LESSON PLAN

THE BENCH by RICHARD RIVE

Learning Outcomes
At the end of the session, the students must have:
1. identified personalities who have made significant contributions in fighting
against discrimination;
2. expressed understanding of the story by answering literary questions;
3. established the characteristics of the main character through the backpack
activity; and
4. created a playlist to demonstrate understanding of the overall meaning of the
story.

Warm-up Activity: Who is He?

Below is an image of a person who made a big impact on African life and society.
Connect the dots on the page to determine this significant person. After identifying the
person, do some research and share whatever information that you learned about him.

WHO IS HE?
Note: About Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (July 18, 1981 – December 05, 2013) was a revolutionary
who spent his entire adult life working for equality in South Africa. Mandela has inspired
people around the world to work peacefully for a better life.
After spending decades in prison for fighting apartheid (apartheid was a set of laws
establishing racial separation and discrimination in South Africa), Mandela was released in
1990, the year apartheid was repealed. Mandela became President of South Africa in 1996
and championed reconciliation, a peaceful resolution after decades of repressive laws
against black South Africans.
Source: EnchantedLearning.com (2013)

Task 1: Literary Discussion

1. What are the struggles (external and internal) of Karlie in the story?
2. Comment on this principle of Ou Klas: “God made the white man and the black man
separately, and the one must always be 'baas' and the other "jong." How does this
affect the thinking of Karlie?
3. What was the impact of the message of the speaker to Karlie? Was it powerful
enough for Karlie to have a change of perspectives about his race and life?
4. What was Karlie’s first challenge after attending the gathering/speaking
engagement?
5. In the story, the cause of confrontation between Karlie and a white passenger is a
bench. Why was a perfectly ordinary bench so important to Karlie?
6. Aside from the bench, there are other two symbols in the story such as the white
woman in blue dress and the man who confronts Karlie on the bench. Discuss what
and who they symbolize.
7. What can you say about how Karlie responded to the confrontation at the train
station?
8. Did he succeed in conveying the message that he, too, is human and in his fight for
equality?

Task 2: Character Backpack

You assume that you are Karlie. Then accomplish the following:
1. You need to pack a backpack with seven items that Karlie would take with him.
What would they be? The items have to be representative of an aspect of
Karlie's characterization in the story.
2. Draw around the backpack these 7 items and label each of them. Discuss the
items briefly and prove how these represent Karlie and his changes in the
story.
Assignment 1: Karlie’s Playlist
Imagine that you are a disc jockey (JD) of a radio station. Then, you have to create a
segment where you have to play a five-song playlist that represents Karlie. You will make an
introduction of your segment about your understanding of the overall theme of the story.
Then proceed with playing each of the songs. For each song, you have to explain
why you have chosen these songs to represent Karlie. Each explanation might have to
include specific lyrics from the song that connect to Karlie and why the song is appropriate
to Karlie.

Assignment 2: A Fighter for Justice

Aside from Mandela who fought for equality and freedom from oppression, identify
another personality in the country or in the world who made a great impact in terms of
bringing justice to people of color. Also, make a research about that person and come up
with a 1-page write-up about him/her.

Language Lesson: Identifying Features of Persuasive Texts

The following are statements taken from the story. Determine whether they are able
to change one’s beliefs or not:

"We form an integral part of a complex society, a society in which a vast proportion
of the population is denied the very basic right of existence, a society that condemns a man
to an inferior position because he has the misfortune to be born black, a society that can
only retain its precarious social and economic position at the expense of an enormous
oppressed mass!" – Speaker at the gathering

"It is up to us to challenge the right of any group who willfully and deliberately
condemn a fellow group to a servile position. We must challenge the right of any people
who see fit to segregate human beings solely on grounds of pigmentation. Your children are
denied the rights which are theirs by birth. They are segregated educationally, socially,
economically. . . ." – Speaker at the gathering

God made the white man and the black man separately, and the one must always be
'baas' and the other 'Jong.' – Ou Klaas
 Cite some words or phrases from these lines that make them powerful.

