Bibliographic Information:
This American Life # 494 The Slowest Distance Between Two Points, May 3, 2013.
<http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/494/hit-the-road>
Plot Description: This radio essay featured on This American Life tells the story of Andrew Forsthoefel, a young college graduate who loses his job and decides to walk across the United States. He embarks on this journey to not only see the country but to ask people for their stories, which he carefully documents for the radio program. In his interviews he asks people what “transformation” means to them and how they have experienced it.
Quantitative Reading Level: n/a
Qualitative Reading Analysis: Andrew’s story begins with his departure, but the interviews that comprise the bulk of the program are in a thematic order rather than chronological. There are many voices and points of view, but the dialogue is basically conversational and accessible to high school aged students and adults alike.
Content Area: English Language Arts, Reading Literature
Content Area Standard(s):
CCSS for Speaking and Listening, Grades 11-12: 2) Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) in order to make informed decisions and solve problems, evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source and noting any discrepancies among the data; 3) Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, assessing the stance, premises, links among ideas, word choice, points of emphasis, and tone used.
CCSS for Reading Literature, Grades 11-12: Analyze the impact of the author’s choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a story or drama (e.g., where a story is set, how the action is ordered, how the characters are introduced and developed).
Curriculum Suggestions: This podcast pairs well with the reading of Krakauer’s Into the Wild, which I taught for a Junior English class. Students were asked to compare Andrew with Christopher McCandless, noting the similarities between them and their journeys as well as key differences in their self discovery.
Supporting Digital Content: Transom is an educational website that explains how to compose radio programs like these: < http://transom.org/2013/walking-across-america-advice-for-young-man/>; Andrew’s blog which documents his journey in detail with maps and photos: < http://walkingtolisten.com/>.
Series Information: This American Life is a radio program/podcast from WBEZ Chicago, featuring a rich collection of engaging narratives that can be used in the classroom.
booksareforlovers 