Ninth graders read chapters 18-27 of A Lesson Before Dying and examine how the interactions among the characters and the lessons learned by these characters develops a theme. Students also view the video, "Why Your Worst Deeds Don't Define You" and determine the claim the speaker is making about humanity and redemption. Students answer questions in order to make connections between the themes in A Lesson Before Dying and the claims made in "Why Your Worst Deeds Don't Define You." Students write a response that analyzes how the interactions among the characters result in lessons learned by Grant and Jefferson.