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What makes a good story? What is my story?
What makes a good story? What is my story?
Why this unit and this assessment?
Why this unit and this assessment?
Students will begin the Narrative unit by examining Coming of Age tales from our Fresh Ink anthology and our short story packet. As students practice literal and inferential reading skills, they will also learn to analyze author's craft, i.e. the conflict, character development, language, and details that are used to tell a story. At the end of this quarter, students will write their own Coming of Age story, which will challenge them to apply the elements of narrative writing in their own practice. This assessment not only encourages creativity, but also prompts students to consider what makes a story entertaining and worth reading.
Why this time of year?
Why this time of year?
Finding your voice as a writer is a foundational skill that will help in the future units and will continue to be built on throughout the year. We chose to include the narrative first as an introduction for students to be creative and claim their writer’s voice. Unit 1 requires students to focus on developing supporting details in their own writing; then, in unit 2, students recognize those supporting details from other authors and blend them appropriately with their own thoughts and ideas.
A note about independent reading: Independent reading is encouraged at every level of English at OPRF. We believe that choice reading enriches our students' learning experiences and helps them build a more positive relationship with reading. During this unit, students will also be asked to read a Coming of Age novel independently. They will have the opportunity to select a book from our school library.
Unit 1 Reading Standards
Unit 1 Reading Standards
Understand the techniques of characterization.
Identify direct characterization (Adjectives directly stated).
Identify strategies an author uses for indirect characterization (Dialogue, Actions/Reactions, Interactions, Thoughts, Presentation/appearance).
Identify a complex character.
Identify whether a character is static or dynamic.
Analyze how characters develop.
Write a claim that analyzes how a character develops over the course of a text.
Cite evidence from the text that demonstrates how a character is dynamic and round .
Explain how the textual evidence supports their claim, analyzing how the character has shifted/changed.
Analyze impact of character development on theme.
Write a claim on how a character’s shift/change conveys the author’s observation/commentary on human nature/behavior.
Unit 1 Writing Standards
Unit 1 Writing Standards
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective techniques, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.
Characterization
Characters are clearly portrayed with a balance of direct and indirect characterization.
Characters are realistic and developed.
Structure and Sequence
The 6 point plot structure is apparent and well-developed building an organized story without fluff.
The plot includes an abundance of specific sensory details are used to describe setting and events throughout the story.
Narrative technique and details
Author’s use of figurative language, irony, foreshadowing, and symbolism is present and executed in a high-level, sophisticated manner.
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