Units of Study 8th Grade Theme: Analyzing Conflict. Year at a Glance

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1 Units of Study 8th Grade Theme: Analyzing Conflict The Big Ideas in English Language Arts that drive instruction: Independent thinkers construct meaning through language. Through literacy experiences, we discover personal values, build self-awareness, and gain an appreciation of a variety of perspectives to have a more meaningful and enjoyable life. English Language Arts helps us use a variety of literacy experiences to gain insight and effectively express ourselves to the world. Year at a Glance Title Writing s Assessed 1 st Six Weeks Nature of Conflict Creative Writing Reading Strategies Levels of Questions 2 nd Six Weeks Journey of Thought: The Essay Journey of Thought: The Essay 3 rd Six Weeks Our Country in Conflict Literary Analysis 4 th Six Weeks Inner/Relational Conflict Literary Discovering Identity Analysis 5 th Six Weeks Editorial/Commentary Research (Thematic) Editorial or Commentary Writing Trait Focus Writing Trait Organization Main Idea Text Structures Compare/Contrast & Problem/Solution Literary Analysis/Elements Author s Purpose Writing Trait Elaboration Inferences Textual Evidence Writing Trait - Conventions Paraphrasing/Summary Research s Presentation s 6 th Six Weeks Our World in Conflict Multi-genre Writing Trait Voice Writing Trait Style Sentence Structure Figurative Language

2 TOPIC: Thematic Multi-genre Nature of Conflict BIG IDEA: Readers utilize strategies to interact with the text and determine meaning. Writing - Creative Writing 8.15D write to entertain such as to compose humorous poems or short stories 8.11B interpret text ideas through such varied means as journal writing, discussion, enactment, and media Reading - Reading Strategies - Connect - Visualize - Predict - Clarify - Question - Evaluate Three Levels of Questions 8.10A use his/her own knowledge and experience to comprehend 8.10B monitor his/her own comprehension and make modifications when understanding breaks down 8.10C describe mental images that text descriptions evoke 8.10K answer different types and levels of questions such as openended, literal and interpretative 8.10M use study strategies to learn and recall important ideas from texts such as preview, question, reread, and record Readers interact with the text as they read. Applying reading strategies helps with comprehension. s How do I apply reading strategies when my comprehension breaks down and I don t understand what I read? Thematic Why is conflict an integral part of every story and human experience? Thinking of similarities between the descriptions in the selection and what you have personally experienced, heard about or read about is connecting. Clarifying is stopping occasionally to review what you understand and expecting to have your understanding change and develop as you read. Question what happens as you read. Search for reasons behind events and characters feelings. Trying to figure out what will happen next and how the selection might end is predicting. Apply reading strategies when reading a text. Monitor their own reading and utilize fix-it strategies when comprehension breaks down. Identify and create the three levels of questions. Craft a creative piece of writing with the purpose of entertaining. Visualizing is creating images in your mind as you read. Developing opinions or ideas about the characters, events, and concepts in what you read is evaluating. 3 Levels of Questions - Introduction Level 1 can find the direct answer in the text Level 2 must make an inference and use textual evidence to support the answer Level 3 thematic question students can answer without having read the text.

