Brick City Lesson Slides Deep Dive Plus Answer Bee Restoration Healing Brick City
Analyzing Argument & Structure
Entry Activity
1. Nickname Analysis
Why might a city be nicknamed "Brick City" ? What images come to mind?
2. The Prediction
The title is "Healing 'Brick City'." How does a doctor help "heal" a city?
Record your predictions on your handout.
Insights & Context
The Identity
Newark earned "Brick City" from its mid-20th century architecture. It represents resilience, strength, and the foundation of home.
The Mission
"Healing" isn't just about medicine. It's about:
Addressing poverty as a "wound."
Breaking cycles of trauma.
Rebuilding through representation.
Guiding the Journey
Learning Target
Analyze how Dr. Sampson Davis uses structure to transform personal stories into community healing.
Essential Question
"How can the way a story is told change how we see a city?"
Standard
CCR.AS.R.2: Analyze central ideas and their development.
Word Splash Quiz Bee
6 High-Stakes Vocabulary Challenges. Ready?
Question 01
Category: Verb
Which word means to be enrolled at a college or university?
A
Aspiration
B
Matriculate
C
Residency
D
Rural
The Correct Answer is B
Matriculate
"To enroll as a student at a college or university."
Question 02
Category: Noun / Adj
Which refers to a behavior that is forbidden by social custom?
A
Residency
B
Matriculate
C
Taboo
D
Stemmed
The Correct Answer is C
Taboo
"A social prohibition or forbidden discussion."
Question 03
Category: Verb
Which word means to originate from a specific source?
A
Aspiration
B
Rural
C
Stemmed
D
Matriculate
The Correct Answer is C
Stemmed
"To originate in or be caused by."
Question 04
Category: Noun
Which describes a period of medical training after medical school?
A
Residency
B
Matriculate
C
Aspiration
D
Taboo
The Correct Answer is A
Residency
"Specialized medical training in a hospital or clinic."
Question 05
Category: Noun
Which refers to a hope or ambition of achieving something?
A
Taboo
B
Rural
C
Aspiration
D
Stemmed
The Correct Answer is C
Aspiration
"A strong desire, longing, or aim; ambition."
Question 06
Category: Adjective
Which describes something relating to the countryside?
A
Residency
B
Rural
C
Taboo
D
Matriculate
The Correct Answer is B
Rural
"Characteristic of the countryside rather than the town."
Checkpoint
Vocabulary Mastered
1. Matriculate
2. Taboo
3. Stemmed
4. Residency
5. Aspiration
6. Rural
Deep Analysis
Let's dissect the "Snake" anecdote together.
Teacher Lead: Summary
"I DO"
The Core Argument
Medical care in the inner city is about more than medicine—it requires social consciousness and representation .
Structure
"By layering tragic personal anecdotes with professional observations, Davis moves the audience from empathy to action."
Healing "Brick City": Plot Map
01
The Return
Dr. Sampson Davis returns to Newark Beth Israel as a physician, facing his past and the community's future.
02
The Fork
The "Snake" story: A "fork in the road" moment that illustrates the thin line between success and tragedy.
03
Breaking Taboos
Normalizing mental health and smashing the "man code" that keeps people from seeking help.
04
Responsibility
The argument that success carries a duty to return and rebuild the home community from within.
Analyzing The Pact
Reviewing Collaborative Support
Focus Point 01
What obstacles did Dr. Davis face that made the pact essential for survival?
Focus Point 02
How does the trio reinforce "aiming for what you can see"?
Three Friends. One Promise.
"The Pact": A commitment to success against all odds.
"We made a deal that we would all go to medical school together. If one of us fell, we all fell."
Why was this pact necessary?
"WE DO" COLLABORATION
"How does the interview format allow Davis to share success without sounding boastful?"
THINK
Individual Tone Check
PAIR
Structural Analysis
SHARE
Class Insights
Digital Workshop
Independent Deep Dive
1. Read
Annotate the text in CommonLit for structural shifts.
2. Assess
Complete the platform questions to verify mastery.
Moral Circle Debate
Discussion Protocol
01. Moral Crime
"Is leaving your home community a 'moral crime'?"
Spark: Betrayal vs. Survival?
02. The Man Code
"Does the 'man code' cause more harm than good?"
Spark: Defense or Self-Destruction?
03. The Fork
"Individual choice or systemic control?"
Spark: Grit vs. System?
04. Medical Mission
"Can you fix a body without fixing the neighborhood?"