Lecture

The use of effective language is very important in persuasive texts/speeches because

the writer/speaker can engage and persuade the readers/audience, elaborate and link
ideas/arguments and reasons.
Persuasive texts need to make a point, or convince readers to believe in an idea or
opinion and to do an action.
So what types of language features do persuasive texts use? The following are some
types of these language features:
Persuasive Writing Tools
Rhetorical Questions
Emotive Language
Exaggeration
Facts and statistics
Alliteration
Definition Example
Questions that don’t need But why shouldn’t he accept
to have an answer. They get them?
the reader thinking about Why should she speak like
your point-of-view. that?
How was one to challenge?
Nice weather today, isn’t it?
Do you want to lose weight
without exercising?
Powerful descriptive ‘He was not a colored man
language that involves the any more, he was a human
reader and makes them feel being.’
different emotions as they Great words
read. Enormous
Afrika
Scum
Black swine
Hotnot
Black ape
Impertinent
Bloody bastard
Certainly
Devastated
Terrifying
Statement that is over-the- The boy runs faster than a
top and makes the situation bullet
seem worse or better that it I nearly died laughing
is.
It includes information that English is used by 59.3% of
has been proven and has all the websites.
evidence to make our 58% of smartphone users
persuasive writing more don’t go for an hour without
credible checking their phones.
When three or more words John bounced the ball at the
start with the same letter. backyard barbecue.
This captures the reader’s Peter piper picked a peck of
 attention and makes your
writing more interesting.
Rule of three Use to reinforce the point
and emphasize certain
words. Try using three more
adjectives to add more
impact.
Inclusive language Includes readers and make
them feel they are part of
the argument by using
inclusive language/words
(e.g. we, us you, and as a
community)
Repetition Repeats phrases, words or
(Anaphora) sentences in a different way
to help highlight point-of-
view and to ensure that the
reader understands the
argument
pickled peppers.
Life, liberty, and the pursuits
of happiness – Thomas
Jefferson
Government of the people,
by the people, and for the
people.
Blood, sweat, and tears.
Mind, body, spirit.
I came, I saw, I conquered.
"It is up to us to challenge
the right of any group who
willfully and deliberately
condemn a fellow group to a
servile position. We must
challenge the right of any
people who see fit to
segregate human beings
solely on grounds of
pigmentation. Your children
are denied the rights which
are theirs by birth. They are
segregated educationally,
socially, economically. . . ."
We can do this!
Our world is the best place
to live in.
"We form an integral part of
a complex society, a society
in which a vast proportion
of the population is denied
the very basic right of
existence, a society that
condemns a man to an
inferior position because he
has the misfortune to be
born black, a society that
can only retain its
precarious social and
economic position at the
expense of an enormous
oppressed mass!"
Exercise is good for your
health. People who exercise
 improve their health and
memory.

Let’s try it!

Identify the features of persuasive text/technique used in each statement.
1. 95% of those who get this treatment experience relief.
2. Technology is important for learning. Technology makes life easier. Time and
effort can be saved by technology.
3. Carter’s candies can’t be beaten!
4. Don’t you want the very best for your family?
5. All this aggressive movement is making our economy weak and devastated.
6. 6.8 million students have enrolled early in public schools for SY 2020-2021.
7. You take my breath away!
8. There was a gigantic round wooden table in the living room.
9. How much longer will this pandemic continue?
10. We should wear hats during summer.
11. My birthday will never come.
12. As a school, we need to support DepEd’s programs and activities.
13. My mother makes marvelous marble cake.
14. Location, location, location!
15. An innocent bystander suffered gruesome facial injuries when the thug
launched his glass across the bar.

Let’s have a quiz!

