Grade 8 Unit 1 Module 2
How does culture influence choice?
Key Reading Standards
Use Key Ideas and Details to:
Analyze how a text makes connections among and distinctions between individuals, ideas, or events (for example: through comparisons, analogies, or categories). (CCSS RI.8.3; CAS 8.2.1.a.iii)
Use Craft and Structure to:
Analyze how differences in the points of view of the characters and the audience or reader (e.g. created through the use of dramatic irony) create such effects as suspense or humor. (CCSS RL.8.6; CAS 8.2.1.b.iii)
Key Writing Standards
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective techniques, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences. (CCSS W.8.3; CAS 8.3.3.a)
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. (CCSS W.8.3.a)
Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, and description, and reflection, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters. (CCSS W.8.3b)
Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence and signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another, and show the relationships among experiences and events. (CCSS W.8.3.c)
Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to capture the action and convey experiences and events. (CCSS W.8.3.d)
Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on the narrated experiences or events. (CCSS: W.8.3.e)
Unit Texts & Tasks
Routine Writing
Extended Texts
at least 1
All the Broken Pieces by Ann Burg (DMS)
Behind Rebel Lines: The incredible Story of Emma Edmonds by Seymour Reit (Overdrive)
Flipped by Wendelin VanDraanen (DMS)
The Bluest Sky by Christina Diaz Gonzalez (DMS)
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (DMS & Overdrive)
Reaching Out by Francisco Jimenez (Overdrive)
Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie Tolan (DMS)
Short Literary Texts
at least 2-3
“All Summer in a Day” by Ray Bradbury (use with Literary Analysis)
"Ruthless" by William DeMille (use with On Demand)
"The Star Beast" by Nicholas Stuart Gray (use with Dramatic Irony)
“Amigo Brothers” by Piri Thomas
“Excerpt from A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man” by James Joyce
“From Scratch” by Susie Castellano
“The Golden Kite, the Silver Wind” by Ray Bradbury
“The Keys of Destiny” by Neil Philip
“The Medicine Bag” by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve
Short Informational Texts
at least 1-2
“Can’t We All Just Get Along” by Birdbrain Science
“Cultural Common Ground Gets Harder to Come By” by Elizabeth Blair
“The Destinies of Two Men Who Share One Name” by Melissa Block and Michele Norris
“The Elements of Success” by Mike Kubic
“How I Found True Love in an Arranged Marriage” by Surabhi Surenda
“Stories Saved My Life, That’s Why I Write for Young People” by James Bird
“What Past Generations Can Teach Us About Our Future” by Mike Kubic
"The Art of Choosing" by Sheena Iyengar (TEDEd) (Use with Mapping Your Choice)
Analytical Writing Tasks
at least 4-6
Answer the Question in One Paragraph: A repeating writing opportunity to reflect on the essential question. (Doc) (Writable)
Mapping Your Choice: An argument addressing a factor of culture that most influences the writer's choices. (Doc) (Writable)
Author's Point of View (Informational Text): A response that analyzes the author's point of view regarding the topic of the text. (Doc) (Writable)
Impact of Dramatic Irony: An analysis of the author's use of dramatic irony to affect the reader. (Doc) (Writable)
Literary Analysis "All Summer in a Day": An analysis of the differences between characters and how it contributes to the story. (Doc) (Writable)
One Pager Character Analysis: A response that addresses what is known about the character in a literary text. (Doc) (Writable)
Narrative Writing Tasks
at least 1-2
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT: Narrative - An original fiction piece, based on a literary text from within the module, that rewrites a scene and changes an element that has an impact on culture. (Doc) (Writable)
ON DEMAND - Narrative: A narrative, based on a pre-determined text, that changes an element of the story that has an impact on the overall plot. (Doc) (Writable)
Fan Fiction - The Next Chapter: An original piece of writing that highlights the values of a chosen character from the original text.(Doc) (Writable)
Fiction - From Another Planet: A narrative that highlights the interactions between a character from a different planet and a character from Earth. (Doc) (Writable)
Personal Narrative - Cultural Influences: A personal narrative that explores and explains the role of culture on individual choices. (Doc) (Writable)
Research Task
at least 1
Research Blitz - Developing Research Questions: A research task in which the student generates questions that address an element of culture and its impact on a group of people. (Doc) (Writable)
Effects of Culture: A product that examines the impact of an element of culture on a group of people. (Doc) (Writable)
Planning
Each unit’s tasks will be a general week-by-week outline of the flow of learning tasks for students. Realizing the cultures and schedules at each site will vary and place unique demands on class time, these outlines are to be seen as generally flexible. Also in recognition of school and classroom cultures, expectations, and practices, unit plans will offer templates for tasks, but will not list daily lessons. This is to allow enough certainty of district alignment while allowing for features such as co-teaching, integrated ELA and social studies, and other unique programmatic designs.
Reflection & Feedback
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