Spark: Medicine vs. Activism?
Protocol For Success
EVIDENCE
Refer directly to Dr. Davis's words or specific Newark statistics.
REBUTTAL
Respectfully address a partner's point before stating your own.
VOICE
Ensure every member of your circle speaks at least twice.
Final Challenge
Choice Board Tic-Tac-Toe
Don Moses Journal
Fork Infographic
"Man Code" Analysis
Vocab Splash
FREE CHOICE
Youth Med Flyer
Structure Map
Letter to Davis
Newark Today
Pick 3 to win!
Mastery Rubric
ANALYSIS
Go beyond summary. Connect your work to Dr. Davis's core argument.
EVIDENCE
Every choice must include specific details or data from the interview.
FORMAT
Ensure your project matches the required format precisely.
Exit Ticket
"How does success come with a 'social responsibility' to your home community? Reflect on your own future."
Submit your reflection slip before you leave!
Brick City Bell Ringer Handout Brick City Bell Ringer
Topic: Context & Predictions
Name:
Date:
Today we are reading about Dr. Sampson Davis , who returned to his hometown of Newark, NJ, also known as "Brick City."
1. The Nickname Analysis
Why might a city be nicknamed "Brick City"? What images come to mind?
2. The Prediction
The title is "Healing 'Brick City'." How does a doctor help "heal" a city?
Brick City Bell Ringer
Topic: Context & Predictions
Name:
Date:
Today we are reading about Dr. Sampson Davis , who returned to his hometown of Newark, NJ, also known as "Brick City."
1. The Nickname Analysis
Why might a city be nicknamed "Brick City"? What images come to mind?
2. The Prediction
The title is "Healing 'Brick City'." How does a doctor help "heal" a city?
Brick City Quiz Answer Key Teacher Resource
Quiz Answer Key
"Healing 'Brick City': A Newark Doctor Returns Home"
OFFICIAL
1
Which statement best describes the central idea of the interview?
C. Education can save lives, and those who succeed have a social responsibility to return and help their home communities.
Rationale: This captures both the personal success story (education) and the moral argument Davis makes regarding social responsibility.
2
How does the discussion of "taboos" regarding mental illness support Davis's overall argument?
A. It highlights the cultural and social barriers that prevent individuals from seeking the help they need to survive.
Rationale: Davis uses the "man code" and taboos to explain why medical reform must include cultural understanding, not just physical facilities.
3
Interaction Analysis: Why does the interviewer (Scott Simon) bring up Davis’s mother late in the conversation?
B. To reveal the source of Davis's "social consciousness" and the values that drive his career choices.
Rationale: The shift toward his family life provides the "why" behind his medical mission, humanizing the academic argument.
4
Structural Analysis (Sample Response)
"By introducing Don Moses early as a friend and peer, Davis establishes a baseline of shared potential. When his name later appears as 'deceased' on a trauma board, it creates a stark contrast that illustrates the 'fork in the road.' This structural return to a specific person makes the abstract 'crime' of not returning home feel urgent and personal, proving that the choices students make—and the support they receive—have life-or-death consequences."
Look For:
Mention of contrast/juxtaposition.
Connection to the "fork in the road."
Analysis of structural repetition.
Standard Alignment:
RI.9-10.5: Analyze in detail how an author’s ideas or claims are developed and refined by particular sentences, paragraphs, or larger portions of a text.
Debate Facilitator Guide Teacher Guide
Debate Facilitator Guide
"Moral Crossroads" Activity Guide & Answer Key
Socratic Format
Brick City Resiliency
Materials Needed:
Debate Card Sets Activity Rubrics Student Interview Text
How to Conduct the Debate
1
Set the Stage
Arrange desks in circles of 4. Each group needs one set of **Moral Crossroads Debate Cards**. Distribute the **Activity Rubric** so students know they are assessed on evidence use and collaborative listening .
2
The "Hot Seat" Defense
The student who flips the card has 60 seconds to defend the claim, regardless of their personal opinion. This builds rhetorical flexibility. They must cite one detail from the interview.
3
The Peer Challenge
After the defense, the other 3 students offer counter-arguments or ask "pressure questions" (e.g., "But what about the financial cost?"). The group then votes: **Sound** or **Flawed**.
4
Whole-Class Debrief
Select the most controversial card (usually Card 1 or 3) to debate as a whole room. Use a "Fishbowl" style where one group debates in the center while others observe.
