Lesson Plan: Argumentative Writing - Should the narrator of “The Seventh Man” forgive himself for failing to save K?
Objective: Students will develop argumentative writing skills by analyzing the moral dilemma faced by the narrator in “The Seventh Man” and constructing a well-supported argument on whether the narrator should forgive himself for failing to save K.
Materials: - Copies of the short story “The Seventh Man” by Haruki Murakami - Copies of the articles “The Moral Logic of Survivor Guilt” and “The Key to Disaster Survival” - Whiteboard or chart paper - Markers - Writing paper or laptops for students
Procedure:
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Introduction (10 minutes): a. Begin the lesson by asking students if they have ever experienced guilt or regret for not being able to help someone in need. b. Share a brief summary of “The Seventh Man” and explain that the narrator faces a moral dilemma regarding his failure to save his childhood friend, K, during a tsunami. c. State the lesson’s objective: to develop argumentative writing skills by analyzing whether the narrator should forgive himself for failing to save K.
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Pre-reading Activity (10 minutes): a. Divide the class into small groups and provide each group with a copy of “The Moral Logic of Survivor Guilt” and “The Key to Disaster Survival.” b. Instruct students to read the articles and discuss the concepts of survivor guilt and disaster survival. c. Afterward, facilitate a class discussion to share their findings and insights.
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Reading and Analysis (15 minutes): a. Distribute copies of “The Seventh Man” to each student. b. Instruct students to read the short story independently, paying close attention to the narrator’s feelings of guilt and his internal struggle to forgive himself. c. After reading, ask students to identify specific passages or moments in the story that highlight the narrator’s guilt and his reasons for not forgiving himself. d. Write their responses on the whiteboard or chart paper.
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Small Group Discussion (10 minutes): a. Divide students into small groups and assign each group a specific aspect of the narrator’s guilt to discuss (e.g., survivor guilt, responsibility, self-forgiveness). b. Instruct students to analyze their assigned aspect and discuss whether they believe the narrator should forgive himself or not. c. Encourage students to support their opinions with evidence from the text and the articles they read earlier.
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Constructing Arguments (15 minutes): a. Bring the class back together and ask each group to share their analysis and conclusions. b. Facilitate a class discussion to explore different perspectives and arguments regarding whether the narrator should forgive himself. c. Emphasize the importance of supporting arguments with evidence and logical reasoning.
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Writing Activity (20 minutes): a. Instruct students to individually write an argumentative essay on whether the narrator of “The Seventh Man” should forgive himself for failing to save K. b. Remind students to include an introduction, body paragraphs with supporting evidence, counterarguments, and a conclusion. c. Encourage students to refer to the text, the articles, and the class discussion to strengthen their arguments.
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Sharing and Peer Review (10 minutes): a. Allow students to share their essays with a partner or in small groups. b. Instruct students to provide constructive feedback on each other’s arguments, focusing on clarity, evidence, and logical reasoning.
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Conclusion (5 minutes): a. Wrap up the lesson by highlighting the importance of developing argumentative writing skills and the ability to support opinions with evidence. b. Encourage students to continue practicing argumentative writing in their future assignments and discussions.
Note: The duration of each activity can be adjusted based on the class’s pace and needs.