Final Hobbit Discussion

Big Idea: What does it mean to be human?

Nuance Academy: None

After today I should be able to: Identify what is important in a text.

Reading: Today you should be done with the novel.

Agenda:

1. Class discussion:
1. Select your most important TQEs.
1. What Great Ideas come up in this part of the novel?
2. How did things turn out for each character?
3. What are the most important quotes?
4. What is Tolkien trying to teach us?
2. Ways to deepen the conversation:
1. Thoughts (Digging deeper than summary)
1. Beyond the Plot: "At first it looks like [character/author] is just doing _____, but if you look closer, they’re actually..."
2. Reading Between the Lines: "What’s not being said here is..."
3. Hidden Motivations: "[Character] said _____, but their real motive seems to be..."
4. Spotting Style: "The author used [word choice/detail] on page _____ to make us feel _____ because..."
2. Questions (Asking things that don't have an easy answer)
1. Testing Choices: "What would have happened if [character] had chosen to _____ instead of _____?"
2. Challenging the Action: "Is [character] actually justified in doing _____, or are they just making excuses?"
3. Real-World Check: "How does what’s happening here compare to how people react to _____ in real life today?"
4. Author’s Strategy: "Why do you think the author chose to end this section with _____ instead of giving us a clean resolution?"
3. Epiphanies ("Aha!" moments)
1. Mind Shift: "I used to think _____, but after re-reading page _____, now I realize..."
2. The Bigger Picture: "This scene isn't just about [event]—it’s really trying to show us how..."
3. Connecting the Dots: "I finally get why [character] acted that way earlier—it’s because..."
4. Pattern Recognition: "I realized that every time _____ happens, it leads to _____, which means..."
4. Keeping the Discussion Going (Peer-to-Peer)
1. Adding On: "I agree with [Name], and to add to that..."
2. Respectful Pushback: "I see why you think _____, [Name], but how do we explain the part on page _____ where...?"
3. Asking for Proof: "Which specific line made you think that?"
4. Tying Ideas Together: "[Name 1] said _____ and [Name 2] said _____. Could both be right if we look at it like...?"

Homework:

1. Membean session