SERIAL:

EVIDENCE
AND
ARGUMENTATION

English I Unit 2 Ms. Potter

 Fill in the
anticipation guide
ANTICIPATION GUIDE and be prepared to
defend your answers!
 • Grab the packet from the counter.

Warm up: • Put your name on it!!

Comma
• Complete the packet.
• You may use your notes to help you.

Review • You will have a quiz over comma use next class.
 Unit 2
• What is the difference between argument and
persuasion?

Essential • How do writers convince us of their points?

• How do writers use rhetorical appeals to

Questions strengthen their arguments?

• To what extent does the use of connotation &
denotation have on credibility/ objectiveness?
• How do we ‘make truth’ of what is left unsaid?
• How do we determine what kind of evidence is
relevant and credible?
• How do we use evidence to come to a
conclusion?
• How can we use evidence to support a
conclusion?
SERIAL

the presentation
About Podcasts
A podcast is “a program (as of music or talk) made available
in digital format for automatic download over the internet.
Merriam-Webster
http://www.merriam-webster.com/

Podcasting began as “audioblogging” in the

1980s but did not become popular until
2004, when digital MP3 players such as
iPods became popular.
Discuss
• Who here has listened to a podcast before?
• Who here listens to a podcast regularly?
• Why do you think podcasts have become so popular?
Can you compare them to older technology and how it
has been used in our culture?
 Why a podcast?
• Podcasts have the ability to explore topics not covered in
mainstream media
• According to an Edison Research Study, podcasting consumption
has grown 163% from 2006 to 2012; approximately one third of
Americans have listened to a podcast.
• In 2013, Apple announced that customers had subscribed to over
one billion podcasts
• Technology makes podcast access easier!
• Growth in consumers who listen to podcasts on their phones
• Apple IOS-6 includes a podcast listening app
• Apps like iPadio make it easy for anyone to create his/her own podcast!
 Serial: what’s it mean?
• Serial is a story that happens in sections, one after the other
• One of the earliest ideas of a serialized story comes from One
Thousand and One Nights or the Arabian Nights
• Many stories and novels used to be told this way! Novels would be
published in sections instead of all at once. This was especially
popular during the Victorian Age.
• Koenig has compared her work to the serial novels of old, saying
“It’s such a natural thing…When the idea first arose,
we said ‘But didn’t Dickens do this? Is this even new?
Why hasn’t somebody done this?’”
Discuss
• What kind of mood can be easily built using the
serialized format?
• What other forms of media use a serialized format?
This American Life
• A weekly public radio show (NOT a podcast, though it can be
downloaded as a podcast)
• Each episode centers around a theme and offers “a variety of
stories on that theme…mostly true stories of everyday people.”
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/about

Narrative journalism: a form of journalism. Unlike straight news

stories– which offer readers the basic who, what, where, when and
why of a story– narrative news pieces are longer and allow the writer
to employ more elements of prose writing and to approach a subject
in different ways (Definition: mediacareers.about.com)
Narrative Journalism
“What it takes is immersion reporting. It’s just being there,
immersing yourself so that the writer inhabits the story and, by
taking up residence in the story, it seems to affect everything,
including choice of language and, most of all, the sense of authority
that a good narrative has. Whether the attribution is clear or not,
there is this sense that the writer is inside that story by dint of
spending an enormous amount of time. Then it’s also strategic
writing, and it’s writers making decisions that are governed by plans
of action.”

~ Chip Scanlan
Sharing the Secrets of Fine Narrative Journalism
Narrative Journalism
“There are five things that need to be in any piece of narrative...You
need to have character, there has to be something or someone for the
reader to hold on to or for you to build the story around. The trick is
character does not have to be a person. It can be a place. It can be a
thing. It can be a moment, but you have to have a central character.
You need some story or theme. You need some bigger universal sense
that this character or story is representing or that it triggers in
people’s psyche. You need, quite frankly, a lot of discipline. You need
to discipline your writing and your work so it’s not a self-indulgent
rant, so it really is honoring the story and the readers out there.”

