Week 3: Addressing America's Mythology (3/17-3/21)
Week Breakdown
Monday the 17th - Tuesday the 18th
Write down Lexicon #24: American exceptionalism in your notebook.
Take notes on Ta-Nehisi Coates and the context for "Letter to My Son."
Watch both videos and respond to the questions of both videos in your notebook.
Begin reading, annotating, and discussing "Letter to My Son" by Ta-Nehisi Coates.
Wednesday the 19th
Write down Lexicon #25: Race as a social construct in your notebook.
Continue to read, annotate, and discuss "Letter to My Son" by Ta-Nehisi Coates.
Thursday the 20th - Friday the 21st
Finish reading, annotating, and discussing "Letter to My Son" by Ta-Nehisi Coates.
Complete "Trying on Coates' Style" creative writing assignment.
Complete a rhetorical analysis essay of "Letter to My Son" by Ta-Nehisi Coates.
Monday the 17th - Tuesday the 18th
Addressing America's Mythology
Lexicon #24: American Exceptionalism
Definition: The belief that the United States is inherently superior due to its American values, democratic ideals, unique history, and commitment to liberty. This concept implies that the US is destined and entitled to promote its values worldwide.
The idea stems from early Puritan notions of a "city upon a hill," manifest destiny, and Cold War rhetoric that framed the U.S. as the leader of the free world. However, critics argue that American exceptionalism often ignores historical injustices such as slavery, racism, imperialism, and economic inequality. Some see it as a source of national pride, while others view it as a myth that blinds Americans to their country’s flaws.
About the author and text
Ta-Nehisi Coates is a celebrated writer and journalist known for his insightful explorations of race, identity, and American history. His work, blending personal narrative with historical analysis, has earned him widespread acclaim, particularly in discussions of systemic racism and Black experience in the United States.
"Letter to My Son" is an excerpt from his award-winning book Between the World and Me (2015), written as a powerful and deeply personal letter to his teenage son. In it, Coates reflects on the realities of being Black in America, addressing racial injustice, the fragility of Black bodies, and the struggle for dignity in a society shaped by white supremacy. With raw emotion and poetic urgency, he challenges the myth of the American Dream and urges his son to navigate the world with awareness, resilience, and a sense of his own history.
Ta-Nehisi Coates, American writer and journalist
Today's starting activity: Watch both videos of Coates and respond to the questions beneath each video in your notebook.
Coates on the N-word
Ta-Nehisi Coates on words that don't belong to everyone _ We Were Eight Years In Power Book Tour.mp4Context: During an event at Evanston Township High School, a student asked Coates about the usage of the N-word by white people, particularly when singing along to rap songs.
Question #1
What is Coates argument about using certain words and do you find it convincing? Why or why not?
Coates on Entrenched Racist Myths in America
Ta-Nehisi Coates on Entrenched Racist Myths.mp4Context: In a conversation with Richard Rothstein, Coates was asked to elaborate on how racist myths are deeply embedded in American society and the impact of these myths on public perception and policy.
Question #2
According to Coates, what is the responsibility for those who know the history and push back (protest) against harmful myths? Why do they need to keep pushing even when it feels worthless or pointless?
Today's Reading: "Letter to My Son" by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Letter to My Son by Ta-Nehisi Coates.docxWednesday the 19th
Lexicon #25: Race as a social construct
Definition: The concept of race is not based on inherent biological differences but is instead a system of classification created by societies to categorize people based on physical traits. Historically, they been used to justify hierarchies, social inequalities, and power structures rather than reflecting any meaningful scientific distinctions.
Today's Reading: "Letter to My Son" by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Letter to My Son by Ta-Nehisi Coates.docxThursday the 20th
Today's Reading: "Letter to My Son" by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Letter to My Son by Ta-Nehisi Coates.docxTrying on Coates' Style
Requirements: Choose one of the three prompts below and create a one-two page letter, narrative, or poem.
Letter to Someone Who Needs to Hear It
Write a letter to a younger sibling, cousin, or a future child about a truth they’ve learned about life, identity, or the world. Write with the same raw honesty Coates uses in addressing his son.
A Day in My Skin
Inspired by Coates’ exploration of the Black experience in America, write a personal narrative about a moment when they became deeply aware of their identity—whether through race, culture, language, or personal experience.
“What I Want You to Know”
Write a poem titled “What I Want You to Know” that captures the essence of what you wish to tell a loved one about their experiences, struggles, or dreams.
Friday the 21st
Rhetorical Analysis Paragraph on "Letter to My Son"
After reading "Letter to My Son" by Ta-Nehisi Coates, published in Between the World and Me (2015). In this essay, written as a letter to his teenage son, Coates reflects on race, history, and the American Dream. Read the essay carefully, then write an well-developed body paragraph in which you analyze how Coates uses rhetorical strategies to develop his message.
In your response you should do the following:
Respond to the prompt with a topic sentence or claim that analyzes the writer's rhetorical choices.
Select and use evidence to support your line of reasoning.
Explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning.
Demonstrate an understanding of the rhetorical situation (what's going on and why this topic is being brought up).
Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument.