefly
  to the following questions.
• Why do you think some students decide to drop out
  of high school?
• What kinds of jobs are available for high school
  drop outs?
• Why do you think some adolescents experiment with
  drugs?
• What kind of goals have you set for yourself and
  how have you gone about accomplishing your goals?
  What difficulties do you have in reaching your
  goals?

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Before Reading

• Setting
• Setting has a lot to do with the difficulties
  that Albert Brooks faces in the novel. Shortly
  before writing this novel, Robert Lipsyte was a
  sports writer for The New York Times. He often
  covered the career of Muhammad Ali, who heavily
  influenced this book.
• How much do you know about
• The Civil Rights Movement
• Harlem
• Black Nationalists
• Reader Response After reading these sights,
  write about the problems you think Alfred may
  face during the course of this book.

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During Reading

• Read chapters 1 9
• In your reader response journals, address the
  following
• Your first impression of Alfred Brooks .
• Describe the influences that each of the
  following have on Alfred at this point Mr.
  Donatelli, Henry, Major, Jeff
• How has Alfred changed both physically and
  mentally by the end of chapter 9?
• Respond to the following quote from Mr.
  Donatelli Its the climbing that makes the man.
  Getting to the top is an extra reward.

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During Reading

• Read chapters 10 20
• In your reader response journals, address the
  following
• Why do you think Spoon spends so much of his time
  helping Alfred?
• What does it mean to be a contender?
• How do you feel about the way Mr. Donatelli
  handles his boxers?
• What impact, if any, did this novel have on you?

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During Reading

• Make a chart of each of the following influences
  on Alfred. As you come across them in the novel,
  indicate if they are a positive or negative
  influence and why. Support with evidence from
  the text.
• People Places Happenings
• Aunt Pearl cave boxing
• Henry church eating
• Hollis clubroom partying
• James Coney Island praying
• Jelly Belly Epteins training
• Major gym relaxing
• Donatelli movies thinking
• Lou Spoons house
• Jeff Madison Square Garden

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After Reading / Assessment

• After thinking carefully about his life, Alfred
  Brooks has decided to go to night school in order
  to earn his high school diploma. The school that
  Alfred has chosen to go to requires two letters
  of recommendation. One of the letters must be
  professional and one must be personal. Think
  about all the characters that Alfred has
  relationships with. Choose one character to
  write the professional letter (ex Lou Epstein,
  Vito Donatelli) and one character to write the
  personal letter Aunt Pearl, Jeff, etc.).
• You must write these two letters as if you were
  these characters. Explain in as much detail as
  possible why these characters would recommend
  Alfred. In other words, why should this school
  accept him?
• One of the main things that I will be looking for
  are examples from the book to support your
  statements and powerful, fluent, persuasive
  writing!!
• Please refer to your writing rubric for scoring!

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Rubric / Criteria for Writing Assignment(Each
letter will be evaluated according to the 8th
grade writing rubric used in our district. Keep
in mind the following key components.)

• ORGANIZATION 5 4 3 2 1
• IDEAS/CONTENT 5 4 3 2 1
• WORD CHOICE 5 4 3 2 1
• VOICE 5 4 3 2 1
• FLUENCY 5 4 3 2 1
• CONVENTIONS 5 4 3 2 1

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Beyond Reading

• You may choose one of the following options for
  your additional writing component for this unit.
  Choose the type of writing you feel you are best
  at!
• Option 1 (Research) Research the career of one
  of the following boxers mentioned in the novel.
  Write a two page biography and be sure to include
  what their life was life after their boxing
  career. (Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, Cassius
  Clay
• Option 2 (Editorial) Write a column for our
  school newspaper on the value of sports in
  students lives.
• Option 3 (Creative) Write an additional chapter
  to the book describing either Alfreds or James
  life in ten years from now.