~ Jacqui Banaszynski
Sharing the Secrets of Fine Narrative Journalism
Narrative Journalism
• In your own words, define narrative journalism.
• What might be some of the pros of narrative journalism?
• What might be some of the cons of narrative journalism?
Serial: The Beginning

Image: Elise Bergerson

• Serial premiered on This American Life on October 3, 2014
• It is a spin-off production
• Season One includes 12 episodes
• Focuses on a 1999 murder case of a Woodlawn High School student
• Koenig became interested in the case through Rabia Chaudry
• Broke the iTunes download record in November 2014, with 5 million downloads
Sarah Koenig
• Sarah is the host and executive producer of Serial
• She used to be a reporter for The Baltimore Sun and reported on
the disbarment of Adnan’s lawyer Cristina Gutierrez in 2001
• Born in July 1969
• Graduated from the University of Chicago in 1990
• Has won several awards for journalism:
Peabody award, Scripps-Howard award,
Lowell Thomas Overseas Press Club award,
Women’s Press Club of New York award

Image: Meredith Heuer

Who You Should Know…
The Staff
• Sarah Koenig: host and executive producer
• Dana Chivvis: producer
• Julie Synder: executive producer

The Case
• Adnan Syed, convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee
• Hae Min Lee, the deceased
• Jay Wilds, the prosecution’s star witness
Who You Should Know…
The Case (cont.)
• Stephanie, Jay’s girlfriend and Adnan’s friend
• Asia McClain, a possible alibi for Adnan
• Don, Hae’s boyfriend at the time of her murder
• Cristina Gutierrez, Adnan’s lawyer
• Rabia Chaudry, Adnan’s friend who brought the case to Koenig
• Jenn, a friend of Jay’s
• Nisha, a girl Adnan was seeing at the time of the murder
• Detectives Ritz and MacGillivary, the detectives investigating the case
• Kevin Urick, the state prosecutor
What You Should Know…
• Reinvestigates the murder of Hae Min Lee
• Student at Woodlawn High School
• Last seen on January 13, 1999 around 3PM
• Body found February 9th
• Lee’s ex-boyfriend Adnan Syed was arrested and convicted
of the crime
• Syed pled innocent and was sentenced to life in prison for
first-degree murder
• At the beginning of the podcast, Syed has been in jail for
fifteen years. He still maintains his innocence.
Ideas and Issues
• Reliable narrator
• Plot structure
• Characterization
• American justice system
• Race, class, religion
• Acceptable sources for entertainment
• Reality vs. Fiction
• Reporter bias
Discuss
• What predictions can you make about Serial?
• How do you think listening to a podcast will be a
different experience than reading a book?
• How will these listening skills prepare you for the real
world? Consider specific situations.
 Sources
• http://www.thisamericanlife.org/about
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Koenig
• http://www.conversedigital.com/digital-strategy/podcasting-statistics-
trends-future
• http://business.time.com/2013/08/29/despite-being-oh-so-2005-
podcasting-is-drawing-listeners-and-advertisers-alike/
• http://mediacareers.about.com/od/glossary/g/narrative_journ.htm
• http://niemanreports.org/articles/sharing-the-secrets-of-fine-narrative-
journalism/
• http://articles.philly.com/2014-10-31/news/56291893_1_this-
american-life-podcast-radio-show
 Contract

• I solemnly swear that I will not Google any give-away information or listen
ahead. If I lose my fight with willpower, I will not tell my teacher that I did this,
and I will most certainly NOT give any information away prematurely so as to
spoil this whole-class listening experience.
 • Station 1: Muslim culture
• Station 2: Gift giving
• Station 3: Words & definitions
• Station 4: Timeline
• Station 5: Memory Article
• Station 6: Music & Mood

Introductory • 8 minutes each

• You will need your phone for the QR codes
Stations
COMMA QUIZ
WARM UP:
TAPE OR
GLUE THE
NOTES
INTO YOUR
NOTEBOOK
 Homework: Vocabulary

• 2 parts-

• Vocabulary: You will be quizzed over this.

