Admirable Qualities
In Search of Self - Human Qualities and Ideals
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Key Concept:

There are qualities for which all people strive. In this lesson, you will have the chance to explore what these qualities are and whether all people have the potential to exhibit these qualities.

Objectives:

You will be able to
- speak to share thoughts, opinions, and feelings
- explore human experiences and values reflected in texts
- demonstrate the ability to trace a coherent thought pattern to a suitable conclusion

Resources:

- newspaper article for brainstorming activity
- obituary checklist

One of the following short stories:
1. "What Men Live By" (L. Tolstoy, Russia - Literature and Language: English and World Literature)
2. "Salt" (A. Holth, Finland - World Literature - Glencoe )
3. "Like the Sun " (R.K. Narayan, India - Literature and the Language Arts: World Literature)

Teaching-Learning Strategies:

Task One: Our Admiration

Brainstorm, as a class, what qualities North Americans seem to admire.

Having trouble thinking of admirable qualities? Checkout the Time 100 web site; it has in depth articles on twenty admirable people.

Discuss with your classmates what qualities we seem to admire most in North America. As you read the following text, keep your own values in mind and listen for the values of others.

Task Two: Our Own Abilities

Read one of the following stories, chosen by your teacher:

1. "What Men Live By" (L. Tolstoy, Russia - Literature and Language: English and World Literature)
2. "Salt" (A. Holth, Finland - World Literature - Glencoe )
3. "Like the Sun " (R. K. Narayan, India - Literature and the Language Arts: World Literature)

When you have completed reading the story, answer the following questions:

You can use the answers in your chart to help you answer the questions!

1. Briefly describe what happened in the story.
2. What type of internal struggle did each of these main characters face?
3. Did each character ultimately make the honorable choice?
4. Using the chart you filled in while reading, explain how a person's actions reflect his/her values.
5. If a person has a few admirable qualities, does that make the person admirable? If not, what does it take to be admirable?
6. Do all people have the potential to be admirable? Explain why or why not.

Participate in a class discussion regarding your answers to these questions. While you are taking part in the discussion, try to use examples from your answers and from your own life to discuss how our actions reflect our values and whether all people can be admirable.

Task Three - Our Chance to Honour the Admirable

Choose one of the characters from the text for whom to write an obituary.

An obituary is not just a chronological record of a person's life but also a chance to highlight the admirable things the person has done in his/her time.

Before you begin, look over the following assignment guidelines and information.

Obituary Assignment

Content
- begin with the announcement of the death
- detail the characters admirable qualities
- include examples from the story
- timeline of the person's life and survivors (likely you will make-up some of these details)

Writing
- paragraphs are short and simple
- uses formal language and considers audience
- clear and easy to follow
- minimum half a page

To view how you will be evaluated, see the obituary checklist.

An obituary is the final record of a person's accomplishments and is therefore written with great care and formality. Try to keep in mind what you might like to have written about you when you are writing the character obituary.