Unit Overview

In this unit, students will engage deeply with Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me through annotation, passage analysis, and focused note-taking. The text explores critical global issues such as systemic racism, historical oppression, identity formation, and the impact of institutional structures on marginalized communities. Students will analyze Coates' use of rhetorical strategies, personal narrative, and intertextual references to examine themes of identity, culture, representation, and communication. Through close reading, they will track the author’s arguments and stylistic choices, developing analytical skills essential for IB assessments. The unit will culminate in a mini HL essay, where students will construct a thesis-driven argument, using textual evidence to analyze how Coates conveys a global issue through literary and rhetorical techniques. This unit will encourage critical thinking and personal reflection, challenging students to connect Coates’ narrative to broader social and historical contexts.