The Tortilla Curtain Lesson Plan

If all of the elements of this lesson plan are employed, students will develop the following powers, skills, and understanding:

1. 1

   Develop a thorough understanding of the elements of T.C. Boyle’s life and experiences that have shaped his worldview and his writings;

2. 2

   Understand and analyze the cultural framing for this novel, and the real-life events and conflicts surrounding the immigration debate in the United States, both when the novel was written and now;

3. 3

   Read The Tortilla Curtain with an eye to the linguistic and thematic details that Boyle is known for, and recognize the broader themes present throughout The Tortilla Curtain;

4. 4

   Analyze and discuss, both...