Perspective Mini-Lesson (The Line)

​Mix & Match Perspective Essay Prompt + Planning

Mohawk 8 ELA

Topics such as:

• Family

• Violence

• Loyalty

• Power

• Etc.

​FIRST: You know that there are topics, or big ideas, that run through all our lives in similar or different ways.

Now you know...
We all have topics that run through our lives.

First: Read the story "The Line" on the next slide
Then: You will answer questions about it.



Think about as you read...

• How does Sam feel about what happened?

• How does Alex see the same moment differently?

​ ------The Topic is POWER ------

The hallway was loud as students lined up for dismissal. Sam stood near the back, holding his backpack tight. He had been waiting there for a few minutes when Alex stepped in front of him.

“Hey, I was here,” Sam said quietly.

Alex looked back. He was taller and always seemed sure of himself. A few kids nearby were watching.

“Oh. My bad,” Alex said after a pause. He stepped back behind Sam.

Sam’s shoulders relaxed. He hadn’t expected that.

For Alex, it was nothing. He hadn’t noticed Sam at first, and moving back felt easier than making a big deal out of it.

But for Sam, it meant he didn’t feel invisible.

The Line

Look at this story in your text packet.
Fill in the annotations to understand the story.

Open Ended

How does Sam feel about what happened? (what emotion and why)

Open Ended

How does Alex see the same moment differently than Sam?

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Being cut in line made him feel invisible. When Alex stepped back, Sam felt respected.

​Sam's Perspective

Sam and Alex experienced the same moment, but it did not mean the same thing to both of them.

Same Topic. Different Perspective

​Alex's Perspective

​Stepping back felt easy and unimportant. He did not realize how much the moment mattered to Sam.

Big Idea: A single situation can show the same topic (power) in different ways, depending on the person’s experience.

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