Holes Lesson 22: One More Hole - PowerPoint

In Lesson 22 titled "One More Hole," the objective is to deepen the students' understanding of how the author, Louis Sachar, skillfully builds tension in his writing. The lesson centres around a pivotal moment in Chapter 45 of the novel "Holes," where the protagonists, Stanley and Zero, find themselves in a perilous situation with yellow-spotted lizards. Students are tasked with the analytical activity of sifting through the text to identify specific words, phrases, and sentences that contribute to the creation of a dramatic mood. They are encouraged to consider how Sachar's choices in language and sentence structure contribute to the suspenseful atmosphere of the scene.

To visually represent their findings, students are asked to plot the identified elements of tension on a graph, demonstrating the progression of suspense throughout the chapter. An exemplar graph provides guidance, showing various points of tension such as the warden's cautious retreat and Mr. Sir's disheveled appearance, culminating in the chapter's climax. Following this analysis, students are expected to write a paragraph discussing the techniques Sachar employs to build tension, with sentence starters provided to support their writing. This exercise not only enhances their literary analysis skills but also offers a practical understanding of how tension can be effectively orchestrated in narrative writing.