Identify the features of persuasive text/technique used in each statement.
1. Bullying is nasty, revolting, and cruel.
2. Do you want your fellow students so frightened from bullies?
3. We, as a community, need to be actively engaged and take responsibility for the
betterment of our learners’ future.
4. There are over 1.2 million people living in Manila.
5. Is peace a bad thing?
6. The use of face mask is one way to prevent the spread of virus.
7. He laughs best who laughs last.
8. We need more ammunition for war.
9. Depression, anxiety, suicide…these are the problems in modern society.
10. I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.

There are also basic modes of persuasion. They are the following:

Ethos Logos Pathos

The ethical approach The logical approach The emotional approach
 Convince the  Use factual  Use words and
audience that you information to phrases that
know what you back up your evoke strong
are talking about opinion emotion in your
 Understand your  Include quotes or audience
audience historical  Include a story
  Cite credible examples that touches the
sources  Give the audience audience’s heart
 Use correct information and  Connect with the
grammar and logic that they audience on a
spelling as well as can’t argue with personal level
specific language

Let’s do some more practice!

Watch the speech of BTS at the UN General Assembly. The gathering tackled on the
global education and training crisis currently holding back millions of young people and
threatening progress and stability by focusing on three key areas of work: secondary-age
education; skills for learning, employability and decent work; and empowerment.

"Thank you, Mr. Secretary General, UNICEF Executive Director, Excellencies

and distinguished guests from across the world.

"My name is Kim Nam Jun, also known as RM, the leader of the group BTS.
It’s an incredible honour to be invited to an occasion with such significance
for today’s young generation.

"Last November, BTS launched the “Love Myself” campaign with UNICEF,
building on our belief that “true love first begins with loving myself.” We
have been partnering with UNICEF’s #ENDviolence program to protect
children and young people all over the world from violence.

"Our fans have become a major part of this campaign with their action and
enthusiasm. We truly have the best fans in the world!

"I would like to begin by talking about myself.

"I was born in Ilsan, a city near Seoul, South Korea. It’s a beautiful place,
with a lake, hills, and even an annual flower festival. I spent a happy
childhood there, and I was just an ordinary boy.

"I would look up at the night sky in wonder and dream the dreams of a boy.
I used to imagine that I was a superhero, saving the world.

"In an intro to one of our early albums, there is a line that says, “My heart
stopped…I was maybe nine or ten.”

"Looking back, that’s when I began to worry about what other people
thought of me and started seeing myself through their eyes. I stopped
looking up at the stars at night. I stopped daydreaming. I tried to jam myself
into moulds that other people made. Soon, I began to shut out my own
voice and started to listen to the voices of others. No one called out my
name, and neither did I. My heart stopped and my eyes closed shut. So, like
this, I, we, all lost our names. We became like ghosts.
"I had one sanctuary, and that was music. There was a small voice in me
that said, ‘Wake up, man, and listen to yourself!” But it took me a long time
to hear music calling my name.

"Even after making the decision to join BTS, there were hurdles. Most
people thought we were hopeless. Sometimes, I just wanted to quit.

"I think I was very lucky that I didn’t give it all up.

"I’m sure that I, and we, will keep stumbling and falling. We have become
artists performing in huge stadiums and selling millions of albums.

"But I am still an ordinary, twenty-four-year-old guy. If there’s anything that

I’ve achieved, it was only possible because I had my other BTS members by
my side, and because of the love and support of our ARMY fans.

"Maybe I made a mistake yesterday, but yesterday’s me is still me. I am who

I am today, with all my faults. Tomorrow I might be a tiny bit wiser, and
that’s me, too. These faults and mistakes are what I am, making up the
brightest stars in the constellation of my life. I have come to love myself for
who I was, who I am, and who I hope to become.

"I would like to say one last thing.

"After releasing the “Love Yourself” albums and launching the “Love
Myself” campaign, we started to hear remarkable stories from our fans all
over the world, how our message helped them overcome their hardships
in life and start loving themselves. These stories constantly remind us of
our responsibility.