3 TOPIC: Genre Essay Unit of Study BIG IDEA: Writers immerse themselves with models of the type of writing they want to attempt and utilize writing as a tool for thinking. Writing - Reading - Essay Trait Focus Trait Organization Main Idea Text Structures - Compare/Contrast - Problem/Solution By determining successful characteristics in a particular genre, students can also write an effective paper in that genre. Writers need to keep a piece of writing focused to help with clarity and understanding. The organization of a piece of writing is determined by the meaning the writer wants to convey. The process of writing helps people discover, organize, and/or change their thinking. An essay is a piece of writing where the writer takes the reader on a journey of his/her thinking as they try out an idea. (Randy Bomer) Focus and coherence is choosing an appropriate topic, having a purpose, and a sense of completeness. A cohesive piece of writing carries a theme throughout a piece of writing, tying it all together so that the writing flows and connects. Organization is when a paper contains a hook or lead, sentence to sentence connections, paragraph to paragraph progression and a closing. The order and logic of the paper makes sense. Transitions connect different ideas, tie paragraphs or sentences together, and allow a piece of writing to flow smoothly. A hook or lead is the opening lines of a piece of writing. Examples of hooks include: dialogue, questions, action statements, wondering thoughts, descriptions, and quotations. The conclusion of a piece of writing should tie up the writing, bring it to a sense of closure, and possibly include a statement of discovery or learning. The main idea is what the paragraph or passage is mostly about or the most important idea the writer is trying to state. Compare and contrast writing is organized by taking two or more ideas and finds the similarities and differences between them. A problem/solution text structure approaches the subject by discussing the issue or conflict and then offering various answers or resolutions to the problem. 8.15A write to express, discover, record, develop, reflect on ideas, and to problem solve 8.15H produce cohesive and coherent written texts by organizing ideas, using effective transitions, and choosing precise wording 8.18B develop drafts by categorizing ideas, organizing them into paragraphs, and blending paragraphs within larger units of texts. 8.18D revise drafts for coherence, progression, and logical support of ideas. 8.10F determine a text s main (or major ideas) and how those ideas are supported with details 8.10E use the text s structure or progression of ideas such as cause and effect or chronology to locate and recall information 8.10I find similarities and differences across texts such as in treatment, scope, or organization 8.12I analyze ways authors organize and present ideas such as through cause/effect, compare/contrast, inductively, deductively, or chronologically What organizational strategy will best convey the meaning of my essay and why? Genre What are the characteristics of a successful essay? How has writing changed my thinking? Read different pieces of text and determine the writing organizational structure. Identify and analyze compare/contrast and problem/solution text structures while reading. Read models of essays and determine characteristics of the genre. Write an essay using the writing process. Make sure the written essay is focused on one topic. Determine what organizational strategy will best convey the meaning of the piece. Use effective transitions to progress the reader through the text. Reflect on how writing can change and impact our thinking. Demonstrate the ability to read a text and determine the main idea. Identify details supporting the main idea of a selection.

4 TOPIC: Thematic Multi-genre - Our Country In Conflict Unit BIG IDEA: Analyzing text for meaning can help us learn how to analyze our own lives and become critical thinkers. Writing Literary Analysis Writing 8..15B write to influence such as to persuade, argue, and request Reading - Author s Purpose Literary Analysis - Point of View (3 rd limited and omniscient) - Character motivation - Allusion - Theme - Tone 8.12A identify the purposes of different types of texts such as to inform, influence, express, or entertain 8.12F analyze characters, including their traits, motivations, conflicts, points of view, relationships and changes they undergo. 8.12H describe how the author s perspective or point of view affects the text. 8.12J recognize and interpret literary devices such as flashback, foreshadowing, and symbolism. 8.12K recognize how style, tone, and mood contribute to the effect of text. 8.11C support responses by referring to relevant aspects of text and his/her own experiences Readers need to understand the author s purpose of a piece of writing before they can fully comprehend the meaning of the text. Breaking down a text and analyzing the elements can help us determine the meaning of the text. 8.11D connect, compare, and contrast ideas, themes and issues across texts s How does analyzing a piece of literature help me determine the meaning? How has literature impacted my life? Thematic Is war a necessary component of society? Why or why not? The author s purpose is the reason for creating the writing and includes: to inform, to persuade, to entertain and to reflect. The point of view is the perspective from which the story is told. Omniscient third person means that the author can write about the thoughts and feelings of all the characters. Limited third person means that the author can only tell the thoughts and feelings of one of the characters. An allusion is a reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art. Character motivation is analyzing why characters perform certain actions or make certain decisions. Determine the author s purpose of various pieces and genres of literature. Analyze and recognize how different genres can all connect to a similar theme. Analyze the various literary elements within pieces of literature and discuss how they contribute to the theme and the effectiveness of the piece. Write literary analysis responses with fully elaborated and explained ideas. The central message of a literary work is theme. The tone is the writer or speaker s attitude toward a subject, character, or audience, and it is conveyed through the author s diction and syntax.

