A Raisin in the Sun
Reading and Writing Workshop: A Raisin in the Sun is a play by Lorraine Hansberry that debuted on Broadway in 1959. The title comes from the poem "Harlem" by Langston Hughes. The story tells of a black family's experiences in south.
Essential Question
How do dreams shape identity, family relationships, and resistance in the face of systemic barriers?
Core Themes
Group Structure (Used Every Session)
Students work in groups of 4–5, rotating roles:
Session 1: Building Context & Introducing the Play
Focus
Session 2: Act I — Dreams and Family Conflict
Focus
Session 3: Act II — Identity, Choice, and Pressure
Focus
Session 4: Act II (continued) — Consequences and Loss
Focus
Session 5: Act III — Dignity and Decision
Focus
Session 6: Writing Workshop — Analysis or Creative Response
Focus
Session 7: Socratic Seminar / Fishbowl Discussion
Focus
Session 8: Reflection & Portfolio Submission
Focus
Which character’s dream resonated with you most, and why?
Portfolio Components
Essential Question
How do dreams shape identity, family relationships, and resistance in the face of systemic barriers?
Core Themes
- The American Dream
- Race, housing segregation, and economic inequality
- Gender roles and generational conflict
- Dignity, pride, and resilience
- Close reading and annotation
- Text-based discussion
- Analytical and creative writing
- Speaking, listening, and collaboration
Group Structure (Used Every Session)
Students work in groups of 4–5, rotating roles:
- Discussion Leader – guides questions and keeps the group focused
- Textual Evidence Tracker – collects key quotations with page numbers
- Context Connector – links text to historical or social context
- Recorder/Writer – drafts group responses
- Performance Lead (optional) – prepares dramatic readings
Session 1: Building Context & Introducing the Play
Focus
- Historical and social background
- The concept of “dreams deferred”
- Brainstorm: What is the American Dream? Who has access to it?
- Mini research task: housing segregation, the Great Migration, or 1950s gender roles
- Predictive discussion based on the title
- Quickwrite: What happens to a dream when it is continually delayed or denied?
- Shared class anchor chart on dreams and barriers
Session 2: Act I — Dreams and Family Conflict
Focus
- Introduction of the Younger family
- Competing dreams and rising tension
- Act I (assigned sections per group)
- How does each character define success?
- What conflicts arise around money?
- How does the apartment setting shape the mood?
- Paragraph response: How does Hansberry use everyday dialogue to reveal deeper conflict?
Session 3: Act II — Identity, Choice, and Pressure
Focus
- Assimilation vs. cultural pride
- Gender expectations and independence
- Act II, Scenes 1–2
- Why is Walter drawn to the liquor store investment?
- How does Beneatha challenge traditional roles?
- What does Asagai represent symbolically?
- Rewrite a scene from a different character’s perspective (group-created)
Session 4: Act II (continued) — Consequences and Loss
Focus
- Trust, betrayal, and responsibility
- Act II, Scene 3
- How does the loss of money change Walter?
- How does Mama respond to disappointment?
- What does this moment reveal about family bonds?
- Short analysis: Is Walter a tragic figure at this point in the play?
Session 5: Act III — Dignity and Decision
Focus
- Resistance and moral choice
- Act III
- Why is Walter’s final decision so significant?
- What does the house symbolize?
- Is the ending hopeful, realistic, or unresolved?
- Groups rehearse and perform a key scene, focusing on tone and subtext
Session 6: Writing Workshop — Analysis or Creative Response
Focus
- Drafting and revision
- Literary Analysis: How does A Raisin in the Sun redefine the American Dream?
- Character Argument: Is Walter justified in his actions?
- Creative Response: Monologue, letter, or modern adaptation scene
- Peer feedback using a checklist
- Quote integration practice
Session 7: Socratic Seminar / Fishbowl Discussion
Focus
- Synthesizing ideas through discussion
- What does dignity mean in the play?
- Is compromise ever a form of resistance?
- How do systemic barriers shape personal choices?
- Speaking and listening rubric
- Use of textual evidence
Session 8: Reflection & Portfolio Submission
Focus
- Metacognition and synthesis
Which character’s dream resonated with you most, and why?
Portfolio Components
- One revised writing piece
- One reflection
- One annotated passage from the play
- Group discussion rubric
- Writing rubric (thesis, evidence, analysis, voice)
- Performance rubric
- Final portfolio checklist