"So, let’s all take one more step. We have learned to love ourselves, so now
I urge you to “speak yourself.”

"I would like to ask all of you. What is your name? What excites you and
makes your heart beat?

"Tell me your story. I want to hear your voice, and I want to hear your
conviction. No matter who you are, where you’re from, your skin colour,
gender identity: speak yourself.

"Find your name, find your voice by speaking yourself.

"I’m Kim Nam Jun, RM of BTS.

"I’m a hip-hop idol and an artist from a small town in Korea.

"Like most people, I made many mistakes in my life.
 "I have many faults and I have many fears, but I am going to embrace
myself as hard as I can, and I’m starting to love myself, little by little.
"What is your name? Speak Yourself!"
Persuasive Writing Tools
Rhetorical Questions
Emotive Language
Exaggeration
Facts and statistics
Definition
Questions that don’t need
to have an answer. They get
the reader thinking about
your point-of-view.
Powerful descriptive
language that involves the
reader and makes them feel
different emotions as they
read.
Statement that is over-the-
top and makes the situation
seem worse or better that it
is.
It includes information that
has been proven and has
evidence to make our
Example
"I would like to ask
all of you. What is
your name? What
excites you and
makes your heart
beat?
"What is your name? Speak
Yourself!"
It’s a beautiful place, with a
lake, hills, and even an
annual flower festival. I
spent a happy childhood
there, and I was just an
ordinary boy.
“true love first begins with
loving myself.”
"I would look up at
the night sky in
wonder and dream
the dreams of a
boy. I used to
imagine that I was a
superhero, saving
the world.
"I had one
sanctuary, and that
was music.
I used to imagine that I was
a superhero, saving the
world.
So, like this, I, we, all lost
our names. We became like
ghosts.
"My name is Kim Nam Jun,
also known as RM, the
leader of the group BTS.
 persuasive writing more
credible
Alliteration When three or more words
start with the same letter.
This captures the reader’s
attention and makes your
writing more interesting.
Rule of three Use to reinforce the point
and emphasize certain
words. Try using three more
adjectives to add more
impact.
Inclusive language Includes readers and make
them feel they are part of
the argument by using
inclusive language/words
(e.g. we, us you, and as a
community)
Repetition Repeats phrases, words or
(Anaphora) sentences in a different way
to help highlight point-of-
view and to ensure that the
reader understands the
argument
Last November, BTS
launched the “Love Myself”
campaign with UNICEF.
"I was born in Ilsan, a city
near Seoul, South Korea.
"Like most people, I made
many mistakes in my life.
I’m starting to love myself,
little by little.
I have come to love myself
for who I was, who I am,
and who I hope to become.
"Our fans have become a
major part of this campaign
with their action and
enthusiasm. We truly have
the best fans in the world!
"I’m sure that I, and we, will
keep stumbling and falling.
We have become artists
performing in huge
stadiums and selling millions
of albums.
So, like this, I, we,
all lost our names.
We became like
ghosts.
"Tell me your story. I want
to hear your voice, and I
want to hear your
conviction.
"I have many faults and I
have many fears, but I am
going to embrace myself as
hard as I can
I stopped looking up at the
stars at night. I stopped
 daydreaming.

"Find your name,

find your voice by
speaking yourself.

It’s your time to shine!

Write a one-page speech about any controversial, intriguing, or relevant topic. It may
be about issues on politics/government, environment, economy, climate change,
discrimination, poverty, mental health, etc.
1. The legal age in the Philippines should be raised to 21
2. Is the COVID-19 pandemic finally over?
3. All students need to learn the English language
4. Depression is an alarming social problem
5. Do we need to take care of the environment?

Be ready to deliver your speech in class. You can memorize your speech or deliver it
reading your manuscript.
You will be graded according to this rubric:
Content/Relevance of the topic: 10
Organization of ideas: 10
Delivery: 10