“The Barbosa Express” by Ed Vega

Kelley AkhiemokhaliUFT Secondary Charter SchoolEnglish Language Arts, 7-12

FOCUS/Do Now: Create a semantic map (brainstorm) of all the words that come to mind when you hear the words New York City.

Objective: SWBAT analyze how setting influences a character’s personality and actions.

Essential Questions: How does an individual’s setting influence who he/she is? What elements of a place make that place unique? How can a historical time period influence the way a city is created and the people who live within it?

Semantic mapNew York City

Subway

Metro

Cards

Bright

Lights

Puerto

RicoTimes Square

Platform

Crowded

Puerto Rican Day

Parade

Migration

Orozco, José. The Subway. 1928. Museum of Modern Art, New York City.Museum of Modern Art. Web. 27 July 2011.

Puerto Rican Flag. CIA World Factbook. Web. 27 July 2011.

Think-Pair-Share With a partner or by yourself, select three items from the classroom brainstorm and write two to three sentences for how these items influence your daily life.

Ex: My partner and I chose the painting of the train because we have to take the train every day to and from school. Like most New Yorkers, this is our main mode of transportation. Just like the man in the painting, you usually keep to yourself and don’t interact with other people while on the train.

Envelope Activity/Vocabulary Review

Clear absolutely everything off of your desk so that the pieces will not get lost.

With a partner or by yourself, match each vocabulary word with its definition.

This will be a quick review of terms we have already learned.

You will have approximately seven minutes to complete this activity.

And the Nominees Are…/Reader’s Theater

Page. "The Statuette." Photograph. The Academy Awards 1927-1928. The Beginning. My Love of Old Hollywood, 5 December 2010. Web. 27 July 2011.

And the Nominees Are…

Best Director (Narrator)…

Best Actor (Barbosa)…

Best Supporting Actors and Actresses (minor characters)…

Response Card Statements Hold up the corresponding card to answer each

question. Blue = True; Red = False The narrator of the story is Barbosa. The story takes place during New York City during

modern-times. The main conflict in the story is that Barbosa got

passed over for a raise. The Barbosa Express is a train Barbosa and his

family remodeled complete with a living room, kitchen, and club.

The police believe Barbosa’s train was hijacked and he is being held against his will.

At the story’s close, Barbosa is unable to get the raise but he is allowed to retire early.

Comprehension QuestionsRefer to Word Document.

Setting Graphic OrganizerRefer to Word Document.

Exit Ticket Answer either question 1 or 2 AND question 3.

1.) How does the setting influence who Barbosa is as a person and his actions?

2.) How would this story be different if it took place in a rural setting instead of in an urban environment?

3.) How would the theme of the story be different if Barbosa and his family were penalized for their actions?

This presentation is also available in Prezi format at http://prezi.com/moyws3hgu6uo/the-barbosa-express-by-ed-vega/ under the title “The Barbosa Express” by Ed Vega.

Works Cited Héctor Lavoe. “El Día de Mi Suerte.” The Originals. 2007. Digital File.

Orozco, José. The Subway. 1928. Museum of Modern Art, New York City. Museum of Modern Art. Web. 27 July 2011.

Puerto Rican Flag. CIA World Factbook. Web. 27 July 2011.

Vega, Ed. “The Barbosa Express.” Mendoza’s Dreams. Houston: Arte Público Press, 1987. 114-124. Print.