5 TOPIC: Thematic Multi-genre Inner/Relational Conflict/Discovering Identity BIG IDEA: Writing gives people the opportunity to express different thoughts and perspectives to others in society. Reading often makes us rethink our preconceived ideas and see things in a new way. Writing Literary Analysis Writing Trait - Elaboration Reading - Inferences Textual Evidence - Embedded Quotes 8.15B write to influence such as to persuade, argue, and request 8.18C revise selected drafts by adding, elaborating, deleting, combining, and rearranging text 8.10I find similarities and differences across texts such as in treatment, scope, or organization 8.11C support responses by referring to relevant aspects of text and his/her own experiences 8.11D connect, compare, and contrast ideas, themes, and issues across texts 8.9H draw inferences such as conclusions or generalizations and support them with text evidence and experience A reader must make inferences while reading to better understand the deeper meaning of the text. Readers need to defend analysis and reactions to literature by finding and explaining appropriate text evidence to support their ideas. When and how will I have to make inferences throughout life? Thematic What factors affect how a person responds to inner conflict? Does inner conflict build or destroy character? Finding themes in literature help make reading relevant and change lives by altering thinking. Making an inference is using the clues in the text to draw a conclusion about what you read. Elaboration in a piece of writing and giving enough examples, explanations, facts, reasons, details, and descriptions to fully support each thought or point is called ideas. Finding textual evidence means using direct words from the text to support ideas. Embedding quotes means to choose the important words and phrases from the text and incorporate them into your own sentences to make a more seamless response. Make inferences and draw conclusions while reading various pieces of text. Analyze and recognize how different genres can all connect to a similar theme. Answer literary analysis short answer response questions by embedding quotes with the explanation within the answer. Write a literary analysis essay expressing how an author supports a particular theme in a literary piece or various literary works. Elaborate appropriately within the literary analysis essay.

6 TOPIC: Genre Editorial/Commentary Unit of Study - Research BIG IDEA: Inquiry and research help people discover new information, formulate questions, and become critical thinkers while making decisions. Writing Reading Research Speaking Editorial/Commentary utilizing research Trait - Conventions Paraphrasing Summarizing Identifying thesis statements Note-taking - Formal Outline - Affinity Questioning - Form essential questions Thesis - Write a thesis statement Documentation - Parenthetical Documentation - Bibliography (3s sources) Presentation s - Filler Words - Body Language - Volume/Rate/Pitch Writing is a tool for learning and research. Research helps people make well-informed decisions. People must always document information to avoid plagiarizing someone else s work. Writers must often research in order to write knowledgeably about a topic. An editorial is the opinion of a newspaper on a current issue. A commentary gives the opinion of the writer about current happenings in politics, culture or society. Op-ed refers to both commentary and editorials in the newspaper. Op-ed pages clump commentary and editorials together. Conventions refer to the appropriate use of grammar, usage, and mechanics. A summary is a short restatement of a literary piece including the main points and concepts of the selection. Paraphrasing is the restatement of a text by readers in their own words or in another form. A thesis statement is the main point of a piece of writing giving the assertion of the writer. 8.15B write to influence such as to persuade, argue, and request 8.10G paraphrase and summarize text to recall, inform, or organize ideas 8.13A form and revise questions for investigations 8.13B use text organizers, including headings, graphic features, and tables of contents to locate and organize information 8.13C use multiple sources, including electronic texts, experts, and print resources, to locate information relevant to research questions 8.13D interpret and use graphic sources of information such as maps, graphs, timelines, or tables to address research questions 8.13E summarize and organize information from multiple sources by taking notes, outlining ideas, and making charts 8.13F produce research projects and reports in effective formats 8.13G draw conclusions from information gathered from multiple sources 8.20A frame questions to direct research 8.20C take notes from relevant and authoritative sources such as guest speakers, periodicals, and on-line sources 8.20D summarize and organize ideas gained from multiple sources in useful ways such as outlines, conceptual maps, learning logs, & timelines 8.20G follow accepted formats for writing research, including documenting sources How has research made me a better reader, writer, and thinker? Why is it important to always document sources where information is found? Genre How are editorials and commentaries used and applied in the larger world? Read models of editorials/commentaries and determine characteristics of a successful commentary/editorial. Summarize information from a variety of literary and informational texts. Paraphrase information from a variety of literary and informational texts. Identify thesis statements in various pieces of literary texts. Big 6 Research - Determine a topic to research. - Write essential questions. - Find relevant sources and information about the topic. - Utilize note-taking strategies (outline, affinity) to summarize/paraphrase information. - Write an editorial/commentary using the writing process and incorporating the researched information with appropriate parenthetical documentation. - Write an appropriate thesis statement within the editorial/commentary. - Use appropriate conventions within the written editorial/commentary. - Document sources used. Present information while utilizing appropriate speaking skills.

