The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien – Introduction Lesson – Predictions

This is an introduction lesson into The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien. Multi-media connections are made with the music video Name by the Goo Goo Dolls, as students must also draw inferences and make predictions about the text based on symbolism in cover images, messages in political cartoons, information on the Vietnam War era, author background, and even the title itself.

Overall, this is a carefully crafted introductory lesson into The Things They Carried that helps to engage students from the start in the process of building the necessary prior knowledge to keep expanding knowledge of characterization, themes, and author's purpose throughout the novel.

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