Digital Unit Plan Template

Unit Title: Truth is stranger than fiction

Name: Tommy Trull

Content Area: ELA

Grade Level: 11th-12th

CA Content Standard(s)/Common Core Standard(s):

ELA. Grades 11-12 students: Craft and Structure.

4. Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative
meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including words with multiple meanings or
language that is particularly fresh, engaging, or beautiful. (Include Shakespeare as well as other authors.)
6. Analyze a case in which grasping point of view requires distinguishing what is directly stated in a text from what is
really meant (e.g., satire, sarcasm, irony, or understatement).
Big Ideas:
Why do we make fun of others, things, or ideas?
How do we and others make fun of others, things, or ideas?
What is satire? What is a words connotative and figurative meaning? What is a words meaning and tone?

Unit Goals and Objectives:

Objectives:
1. After reading all materials and Gullivers Travels and participating in the activities students will be able to write persuasive
arguments on social issues using comedy to show how comedy can be an effective means of social commentary.
2. When given examples of satire, figurative and connotative meanings, and tone and word choice students will be able to
correctly explain why and how each manipulate meaning so that they can navigate deceptive texts.
3. At the end of the unit students will be able to construct a satirical story of their own life up to now that accurately uses
figurative and connotative meanings of words, and word choice and tone in order to engage a reader using comedy.

Unit Summary:
Students will be reading Gullivers Travels, by Jonathan Swift, modern-day examples of satire, and the student-produced (from
this unit) persuasive arguments and satirical life-stories in order to gain a deeper understanding of comedy and the ability to use
satire as a rhetorical device.

Assessment Plan:
Entry-Level:

Formative:

Summative:

Lesson 1
Student Learning
Objective:
When given examples
of satire, figurative
and connotative
meanings, and tone
and word choice
students will be able
to correctly explain
why and how each
manipulate meaning
so that they can
navigate deceptive
texts.

Acceptable Evidence:
Pop-quizzes will
assess their ability to
explain how and why
each element
manipulates meaning
of texts.

Instructional
Strategies:
Communication
Collection
Collaboration
Presentation
Organization
Interaction

Lesson Activities:

Instructional
Strategies:
Communication
Collection
Collaboration

Lesson Activities:

Lesson 2
Student Learning
Objective:
After reading all
materials and

Acceptable Evidence:
The arguments that
the students will write
will be graded

Gullivers Travels and

participating in the
activities students
will be able to write
persuasive arguments
on social issues to
show how satire can
be an effective means
of social commentary.

according to a
provided rubric in
which students will be
required to use
satirical/comedic
techniques from the
class materials
webercise, vocabulary
lists, and reading
journal entries.

Presentation
Organization
Interaction

Acceptable Evidence:

Instructional
Strategies:
Communication
Collection
Collaboration
Presentation
Organization
Interaction

Lesson 3
Student Learning
Objective:
3. At the end of the
unit students will be
able to construct a
satirical story of their
own life up to now
that accurately uses
figurative and
connotative meanings
of words, and word
choice and tone in
order to engage a
reader.

The provided grading

rubric will allow
students and the
teacher to gauge how
well students grasp
the elements of
satire.

Lesson Activities:

Unit Resources:

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/829/829-h/829-h.htm
http://www.vocabulary.com/lists/243954#view=notes
http://english12notes.wikispaces.com/file/view/Gulliver%27s+Travels.doc
http://www.coreknowledge.org/mimik/mimik_uploads/documents/55/CCGT.pdf

Useful Websites:

http://www.shmoop.com/gullivers-travels/
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/gulliver/study.html