Debate "Look-Fors" (Answer Key)
Card 01: The "Moral Crime"
Topic: Responsibility
Evidence for the Claim (Pro)
Dr. Davis highlights the "brain drain"—when talent leaves, the community loses its best advocates.
Successful individuals have the unique "insider knowledge" needed to fix systemic issues.
Returning provides a tangible "success blueprint" for youth.
Counter-Arguments (Con)
Success shouldn't come with a life sentence to one location.
Individuals may face trauma or triggers by returning to high-stress environments.
One can support a community from afar (financial support, mentorship) without living there.
Card 02: The "Man Code"
Topic: Cultural Barriers
Evidence for the Claim (Pro)
Davis notes men often wait until symptoms are terminal because they view vulnerability as weakness.
The "code" prioritizes "toughness" over preventative care, leading to higher mortality rates.
Counter-Arguments (Con)
The "code" is a survival mechanism in dangerous environments; removing it might leave men vulnerable to other threats.
Is it the "code" or a lack of affordable/trustworthy healthcare that is the
Structural Healing Lesson Guide Teacher Resource
Structural Healing
Lesson Facilitation Guide
90 Minutes
Unit: Brick City Resiliency
Objective
Students will analyze how the structure of an interview develops a central idea about social responsibility and community healing.
Key Text
"Healing 'Brick City': A Newark Doctor Returns Home" (NPR Interview with Dr. Sampson Davis).
Standards
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.2
Facilitation Procedure
1
Bell Ringer & Anticipation (10 mins)
Distribute the Brick City Bell Ringer Handout . Have students reflect on the concept of "home" and the responsibility one has to their community. Discuss: Does success mean moving away, or coming back?
2
Direct Instruction (15 mins)
Use the Brick City Lesson Slides . Introduce Dr. Sampson Davis and the context of Newark ("Brick City"). Focus on Slide 5 (Text Structure vs. Essay Structure). Explain how interviews rely on interaction to build an argument.
3
Guided Listening/Reading (25 mins)
Play the NPR interview (embedded in Slides). Focus student attention on these key interactions:
The "Fork in the Road" (Don Moses story)
The "Man Code" as a barrier to health
The role of Dr. Davis's mother and upbringing
4
Collaborative Debate (20 mins)
Divide students into groups for the Moral Crossroads Debate Cards . Students take turns defending and challenging controversial claims from the text.
Teacher Tip: Use the Debate Facilitator Guide for the "look-fors" and specific pro/con arguments. This separate guide contains the full answer key and discussion "nudges" to keep groups on track.
5
Choice Board & Assessment (20 mins)
Students spend time on the Brick City Choice Board or complete the Formative Quiz . Conclude with the Reflection Exit Ticket .
Crucial Discussion Questions
On Structure:
"How does hearing the story of Don Moses *before* the discussion of systemic healthcare change your emotional reaction to the doctor's statistics?"
On Responsibility:
"Davis calls it a 'moral crime' to not return. Is that a fair burden to place on someone who worked hard to escape struggle?"
Brick City Choice Board Key Teacher Guide
Choice Board Key
"Healing 'Brick City': A Newark Doctor Returns Home"
Structural Healing
Goal
Demonstrate understanding of text structure, central ideas, and systemic arguments through student choice.
Scoring
Score each task on a 4-point scale: Depth, Accuracy, Evidence, and Effort (Max 12 points total).
Level
Tasks range from foundation-building (Visual) to advanced synthesis (Opinion/Research).
Task Category Exemplary Response Look-Fors Narrative (Don Moses) Captures the emotional weight of seeing a peer's 'A'; reflects the tension between education and street culture. Visual (Infographic) Accurately identifies the "fork in the road" and specific facilitators/barriers mentioned in the interview. Analysis (Man Code) Explains how social taboos around vulnerability create barriers to healthcare and mental health services. Vocab (Word Splash) Integrates academic vocabulary (e.g., systemic, resilience) into original, context-rich sentences about Newark. Free Choice Projects must demonstrate high engagement while maintaining direct alignment with the text’s central themes. Outreach (Brochure) Combines persuasive writing with text evidence to encourage peers to pursue healthcare-related career paths. Structure (Blueprint) Identifies shift from personal narrative to systemic argument; highlights the significance of Davis’s mother. Opinion (Letter) Constructs a logical argument supporting or debating the "moral crime" of not returning to one's community. Research (Newark Fact) Integrates external research with text themes; evaluates how current data supports or refutes Davis's claims.