• Glossary: Legal terms. I give you the definitions; you will not be quizzed over these words, but
they are here to help you.
Memory • Think back to last Wednesday.
• Write down as much as you can remember about that

Game day.
• When did you get up? When did you go to sleep? What
did you do? What did you learn? What did you wear?
What did you eat? What was the weather like?

• Compare notes with someone else. What do you

notice?

• What does this tell you about memory?

Vocab Story • Using your unit vocab, write a short (1 page is fine!)
story.
• Use at least 10 words correctly in the story
• Highlight the words you used.
• Due 11/25 and 11/26
 WARM UP:

-Grab all papers

-Turn any work in
-Tape additional notes
into notebook
-Put your name on the
papers

-Complete the exercises

-Turn it in.
 WARM UP:

-Put your name

on the paper

-Complete
the exercises

-Turn it in.

-Turn in
vocabulary homework
.
 Double Entry Journals

Throughout the unit, you will keep a double entry journal for each episode of the podcast.
This type of journal is a place for you to examine important quotes from the novel. You can...
• discuss characterization
• express opinions
• expand on an event/scene,
• make connections with the text to your own life
• analyze literary devices such as theme and symbol.
 • Themes
• Big ideas
• Important quotes
• Characters/Characterization
• Theories

What kind of •
•
Questions
Evidence
things should I
choose to
analyze?
 Some  Don’t try to copy down what you hear
word for word.
Pointers  I’m interested in your analysis, not a
transcript.
Episode 1: The
Alibi

• https://serialpodcast.org/season-
one/1/the-alibi
• Double Entry Journal
 WARM UP:

-Put your name on the

paper

-Complete the exercises

-Turn it in.

-Turn
in vocabulary homework.
 Connotation vs. Denotation

• Connotation is the emotional and imaginative association surrounding a word.

• Denotation is the strict dictionary meaning of a word.

• Connotation = Constructed meaning

• Denotation = Dictionary's meaning

• Denotation is the literal meaning

• Connotation is the emotional weight of a word.
• Cheap vs. Inexpensive
Examples • The media were swarming around the pileup on the
innerbelt to capture every conceivable injury for the
evening news.
• • The journalists were on the scene at the innerbelt
crash to document the incident for the evening news.
• • Photographers stood patiently along the walkway,
awaiting the arrival of the Oscar nominees.
• • The paparazzi lined the walkway anxiously poised to
snap the Oscar nominees.
• • America's Midwest is often referred to as the
heartland by Washington congressmen.
• • America's Midwest is often referred to as flyover
country by DC politicos.
Answer the 7 questions on your paper. You may work
with your table.

EXERCISE 3:
CONNOTATION
Lie Detector • Jay's Story
• Evidence
• Conclusion
• Not saying...
• Lying?

• Adnan's Story
• Evidence
• Conclusion
• Not saying...
• Lying
 WARM UP:

-Put your name on the

paper

-Complete the exercises

-Turn it in.

Turn in Lie Detector

Episode 2: The
Breakup

• https://serialpodcast.org/season-
one/2/the-breakup
• In Episode 2, Sarah addresses one or two of the central
issues of the case. We might call this a topic, or a
theme to her story. She then tries to research this topic
by interviewing people who knew Adnan and Hae. Perspectives
• 1. What are some of the main questions Sarah is trying
to answer?

• 2. Go through each of the characters, and write down

THEIR perspective, or their thoughts, on the questions
you wrote down for #1.
 Credibility

DID ADNAN TRY TO GIVE HAE A RIDE

HOME?
• On a scale of 1-10, rate how much you
trust each of the characters who talk
about this.
• Why do you trust them/not trust them?
• What did they say?
 WARM UP:
Put your name on
the paper,
complete the
exercises, and turn
it in.

*Turn in
Perspectives
packet
QUIZ
• As a class, we will list out examples of abnormal behavior exhibited by the teenagers in Serial.
• (Example: Helping your "friend" bury a body)
• Individually, you will rank the behaviors 1-10, with one being the most normal behavior, and 10 being the
craziest.
• Then, you will give each behavior a crazy score- on a scale of 1-10, how weird is it? (This is a rating, not a
ranking. Only one person can be valedictorian, but many people can get 100% on a test.)
• You will estimate a number of people you know who would do that, from 0-10.
• Then, we will share our examples with the class to get the class average of how crazy it is.
• In the “other notes” section, write down any thoughts you have in our discussion.

