Objective: Students will be able to analyze a writing by an American author and write about the use of literary elements.  

Essential Question:  How do American authors use figurative language, character development, and text structure to drive theme. Evaluate an American novel and/or short stories based on the author’s use of figurative language, character development, and text structure choices to drive theme. . 

Unit Writing Prompt: Write a composition exploring how figurative language, character development, and text structure drives the theme of the story. 

CCSS ELA 11-12 Priority Standards:

Reading Literature: 1: Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including determining where the text leaves matters uncertain. 5: Analyze how an author's choices concerning how to structure specific parts of a text (e.g., the choice of where to begin or end a story, the choice to provide a comedic or tragic resolution) contribute to its overall structure and meaning as well as its aesthetic impact. 

Writing: 2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content. 

ELD: Part IA, 2. Interacting via written English: Interacting with others in written English in various communicative forms (print, communicative technology, and multimedia). Part IB, 6. Reading/viewing closely: Reading closely literary and informational texts and viewing multimedia to determine how meaning is conveyed explicitly and implicitly through language. Part IC, 10. Writing: Writing literary and informational texts to present, describe, and explain ideas and information, using appropriate technology. Part IIA, 1. Understanding text structure and organization based on purpose, text type, and discipline Part IIB, 5. Modifying to add details to provide more information and create precision. Part IIC, 7. Condensing ideas within sentences using a variety of language resources.