Quick Feedback Stamps
!
Missing Evidence
Response lacks direct references to the interview transcript or specific data points.
✓
Structural Insight
Excellent connection between the interview's timeline and the development of the argument.
?
Vague Analysis
Needs deeper exploration of how community factors directly impact medical outcomes.
★
Exemplary Synthesis
Work goes beyond basic summary to provide original insights into social responsibility.
Brick City Formative Quiz Formative Quiz
"Healing 'Brick City': A Newark Doctor Returns Home"
Student Name:
Class Date:
1. Which statement best describes the central idea of the interview?
A. Dr. Davis believes that growing up in Newark makes it impossible to succeed without extreme luck.
B. Success in the medical field requires moving away from your home community permanently and never looking back.
C. Education can save lives, and those who succeed have a social responsibility to return and help their home communities.
D. Mental health is secondary to physical health in urban environments, according to Dr. Davis's experience.
2. How does the discussion of "taboos" regarding mental illness support Davis's overall argument?
A. It highlights the cultural and social barriers that prevent individuals from seeking the help they need to survive.
B. It demonstrates that the "man code" is a necessary survival tool in high-crime neighborhoods like Newark.
C. It suggests that modern medicine has failed because it does not recognize the importance of athletics.
D. It proves that most inner-city residents are afraid of doctors and will only visit trauma centers in emergencies.
3. Interaction Analysis: Why does the interviewer (Scott Simon) bring up Davis’s mother late in the conversation?
A. To change the subject because the interview had become too focused on trauma and tragedy.
B. To reveal the source of Davis's "social consciousness" and the values that drive his career choices.
C. To criticize his childhood upbringing and question why his siblings did not also become doctors.
D. To promote a new memoir his mother is writing about raising successful children in Brick City.
4. Structural Analysis (Short Answer)
The text mentions "Don Moses" early as a childhood peer and later as a name on a trauma board labeled "deceased." Explain how this specific structural choice helps Davis develop his argument about the "fork in the road."
Brick City Reflection Exit Ticket Handout Reflection
Brick City Reflection
Name:
Dr. Davis argues that success comes with a "social responsibility" to your home community. How does his story change or strengthen your perspective on "giving back"?
Reflection
Brick City Reflection
Name:
Dr. Davis argues that success comes with a "social responsibility" to your home community. How does his story change or strengthen your perspective on "giving back"?
Reflection
Brick City Reflection
Name:
Dr. Davis argues that success comes with a "social responsibility" to your home community. How does his story change or strengthen your perspective on "giving back"?
Brick City Choice Board Brick City Choice Board
Differentiated Activities for "Healing Brick City"
TIC-TAC-TOE Challenge: Choose THREE activities that form a straight line (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal). Record your work in the response area below.
Narrative
Write a journal entry from the perspective of Don "Snake" Moses on the day he saw Sampson earn an 'A'.
Visual
Create a "Fork in the Road" infographic showing the paths described in the text.
Analysis
Explain how the "Man Code" functions as a barrier to health care in the inner city.
Vocab
Create a "Word Splash" using 5 text words in original sentences about Newark's future.
Free Choice
Propose a project about the text's theme. Must be teacher-approved.
Outreach
Design a brochure for a youth program that encourages medical careers.
Structure
Map an "Interview Blueprint" identifying where the tone shifts from past to future.
Opinion
Write a letter to Dr. Davis about his claim that not returning home is a "crime."
Research
Find one recent fact about Newark. Does it support Davis's vision for change?
Responses
Name:
Activity 1:
Activity 2:
Activity 3:
Moral Crossroads Debate Cards Collaborative Activity
Moral Crossroads Cards
"Healing 'Brick City': A Newark Doctor Returns Home"
Discussion extension
The Moral Circle: How to Play
1. Form Circles
Divide into groups of 4. Place cards face down in the center. Select a 'Moderator' to track time.
2. Flip & Defend
A student flips a card and must defend the "Claim" for 60 seconds using evidence from the interview.
3. Counter & Rule
Group offers counter-arguments. Group must vote: Is the claim "Ethically Sound" or "Critically Flawed"?
Card 01
The Moral Crime
"Davis claims it is a 'moral crime' for successful people to not return to their community."
Debate Spark:
Does an individual owe their success to their roots, or was it achieved *in spite* of them? Is leaving a betrayal or survival?