Crazy Chart
Warm up: Tape • Grab an "Episode 3 Double Entry
Journal"

the notes into • Grab a transcript if you want one

your journal • Grab all other papers

 • Record your "class crazy score" in the appropriate column.
Warm Up: • Answer the "essential question" on the back

Crazy Chart • Compare your ratings/rankings to the class average, and

the average for other classes.
Reflection • Were you mostly in agreement?
• Were any of your scores wildly different than your class?
• Was your class very different than other classes? Why do
you think that is?
• Comment on your reaction to the difference in
scores. ("I think it's insane anyone could say the opposite
of what I said because _______.")
• Your response should be roughly a paragraph below the
lines on your paper.
 Episode 3:
Leakin Park

• https://serialpodcast.org/season-
one/3/leakin-park

• Fill in your DEJ

 Homework: Mr. S and Leakin
Park

• You will need a copy of the map for question #7

• Answer all 9 questions.
• Due tomorrow
 WARM UP:
-Put your name on
the paper

-complete the
exercises

-turn it in.

-Turn in Mr. S and

Leakin Park
homework.
 Episode 4:
Inconsistencies

• https://serialpodcast.org/season-
one/4/inconsistencies
• Fill in DEJ
• Listen for every time Jay changes his
story!
 • Use your DEJ to find 8 inconsistencies in Jay’s story.
• Each time Jay tells a different version of the same story,
note both versions.

Inconsistencies • Then, explain what kind of inconsistency this is. (Is he just
forgetting? Is he lying to protect someone? Is he just
straight up lying?)
• In your opinion, why would he change his story this way?
 WARM UP:

-Put your name

on the paper

-Complete
the exercises

-Turn it in.

-Turn in
Inconsistencies.
 Episode
5: Route Talk

• GRAB ONE OF EACH OF THE PAPERS

FROM THE WINDOW
• https://serialpodcast.org/season-
one/5/route-talk

• Use your cell tower map and call log to

plot each call Adnan made.
• Compare your map to Jay's story, and
Sarah's conclusions.
 • On the map, plot the locations and times of the calls.
• When you’re finished, compare the map to Jay’s story. In a
full paragraph, answer the following:

Route Talk • To what extent does the map back up Jay’s story?
• Is it truthful enough to send Adnan to prison?
• Is it ridiculous enough to throw out Jay’s entire story?
• What does the map tell us?
 WARM UP:

-Put your name on the

paper

-Complete the exercises

-Turn it in.

-Get out your Map,

Route talk paper, and
Episode 5 DEJ
 Episode
5: Route Talk

• Part 2!
• https://serialpodcast.org/season-
one/5/route-talk

• Finish the episode!

Socratic
Seminar
Socratic • Beginner Goals
• Look at speaker

Seminar • Do not talk while speaker is talking

• Speak voluntarily at least twice
• Speak loudly so everyone can hear
• Use others’ names
• Share talk time
• Make clear, accurate statements
• Refer to the text
• Ask a question
Socratic • •Rules: Understand going in that this is an opinionated
discussion, and there will be people who feel

Seminar
differently than you. Please respect their opinion, even
if you don’t agree with them.
• •Goals: To be able to sustain a discussion on our
thoughts, questions, and theories about Serial for an
entire hour.
• •Norms:
• •No cell phones.
• •If you’ve already spoken on a question, you may not
speak again.
• •You will be called on by Potter for our first one.
• •It is very important that the conversation is not
dominated by a small group of people; therefore, all
parties will be given an opportunity to speak.
 WARM UP:

-Put your name on

the paper

-Complete the
exercises

-Turn it in.
Episode 6: The
Case Against
Adnan Syed
• https://serialpodcast.org/season-
one/6/the-case-against-adnan-syed