7 TOPIC: Genre Editorial/Commentary Unit of Study - Research BIG IDEA: Inquiry and research help people discover new information, formulate questions, and become critical thinkers while making decisions. Writing Reading Research Speaking Editorial/Commentary utilizing research Trait - Conventions Paraphrasing Summarizing Identifying thesis statements Note-taking - Formal Outline - Affinity Questioning - Form essential questions Thesis - Write a thesis statement Documentation - Parenthetical Documentation - Bibliography (3s sources) Presentation s - Filler Words - Body Language - Volume/Rate/Pitch Writing is a tool for learning and research. Research helps people make well-informed decisions. People must always document information to avoid plagiarizing someone else s work. Writers must often research in order to write knowledgeably about a topic. An editorial is the opinion of a newspaper on a current issue. A commentary gives the opinion of the writer about current happenings in politics, culture or society. Op-ed refers to both commentary and editorials in the newspaper. Op-ed pages clump commentary and editorials together. Conventions refer to the appropriate use of grammar, usage, and mechanics. A summary is a short restatement of a literary piece including the main points and concepts of the selection. Paraphrasing is the restatement of a text by readers in their own words or in another form. A thesis statement is the main point of a piece of writing giving the assertion of the writer. 8.15B write to influence such as to persuade, argue, and request 8.10G paraphrase and summarize text to recall, inform, or organize ideas 8.13A form and revise questions for investigations 8.13B use text organizers, including headings, graphic features, and tables of contents to locate and organize information 8.13C use multiple sources, including electronic texts, experts, and print resources, to locate information relevant to research questions 8.13D interpret and use graphic sources of information such as maps, graphs, timelines, or tables to address research questions 8.13E summarize and organize information from multiple sources by taking notes, outlining ideas, and making charts 8.13F produce research projects and reports in effective formats 8.13G draw conclusions from information gathered from multiple sources 8.20A frame questions to direct research 8.20C take notes from relevant and authoritative sources such as guest speakers, periodicals, and on-line sources 8.20D summarize and organize ideas gained from multiple sources in useful ways such as outlines, conceptual maps, learning logs, & timelines 8.20G follow accepted formats for writing research, including documenting sources How has research made me a better reader, writer, and thinker? Why is it important to always document sources where information is found? Genre How are editorials and commentaries used and applied in the larger world? Read models of editorials/commentaries and determine characteristics of a successful commentary/editorial. Summarize information from a variety of literary and informational texts. Paraphrase information from a variety of literary and informational texts. Identify thesis statements in various pieces of literary texts. Big 6 Research - Determine a topic to research. - Write essential questions. - Find relevant sources and information about the topic. - Utilize note-taking strategies (outline, affinity) to summarize/paraphrase information. - Write an editorial/commentary using the writing process and incorporating the researched information with appropriate parenthetical documentation. - Write an appropriate thesis statement within the editorial/commentary. - Use appropriate conventions within the written editorial/commentary. - Document sources used. Present information while utilizing appropriate speaking skills.

