The Year of Magical Thinking Lesson Plan

Gilded Boy

Kind of Activity:

Creative Writing

Objective:

Students will write their own version of the "gilded boy" story.

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.3; CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.3.B

Structure:

This activity builds out of the day's discussion question on the "gilded boy" story. Didion explains that the story is a tool neurologists use to test the memory and cognition of patients coming out of comas. She thinks the story is strange because it seems symbolic, but she cannot find the meaning.

Ask the class to discuss what elements neurologists are probably looking for in this kind of story (specific details, a clear sequence of events,...