Card 02
The Man Code
"Davis argues the 'man code'—never being vulnerable—is a major barrier to healthcare."
Debate Spark:
Is the 'man code' a necessary defense mechanism for survival, or a self-destructive taboo that prevents community healing?
Card 03
The Fork in the Road
"Don Moses and Sampson Davis started at the same place but ended in opposite worlds."
Debate Spark:
Was the difference in their outcomes a matter of grit and choice, or was it a result of systemic factors beyond their control?
Card 04
The Medical Mission
"Healthcare in urban areas must address trauma and environment, not just physical injury."
Debate Spark:
Should doctors be social activists or strictly medical pros? Is it possible to heal a body without healing the neighborhood?
Brick City Activity Rubrics Handout Teacher Assessment Resource
Activity Rubrics
"Healing 'Brick City': A Newark Doctor Returns Home"
Brick City Resiliency
Moral Crossroads Debate Rubric
Criterion Exemplary (4) Proficient (3) Developing (2-1) Evidence Use Consistently uses specific direct quotes or data from the text to support claims. Uses text references or paraphrased evidence to support most claims. Relies on personal opinion with little or no direct text evidence. Counter-Argument Respectfully acknowledges opposing views and effectively rebuts them. Acknowledges an opposing view but response lacks specific evidence. Dismisses other views or fails to address counter-arguments. Collaboration Actively invites others into the discussion; follows all group norms. Participates clearly and listens to others during the discussion. Dominates conversation or remains silent; ignores group norms.
Choice Board Challenge Rubric
Criterion Exemplary (4) Proficient (3) Developing (2-1) Depth of Analysis Demonstrates deep synthesis of central ideas across all 3 tasks. Shows clear understanding of text themes in most chosen tasks. Responses are superficial or purely summary with no analysis. Textual Alignment All 3 responses are perfectly aligned with specific details from the interview. Most responses align with the text, though some details may be vague. Content has little connection to the specific text provided. Creative Format Masterfully uses the required format (e.g., brochure, letter, blueprint). Follows the required format clearly for all three choices. Format is ignored or inconsistent with the task description.
?
Total Score: ____ / 12
Final Evaluation: __________
Brick City Choice Board Answer Key Complete Lesson Key
Unit: Brick City Resiliency
Teacher Resource
Text Summary
Healing 'Brick City': A Newark Doctor Returns Home is an NPR interview with Dr. Sampson Davis. He discusses his journey from a drug-infested Newark community to becoming an emergency physician at the very hospital where he was born.
The text highlights the "fork in the road" between Davis and his childhood friend "Snake," who chose crime and eventually died in the trauma unit where Davis worked. Davis argues for systemic health care reform, breaking the "man code" taboo surrounding mental health, and the moral duty of professionals to return and heal their hometowns.
Word Splash Quiz Bee (Slides 5-16)
1. Aspiration
Answer: B (Desire for goals)
2. Taboo
Answer: C (Restricted by custom)
3. Matriculate
Answer: B (Enroll in college)
4. Rural
Answer: B (Country/Agriculture)
5. Stemmed
Answer: A (Originated from)
6. Residency
Answer: C (Advanced training)
Video Guide Questions (Slide 22)
Q1: What specific obstacles did they face?
Possible Answer: Drug-infested communities, negative peer pressure, armed robbery temptations, and lack of visual professional role models.
Q2: How does seeing them together reinforce the argument?
Possible Answer: It proves that "seeing" success (the Pact) makes the goal attainable. Their collective success is visual proof that education can change the fabric of their lives.
Choice Board Answer Guide
1. Narrative (Snake's POV)
Should contrast Sampson’s academic hope with Snake’s resignation to street life. Look for mentions of "the fork in the road."
2. Visual (Infographic)
Must show two distinct paths. Sampson: Education, Return, Healing. Snake: Crime, Jail, Trauma Board.
3. Analysis (Man Code)
Must explain the "taboo" of appearing weak. The "Man Code" prevents talking about depression, leading to suicide or lack of medical help.
4. Vocab Splash
Check for correct contextual usage of Aspiration, Taboo, Matriculate, Rural, and Stem.
6. Outreach (Brochure)
Should emphasize "representation" and "giving back"—core themes of Dr. Davis’s message.
7. Structure Blueprint
Should identify the shift from personal tragedy (first 2/3) to social activism/argument (final 1/3).
8. Opinion Letter
Must take a stand on if not returning is a "crime." Look for text evidence from the section on his mother's values.