• Record all the evidence that makes

Adnan look guilty.
Building the Case: Evaluating
the Evidence

• After listening, we will fill in the second and third columns with our tables.
• Lawyers don't work independently; they have a team that helps them build a case. You will
help your table come up with COUNTERARGUMENTS to show how that evidence does not
make Adnan guilty.
• In the third column, explain your reasoning for each counterargument, and what you
ultimaely believe about the evidence.
• Homework: Answer the essential question in a complete paragraph
 At Home:
Episode 7: The
Opposite of the
Prosecution
• https://serialpodcast.org/season-
one/7/the-opposite-of-the-prosecution

• DEJ
 Warm up:

-Put your name on the paper

-Complete the exercises

-Turn it in.
Turn in Episode 6 Sheet

-Get out Episode 7 DEJ. Do NOT turn it in

yet.
QUIZ
YOU MAY USE YOUR
DEJ. TURN BOTH IN
WHEN YOU ARE
FINISHED.
Extra Credit • Read the Huffington Post article- you will need a QR
code and QR code scanner unless you want to type in

Opportunity: the URL

• Fill in the Venn Diagram

Case • Answer the questions

Comparison • OR

or Personal
Essay • Choose one of the three prompts and write a solid (10
sentences?) paragaph
 Episode 8: The
Deal with Jay

https://serialpodcast.org/season-one/8/the-
deal-with-jay

• DEJ
 Warm up:

• -Put your name on the paper

-Complete the exercises

-Turn it in
 • Complete ONE of the
following exercises to
demonstrate
understanding of Jay
• A. Characterizing Jay
• B. Jay's Tone
• C. Diagramming Jay

Your Choice:
• D. Jay's Deal

The Deal with Jay

 "Normal Day" • Imagine Adnan is completely innocent of any crime.
Imagine that there was no crime, and Hae just went for
Narrative a drive, and returned the next day.
Evidence to include: • Write a short story that includes all the "evidence"
-Hand print on the map against Adnan in a way that fits into his normal day. For
-phone was in Leakin Park example, explain why he might have said something
-did not call Hae when she went missing like "what am I going to tell them?" while talking on his
-Nisha call phone.
-Probably asked Hae for a ride
-Acted weird at Cathy's • In other words, write a story making excuses for all of
-Said "What am I going to do?" On the the evidence against Adnan.
phone
• When you're done, reexamine your story. Is this a
believably normal day? Or would you still be suspicious
of Adnan even if no crime had been committed?

• Your narrative should be at least half a page.

Argument
Notes
• An argument has 3 main
purposes...
• To change a reader’s or
listener’s point of view
• To ask the reader or
listener to take an action
• To gain acceptance for
the writer’s ideas about a
problem or issue
ARGUMENT • An argument is a discussion in which reasons
NOTES are put forward in support of and against a
claim. A written argument must meet several
CONT.
conditions in order to be a valid argument and
not merely an effort to persuade.

• The central claim needs to be debatable.

• The claim must be supported by evidence.
• The writer needs to address the opposition by
acknowledging counterclaims and the
evidence supporting them.
 Terms to Know
• Argument: Making a claim and supporting it using logic
• Persuasion: Making a claim and supporting it using
feelings and emotions.
• Claim: The position that you are trying to get your readers to
accept.
• Evidence: Facts that support your claim.
• Bridge or warrant: Statement that explains how the
evidence supports and connects to the claim.
• Counterclaim or counterargument:
Challenging the argument by addressing the position of
someone who may not agree with the argument.
• Turn-back or refutation: Demonstrating why the counter-
argument is wrong.
• Audience: Who will be affected by the topic? Who will read
the essay?
 Claims vs.
Statements

A good argument should have a CLAIM, not

a statement.
It's not an argument if you're just stating
facts.
 THE FOUR • Introduction and Claim: an opening that grabs
the reader’s attention while informing the

ELEMENTS reader of the claim, which is a clear and

straightforward statement of the writer’s belief

OF AN about the topic of the argument.

