Reading

Informational Reading

Do you have an interest unrelated to ELA? Want to read more about the Civil Rights Movement, the Golden Ratio, or Women in Sports? I have uploaded nearly 20 texts from CommonLit with various interesting topics from which you can choose.

While you're reading here are come activities you can do to support your comprehension:

Determine the CER (claim, evidence, reasoning. See Google Classroom for a refresher)
Use the Venn Diagram (found in the Informational Text topic on the Google Classroom) to compare and contrast two texts on similar topics
Use the guided reading tools on CommonLit to gain a better understanding of the text
Answer the Assessment Questions to develop critical thinking about informational text.

Objectives:

I will classify an author's claim, evidence, and reasoning.

I will use a Venn diagram to interpret similarities and differences in two texts on the same topic.

I will distinguish sound reasoning from flawed reasoning.

I will cite evidence from the text when answering questions about the text.

Common Core State Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.8.1Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.8.2Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.8.3Analyze how a text makes connections among and distinctions between individuals, ideas, or events (e.g., through comparisons, analogies, or categories).CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.8.8Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; recognize when irrelevant evidence is introduced.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.8.9Analyze a case in which two or more texts provide conflicting information on the same topic and identify where the texts disagree on matters of fact or interpretation.

Reading Literature- Digital Resource

Reading Literature

On top of 20 minutes of daily, independent reading, here are some activities to supplement your reading experience and boost your comprehension.

Write a journal entry from the perspective of the main character of your story. You should be using their point of view, tone, and word choice. Write about an internal or external conflict the character struggles with.
Make a playlist that
- describes your book
- would be listened to by one of the characters

Include 2 sentences explaining why you chose each song. For at least 3 songs, cite the text in your reasoning.

For more activities, select the Google Doc or view in the Google Classroom.

Objectives:

I will test my own reading comprehension by completing these reading activities.

I will infer from dialogue and dramatic events the traits of a character.

I will use figurative language to demonstrate my comprehension of a story.

Common Core State Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.1Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.2Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.3Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.4Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.5Compare and contrast the structure of two or more texts and analyze how the differing structure of each text contributes to its meaning and style.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.6Analyze 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.

Book to Screen: Was it Worth it?

Comparing Literature and Film Adaptations

If you're anything like me, you're a bit a of a snob about how you "liked the book better than the movie". In this activity, write a response to a story of which you have read both the book and seen the movie.

A copy of the directions with more prompt questions has been uploaded to the Google Classroom.

Objectives:

I will compare and contrast two different mediums of text.

I will interpret how decisions made by storytellers develop the plot and the audience's reactions.

I will defend my claims with objective evidence.

Common Core State Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.1Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.3Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.5Compare and contrast the structure of two or more texts and analyze how the differing structure of each text contributes to its meaning and style.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.6Analyze 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.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.7Analyze the extent to which a filmed or live production of a story or drama stays faithful to or departs from the text or script, evaluating the choices made by the director or actors.

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