Tharayil-Trimester 1

Unit Map, 8th Grade Writing Unit Title: Writing Fundamentals and Descriptive Narrative Writing Grade/Course: 8th Grade Length of Unit: 6-7 Weeks Author: Sneha Tharayil Essential Questions: o Critical Thinking: o What are the qualities/characteristics of good writing? o How can we draw inspiration from abstract objects/concepts (like abstract photography)? o How can we convey a meaningful message or theme through a story? o How does the setting, language and word choice develop affect the mood and plot of a story? o How does sequencing of plot events affect the quality of a short story and engage the reader? o Writing: o How can we use graphic organizers to plan the different aspects of a descriptive short story? o How can sensory language help develop a setting that is critical to and influences the plot? o Language: o How can understanding and using different types of adjectives improve the quality of writing? o How can the use of independent and dependent clauses to create complex sentences improve sentence fluency and provide sentence structure variety? Big Idea/Major Concept/Objectives: o Students will analyze the qualities of good writing, particularly the importance of writers voice by participating in round-robin short stories. o Students will develop a paragraph with: a strong topic sentence; at least three major points/arguments; and relevant and important supporting details. o Students will write a descriptive short story in which the plot is influenced by the setting, which is developed through the use of rich sensory language. o Students will develop a short story which conveys a meaningful theme through relevant plot events. o Students will correctly identify and use various types of adjectives, including possessive and demonstrative adjectives. o Students will correctly identify and use independent and dependent clauses. Content: o Round-Robin stories o Hamburger graphic organizers o St. John Eudes School paragraphs o Sensory language, theme and short story plotline graphic organizers o Descriptive short stories Skills/Strategies/Standards: o Writing: o W.8.1 Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence

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W.8.1a Introduce claim(s), acknowledge and distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and organize the reasons and evidence logically. W.8.1c Use words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence W.8.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences. W.8.3a Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and point of view and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically W.8.3b Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, description, and reflection, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters. W.8.3c Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence, signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another, and show the relationships among experiences and events. W.8.3d Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to capture the action and convey experiences and events W.8.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Gradespecific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 13 above.) W.8.5 With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed. W.8.6 Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and present the relationships between information and ideas efficiently as well as to interact and collaborate with others.

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Speaking & Listening: o .SL.8.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 8 topics, texts, and issues, building on others ideas and expressing their own clearly. Language: o

L.8.1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking

Assessment: o Cooperative group Round-Robin Short Stories and analysis of qualities of good writing o Paragraph graphic organizer o St. John Eudes (persuasive) paragraphs o Short Story Graphic Organizers o Descriptive Short Stories o Grammar Practice Worksheets o Unit Test-Short Stories, Adjectives, and Independent and Dependent Clauses Resources: o Writing and Grammar: Silver Level Textbook o SmartBoard Lessons/Smart Exchange Lessons

Tharayil-Trimester 1