• Supporting paragraphs: the reasons offered in
EFFECTIVE support of a claim, supported by different

ARGUMENT:
types of evidence.
Continued • Concession and/or Refutation: restatements of
valid counterclaims made by the opposing
side (concessions) or the writer’s arguments
against those opposing viewpoints
(refutations), explaining why the writer’s
position is more valid.
• Conclusion/Call to Action: closing statements
restating the major arguments in defense of a
thesis (the claim) with a final challenge to the
reader to take action.
Structure
 Warm up:

• -Put your name on the paper

-Complete the exercises

-Turn it in.
Warm up • Come find your warm up from last class- they're on the
cart.
• Do the other side of that sheet.
• Turn it in.

• Turn in your paper about Jay (the one you got to pick)
Rhetoric & • It is a lawyer’s job to persuade a jury to side with his or
her client. Lawyers must make their client seem

the Art of believable and innocent.

• They do this by appealing to the jury’s sense of passion,

Persuasion ethics, and logic.

• In episode 8, Sarah Koenig attempts to uncover the
appeal Jay had on the jury members.
• Using Aristotle’s Rhetorical Appeals, you are going to
highlight the ways in which his lawyer makes the jury
members feel passion, trustworthiness, and use logic
when deciding whether or not to believe Jay’s story.
• In episode 8, listen and reread the following section
and highlight each rhetorical appeal using the colors
Pink (Passion) Emerald Green (Ethics) and Light Blue
(Logic.)
RHETORICAL
APPEALS

FIND AT LEAST THREE

EXAMPLES OF EACH TYPE OF
APPEAL
RUN ONS AND
FRAGMENTS
QUIZ
 Episode 9: To
Be Suspected

https://serialpodcast.org/season-one/9/to-
be-suspected

• Direct & Indirect Characterization

Warm Up: • Tape the notes into your journal.
• Turn in Episode 9 and Quiz
Characterization
 What is Characterization?
Characterization is the process by which the author reveals the
personality of the characters.
Two types:
—Direct
—Indirect
 Direct Characterization
Also known as “explicit” characterization
The author TELLS the audience what the personality of the character is.
Example: Perhaps it had something to do with living in a dark cupboard, but Harry had
always been small and skinny for his age. He looked even smaller and skinnier than he
really was because all he had to wear were old clothes
of Dudley's, and Dudley was about four times bigger than he was. Harry had a thin face,
knobbly knees, black hair, and bright green eyes. He wore round glasses held together with
a lot of Scotch tape because of all the times Dudley had punched him on the nose. The
only thing Harry liked about his own appearance was a very thin scar on his forehead that
was shaped like a bolt of lightning.
 Indirect Characterization
Also known as “implicit” characterization

The author SHOWS things that reveal the personality of the character.

There are FIVE different methods of indirect characterization: speech,

thoughts, effect on other characters, actions, and looks. (S.T.E.A.L)
 S—Speech
What does the character say? How does the character speak?

Example: "Thirty-six," he said, looking up at his mother and father. "That's

two less than last year."
 T—Thoughts
What is revealed through the character’s thoughts and feelings?

“Could there really be piles of wizard gold buried miles beneath them?
Were there really shops that sold spell books and broomsticks? Might this
not all be some huge joke that the Dursleys had cooked up? If Harry hadn't
known that the Dursleys had no sense of humor, he might have thought so;
yet somehow, even though everything Hagrid had told him so far was
unbelievable, Harry couldn't help trusting him.”
 E—Effect on Others
What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? How do
other characters feel or behave in reaction to the character?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em99vmJ3IQE
 A—Actions
What does the character do? How does the character
behave?

Example: "My dear Professor, surely a sensible person

like yourself can call him by his name? All of this 'You-
Kow-Who' nonsense -- for eleven years I have been
trying to persuade people to call him by his proper
name: Voldemort." Professor McGonagall flinched,
but Dumbledore, who was unsticking two lemon
drops, seemed not to notice.
 L—Looks
What does the character look like? How does the character dress?

