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Anthony Burns
Author: Virginia Hamilton
Summary: The subtitle of this book is "The Defeat and Triumph of a Fugitive Slave." Especially appropriate for use in GED® classrooms, Anthony Burns is based on fact and includes a timeline and historical footnotes. Hamilton fills out the details to create a well written and compelling story. Anthony Burns was a slave who escaped to freedom but because of the Fugitive Slave Act was returned to slavery until a benefactor bought his freedom.
Teaching Ideas
Before beginning to read the book, tell learners that the book relates to a captured slave. Then ask them to share what they know about the time period, 1839-1854 in the U.S. Individuals (better yet, pairs or small groups) could begin to fill out K-W-L charts (copy attached). When individuals/ groups have finished, convene the whole group and make a group K-W-L chart on a large sheet of chart paper. Invite learners to elaborate on information from their individual charts. Hang this somewhere in the room, and encourage individuals to save theirs, too, as the charts will be used throughout reading of the book.
Provide each learner with a pad of sticky notes. Tell them to use these as they read when they come across something they want to talk about or write about.
Ask students to keep track of new, difficult, or interesting words as they read in their journals. They can write the sentence containing the word in their journals, underline the word, and note the page number where it appears. Every 2 or 3 chapters, invite students to share these words with one another and do some vocabulary teaching, as necessary.
Chapters 1 and 2:
Read these aloud to learners; have them read along or just listen (student choice). Then ask learners to:
Chapters 3 and 4:
Students read these independently.
Anthony should not have written to his Virginia pastor.
Mamaw did what she could for Anthony.
Laws must be obeyed.
Chapters 5 and 6:
Students read these independently.
Reverend Theodore Parker
Colonel Charles Suttle
Judge Loring
Richard Henry Dana
Chapter 7:
Read aloud with students listening or reading along (their choice).
Chapters 8 and 9:
Students read independently.
Chapter 10:
Read aloud with students reading along or listening (their choice). Invite additional discussion about the author's use of flashbacks. Suggest that students write in their journals (and then share, if they wish) about one or more of the following: 1)open response, 2) describe how Anthony relates to his peers, 3) describe how Anthony relates to white people. If enough students choose the descriptions, follow up with discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of Anthony's choices. A piece of comparison- contrast writing could easily follow.
Chapters 11-13:
Students read independently. Then
What do you think of President Pierce's assessment of the situation (p. 97)? Why?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the plan to buy Anthony's freedom?
What has the role of the church been so far?
What has the role of the government been so far?
Chapters 14 and 15:
Students read independently. Then
Chapter 16:
Read to students while they read along or listen (their choice).
Chapter 17:
Students read independently. Then:
Chapter 18:
Students read independently. Then ask them to add to their summaries of the prosecution and defense cases. (Note: Pairs or triads here.) Finally, ask groups to decide which side has the strongest case and to state their reasons for this decision. Invite whole group discussion.
Chapters 19 and 20:
Read to students while they read along or listen (their choice).
Culminating Activities:
Field Testing
Anthony Burns was field-tested in two locations, one in the northwest section of the state and the other in the southwest, in 4 classes with a total of 36 students, mostly women, aged 18-62 years. One Spanish speaker had difficulty with the reading but enjoyed discussing it with others so much that she kept up with the class despite reading and rereading. Poor attendance in one class made continuity difficult. Also, students' lack of a sense of the historical period in one class interfered with the project.
Teachers' Changes and Additions:
One teacher did not use the K-W-L and Anthony charts while the other incorporated them into an Anthony Burns Journal with vocabulary and journal-writing pages. Kathyrn Jackson has permitted us to include her Anthony Burn's Journal for your use.
One teacher related the word "johnnycake" to a local road called Johnnycake Ridge and discussed why it might be so named.
Readers' Responses:
When a student questioned the use of Black English in the book "when they were supposed to be learning good English," the teacher capitalized by referring to the different styles used in literature available in the classroom and then opened the subject to discussion. The discussion was so animated that a student was prompted to remark that she liked the way language was used to depict Anthony "as though he were really thinking."
One student, who was originally from the South, identified so strongly with the story that she "could just taste the cornbread and greens."
Publication Information:
New York, Random House, 1988. ISBN 0-679-83997-6 (paper).
Reminders:
ABLE teachers can order this book from Book Wholesalers, Inc. for 40% off list price. For other recommended books, see Recommended Trade Books for Adult Literacy Programs, available from ABLE Directors, public librarians, or online http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/tradebooks/index.html. Call the OLRC for details.
Nancy Padak
Kent State University
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