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The Color Purple: Finale
The Color Purple Unit
By ReBecca Hostler

Overview

Depending on time constraints and school board policies, you may or may not choose to show the movie The Color Purple to coincide with the book. In this activity, you will find several different means of assessing the film that the student can complete at home or during class. They include a video assessment sheet with seven short questions students can answer as they watch the film, a similarities and differences sheet to help them compare and contrast the book and film, and an essay question prompt to guide them as they watch the film and prepare to write their culminating essay. Or, for students who may not watch the film, they can write an essay using their knowledge from the unit of study.

Objectives

Students will be able to:

Compare and contrast the film version to the novel.
Synthesize the information learned from the unit of study with what they see in the film.
Analyze a quote and how it reflects Celie's growth.

Skills Attained

Students will be able to:

Analyze the similarities and differences between a written piece of literature and a film based on it.

Analyze The Color Purple in terms of both gender and racial oppression during segregation, as well as the in the broader context of the history of slavery and the Jim Crow system.

Demonstrate their understanding and analyses in essay form.

Time Required

Two traditional class periods.

Materials Needed

The film, The Color Purple
Video questions
Similarities and differences sheet
Essay question prompt
Essay for students who are not allowed to watch the movie

The Lesson

Procedures

Hand out the questions for students to read over before the movie begins.
Have students view the film.
Go over the answers to the video questions as a class.
Assign the essay for students to complete, at your discretion.

Assessment

Essay Criteria Percentage of Total Essay Grade

Presents information logically, clearly, and concisely in standard essay format. 25%

Provides sufficient examples to illustrate quote in terms of gender/racial oppression. 25%

Synthesizes material from the entire unit. 25%

Is mechanically correct. 25%

This lesson was written by ReBecca Hostler, a teacher at Centennial High School in Roswell, Georgia.

Name: ______________________________

Date: __________________________________________

The Color Purple: Video Questions
The Color Purple Unit

Directions: Answer the following questions as you watch the movie:

1. What year is being portrayed in the opening scenes of The Color Purple?

_______________________________

2. Throughout the book, Celie's husband was referred to as Mr. _____________. What is Mr. ____________'s last name?

________________________________

3. What character informs the viewer of Shug Avery's past and reputation?

________________________________

4. What did the mayor's wife ask Sophia, sparking the confrontation?

______________________________________________________________

5. What year do Shug and Grady return from Memphis to Georgia?

________________________________

6. How long does it take for Mr. ____________'s life to fall into disrepair after Celie leaves?

________________________________

7. Name the preacher whom Shug wants to acknowledge her.

________________________________

Name: ______________________________

Date: __________________________________________

The Color Purple: Similarities and Differences
The Color Purple Unit

Similarities:

List five things that are portrayed in the movie exactly as they are in the book.

1. __________________________________________________________________

2. __________________________________________________________________

3. __________________________________________________________________

4. __________________________________________________________________

5. __________________________________________________________________

Differences:

List five things that are portrayed differently in the book than they are in the movie.

1. __________________________________________________________________

2. __________________________________________________________________

3. __________________________________________________________________

4. __________________________________________________________________

5. __________________________________________________________________

Extra Credit:

Name four more scenes that are different than they appear in the book.

1. __________________________________________________________________

2. __________________________________________________________________

3. __________________________________________________________________

4. __________________________________________________________________

Name: ______________________________

Date: __________________________________________

The Color Purple: Essay
The Color Purple Unit

Take notes on a separate piece of paper during the movie so that you can respond to the following quote.

"You're black, you're poor, you're ugly, you're a woman; you're nothing."

Discuss this statement in light of both gender and racial oppression during segregation. Give specific examples from the movie.

____________________________________________________________________________

The Color Purple: Essay

Note to teachers: You can modify the length of this assignment at your discretion. Or, you may even just choose to collect your students' notes on the topic.

Name: ______________________________

Date: __________________________________________

The Color Purple: Alternate Assessment
The Color Purple Unit

Using the book, discuss specific examples so that you can respond to the following quote.

"You're black, you're poor, you're ugly, you're a woman; you're nothing."

Discuss this statement in light of both gender and racial oppression during segregation. Give specific examples.

____________________________________________________________________________

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