The door swung open at once. A tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green

robes stood there. She had a very stern face and Harry's first thought
was that this was not someone to cross.
 Types of Characters
Dynamic

Static

Stock

Protagonist

Antagonist

And many more…

 Dynamic Character
A dynamic character is a person who changes over time, usually as a result
of resolving a central conflict or facing a major crisis. Most dynamic
characters tend to be central rather than peripheral characters, because
resolving the conflict is the major role of central characters.
 Static Character

A static character is someone who does not change over time; his or her
personality does not transform or evolve.
 Stock Character
Stock characters are those types of characters who have become
conventional or stereotypical through repeated use in particular types of
stories. Stock characters are instantly recognizable to readers or audience
members (e.g. the femme fatale, the cynical but moral private eye, the mad
scientist, the geeky boy with glasses, and the faithful sidekick).
 Protagonist
The protagonist is the central person in a story, and is often referred to as
the story's main character. They are faced with a conflict that must be
resolved. The protagonist may not always be admirable (e.g. an anti-hero);
nevertheless they must command involvement on the part of the reader, or
better yet, empathy.
 Antagonist
The antagonist is the character(s) (or situation) that represents the
opposition against which the protagonist must contend. In other words, the
antagonist is an obstacle that the protagonist must overcome.
 Example
Read the passage from “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” and
highlight examples of each type of characterization.

What do we think about these people? Why?

What does the characterization tell us about them?

 AT HOME:
Episode 10: The
Best Defense is a
Good Defense
https://serialpodcast.org/season-
one/10/the-best-defense-is-a-good-
defense

• DEJ
QUIZ

• You may use your DEJ.

• Turn in both when finished.
 Episode 11:
Rumors

• https://serialpodcast.org/season-
one/11/rumors

• Listening Questions
• 40 min
Warm Up

• Put your name on the paper

-Complete the exercises

-Turn it in.

-Get out Seminar Prep

 Episode 11:
Rumors

• https://serialpodcast.org/season-
one/11/rumors

• Listening Questions
• 40 min
Socratic
Seminar
Socratic • Beginner Goals
• Look at speaker

Seminar • Do not talk while speaker is talking

• Speak voluntarily at least twice
• Speak loudly so everyone can hear
• Use others’ names
• Share talk time
• Make clear, accurate statements
• Refer to the text
• Ask a question
Socratic • •Rules: Understand going in that this is an opinionated
discussion, and there will be people who feel

Seminar
differently than you. Please respect their opinion, even
if you don’t agree with them.
• •Goals: To be able to sustain a discussion on our
thoughts, questions, and theories about Serial for an
entire hour.
• •Norms:
• •No cell phones.
• •If you’ve already spoken on a question, you may not
speak again.
• •You will be called on by Potter for our first one.
• •It is very important that the conversation is not
dominated by a small group of people; therefore, all
parties will be given an opportunity to speak.
PSYCH
EVAL
Warm Up

• Put your name on the paper

-Complete the exercises

-Turn it in.

-Put cell phone in the white

basket
SOCRATIC
SEMINAR
Warm up:

•
-Put your name on the paper

-Complete the exercises

-Turn it in
 Episode 12:
What We Know

• https://serialpodcast.org/season-
one/12/what-we-know

• DEJ
• 55 min
 Warm up

• Tape the notes into your journal

 Course • Log in to a laptop
• Pull up your StudentVue

Selection • www.ccboe.com

• Once you're there, click "course request"

 Closing • Over the course of this unit, you have heard compelling
arguments for Adnan Syed’s guilt or innocence in the

Argument
murder of Hae Min Lee. Imagine you are a
lawyer. Write a multi-paragraph closing argument to
convince a jury of either Syed’s guilt or innocence,
addressing potential counterclaims and providing
substantial refutation. Use evidence from the entire
series to develop and support your ideas.