8 TOPIC: Thematic/Genre Multi-genre Our World in Conflict BIG IDEA: When constructing text, a writer must choose a genre that most effectively achieves the purpose of the text. Writing Multi-genre Paper Trait Voice Trait Style Sentence Structure 8.15F choose the appropriate form for his/her own purpose for writing, including journals, letters, editorials, reviews, poems, presentations, narratives, reports, and instructions 8.15C write to inform such as to explain, describe, report, and narrate Reading Figurative Language 8.15E select and use voice and style appropriate to audience and - Metaphor purpose - Imagery - Symbolism 8.15G use literary devices effectively such as suspense, dialogue, and figurative language A multi-genre paper consists of different genres working together to tell or story or represent a theme. Writers utilize a variety a sentence structures to better convey meaning. Writers must utilize a variety of tools to create voice and style in writing. Figurative language helps the reader better experience the writing and understand the meaning of the text by producing images in a reader s mind to express ideas in fresh vivid, and imaginative ways. A Multi-genre paper utilizes different kinds of writing in a single text with a common theme or idea. A metaphor is a comparison of two unlike things not using like or as. A symbol is any object, person, place, or action that has both a meaning of it s own and that stands for something larger than itself, such as a quality, attitude, belief, or value. 8.18E edit drafts for specific purposes such as to ensure standard usage, varied sentence structure, and appropriate word 8.17B write in complete sentences, varying the types such as compound and complex, and use of appropriately punctuated dependent and independent clauses. 8.12J recognize and interpret literary devices such as flashback, foreshadowing, and symbolism 8.12K recognize how style, tone, and mood contribute to the effect of the text 8.11D connect, compare, and contrast ideas, themes, and issues across texts How would I describe my own voice and style when writing? How does changing the structure of a sentence impact the meaning of a piece of writing? Thematic How do events of the world (past and present) affect my own life? How can I make a difference in the world? Imagery is words or phrases a writer uses to represent persons, objects, actions, feelings, and ideas descriptively by appealing to the senses. The personality and distinct way of talking on paper that allow a reader to hear a human personality in a piece of writing is voice. Read models of multi-genre works and determine the characteristics of the genre. Sentence fluency and word choice help to create the style of a writer. Sentence fluency includes rhythmic or flowing sentences that are easy to read, varied sentence length, and effective sentence structures. Word choice incorporates just right language relying on strong verbs and precise nouns. It creates word pictures in the head of the reader. A Parallel Sentence Structure (Parallelism) is the use of similar grammatical constructions to express ideas that are related or equal in importance. A participial phrase is a sentence part that always begins with an ing word. Past participial phrases are sentence parts that usually begin with words that end in ed or en. An absolute phrase is a sentence part that would be complete sentences if you added was or were within the phrase. Example: His fingers smarting, An infinitive phrase is a sentence part that always begins with to followed by a verb: for example, to sing, to read, to linger, etc. Identify metaphor, symbolism, and imagery in various pieces of literature and explain how the figurative language adds to the effectiveness and meaning of the work Analyze how authors achieve style and voice in literary pieces through sentence fluency, word choice, figurative language, sound devices, imagery, dialogue, and point of view. Analyze and recognize how different genres can all connect to a similar theme. Write a multi-genre paper using the writing process, revealing a specific theme, and demonstrating a unique voice and style by effectively using word choice and sentence structure. Use parallel sentence structure, participial phrased, absolute phrases and infinitive phrases to add to the effectiveness of writing.

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