• Remember suggested argument set up:

• Introduction
• Reason 1
• Reason 2
• Counterargument & Refutation
• Conclusion
 • A theme is a primary message or moral that comes from a

Thematic story.
• A theme is a statement, not a word.
Concepts • For each topic on your sheet, write at least one complete,
detailed sentence.
TEST
 • Choose one of the three topics and respond to it in at least
half a page.
• 2A: Storytelling for Money
Judging • 2B: Reacting to the Audience

Genre Write- • 2C: Following a "living" story

Up
 Storytelling for Money
● At the beginning of this episode, the narrator explicitly asks for donations, which is different than any
stories you normally read in class. Usually somebody has to buy a book, or a set of books, before reading
them; in this case, the story is free, but they ask for donations later. Also, as this podcast is getting more
popular, they now have more advertisements than the original “Mail Chimp” plug.
● In what ways do you think the story might be told differently if it were already purchased, or if money
weren’t involved in any way?
● Now that we’re getting near the end of the season, consider which details or episodes seem necessary
to a coherent story, and which ones seem designed to attract listeners that might pay money. For
example, was the episode about Mr. S a necessary description of that part of her investigation, or was it
just a creepy scene meant to intrigue more people?
● If she were purely interested in telling a concise but complete chronicle of the case, without caring if
very many people listened, what details do you think she might minimize or cut, and which details do
you think she might talk more about?
 Reacting to an Audience
● In the week before this episode was published, Hae’s brother posted a comment on reddit.com:
● “...TO ME IT’S REAL LIFE. To you listeners, it’s another murder mystery, crime drama, another episode of
CSI. You weren't there to see your mom crying every night, having a heart attack when she got the news
that the body was found...you don't know what we went through. Especially to those who are demanding
our family response and having a meet-up... you guys are disgusting. Shame on you. I pray that you don't
have to go through what we went through and have your story blasted to 5mil listeners.”
● Sarah seems to respond with a long monologue in this episode about how she tried to reach out to Hae’s
family, and about how everybody says that Hae was a wonderful person.
● Think about how your listening experience is affected when the story is about real people who are still
alive, instead of fictional characters; and consider the ramifications of when the narrator actually responds
to the comments of listeners.
● Does the reality of the story make it more interesting for you, does it make you uncomfortable, or both?
● Does it make the story seem less like literature and more like the news, or is it not significantly different
from other classic stories you’ve read in class?
 Following a "living" story
● In this episode, Sarah says as an introduction, “Before we get to today’s episode where I’m going to
let Adnan talk for a while, I want to run by you some new information I’ve learned in the past week.”
● In most high school classes, the students read stories that have been finished, organized, and then
edited. The author completes the story, then it’s published, and that’s the end of it.
● This story, however, is being told as the investigation is happening, and the narrator is responding to
new information and reactions from her listeners.
● Consider how do you feel about this style of storytelling.
● Do you want your writer to know how the story ends before she starts telling you the details?
● Does the “new information” make it less like “literature” and more like a ongoing news story?
● Or is this a new, improved genre of literature that is superior to finished works of art?
• STATIONS: AT EACH STATION, PICK UP THE PAPER FROM THE BIN.
• WORK WITH YOUR GROUP TO COMPLETE EACH TASK.
Socratic • •Rules: Understand going in that this is an opinionated
discussion, and there will be people who feel

Seminar
differently than you. Please respect their opinion, even
if you don’t agree with them.
• •Goals: To be able to sustain a discussion on our
thoughts, questions, and theories about Serial for an
entire hour.
• •Norms:
• •No cell phones.
• •If you’ve already spoken on a question, you may not
speak again.
• •You will be called on by Potter for our first one.
• •It is very important that the conversation is not
dominated by a small group of people; therefore, all
parties will be given an opportunity to speak.
Project • choose wisely from the assignments below what you’d
like to complete in order to satisfy the 25 point

Intro minimum requirement.

• Prior to beginning, make your selections by circling
them and adding up the points.
• You MUST complete enough parts to reach 25 points or
more.
• You must complete at least one part from all three
sections (listening/weighing/connecting).
• Have your plan approved prior to beginning work.
FINAL
PROJECT
Final
Project, cont.
ESCAPE ROOM
PROJECT WORK
WARM
UP:
Tape the Notes into your
journal

-Put your name on the paper

-Complete the exercises

-Turn in the practice page.