English III: Unit 3
Line of Reasoning
Theme: Society, Work, Social Class & Poverty
Embedded Files
Unit 3 Overview
Unit 3 Overview
Essential Questions:
How can we address the issue of poverty and improve quality of life for all human beings?
How do we organize information and ideas in our writing?
Texts
Excerpts:
Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond (excerpt)
The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore (excerpt)
Videos:
Why Is It So Hard to Escape Poverty? - TED Talk by Ann-Helén Bay (5 minutes)
Essays & Articles:
Website: Confronting Poverty
Website: Understanding Houston
"Poverty and Social Mobility in Houston" from Understanding Houston
"How can we understand the root causes of poverty?" from ConfrontingPoverty.org
Video: "A Radically New Understanding American Poverty and Inequality" from Society For Social Work & Research (8 minutes)
"Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution" by Martin Luther King Jr. - video | transcript | audio
"Johnson Leads U.S. in Mourning" April 5, 1968
Martin Luther King Jr. Biography from The Nobel Peace Prize, 1964
Spotlight on Martin Luther King Jr. from Smithsonian
"What Does California’s Homeless Population Actually Look Like?" by Jay Caspian Kang in The New Yorker
"How Houston Moved 25,000 People From the Streets Into Homes of Their Own" by Michael Kimmelman in The New York Times
"What’s Homelessness Really Like?" in The New York Times - Thirty people answer questions and share their experiences.
“Parental Incarceration Is a Silent American Epidemic More Common Than Childhood Asthma” by Joshua Martoma
Poetry & Songs:
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Selected artwork, audio, video - TBD
"Prison Window" (1992) by Robert Grober - at Menil as "Untitled" 2003-2007
Topics:
Logic & rhetoric
Annotation & Note-Taking
Summarizing, paraphrasing, quoting, questioning, commenting
Questioning
Reflecting
Analyzing - patterns, perspectives, comparisons/contrasts, defining
Synthesizing - consideration, explanation, integration
What are the relationships between your sources?
What's the relationship between your sources and your own argument?
Synthesis requires consideration, explanation, and integration of others’ arguments into one’s own argument.
When synthesizing, writers draw upon arguments from multiple sources, strategically select the most relevant information, and combine apt and specific source material as part of their own argument.
Discussion & obstacles to understanding - pg 112 of Writing Rhetorically: Fostering Responsive Thinkers and Communicators by Jennifer Fletcher
expediting judgment
binary thinking
defensive listening
lack of sincerity
combative argumentation - creates "obstacles to constructive forms of advocacy, critique and refutation"
"One of the keys to effective negotiation is seeing the other person's perspective(s)"
Commentary
establish/explain relationship between evidence and claim
signal phrases, transition phrases
Organization & Structure
Methods of Development: narration, cause-effect, comparison-contrast, definition and description
narration - offer details about real-life experiences and offer reflections and insights on the significance of those experiences.
cause-effect - present a cause, assert effects or consequences of that cause, or present a series of causes and the subsequent effect(s).
comparison-contrast - present a category of comparison and then examine the similarities and/or differences between the objects of the comparison. When analyzing similarities and/or differences, like categories of comparison must be used.
definition or description - explain the characteristics, features, or sensory details of an object or idea, sometimes using examples or illustrations.
Line of Reasoning
Thesis - the main, overarching claim a writer is seeking to defend or prove by using reasoning supported by evidence.
Paragraphing
Logical Fallacies & Faulty Reasoning
Line of Reasoning and Thesis
Critique & evaluate
Citing Sources of Information
Speaker / Ethos and persuasion in literature - voice of authority
passion, discrimination and inclusiveness - from pg 17, Poetry as Persuasion by Carl Dennis
"Literature as Persuasion" by Reed Whittemore
"Persuasion in Literature" - lesson plans from Why We Must Run With Scissors: Voice Lesson in Persuasive Writing by Barry Lane and Gretchen Bernabei
Creative Writing - Return to exigence
Persuasive Writing
Unit Skills:
Quote, paraphrase, question and respond to information and ideas in rhetorical and literary texts.
Use signal phrases and transition phrases to introduce and connect text evidence and commentary.
Identify and explain flaws in logical reasoning.
Analyze and critique the structure and the logical reasoning of a text.
Analyze and discuss the use of rhetorical strategies in a text.
Compare and contrast ethos, logos, and pathos in a rhetorical text and a literary text.
Write a literary work (poetry, fiction, nonfiction) in which you use writing style and the speaker / narrator’s voice to establish a convincing narrative or idea.
Write a persuasive essay that includes a clear organizational structure, line of reasoning, and thesis.
Cite sources of information using MLA or APA format.
Enduring Understandings:
Synthesis requires consideration, explanation, and integration of others’ arguments into one’s own argument.
Effective use of evidence uses commentary to establish a logical relationship between the evidence and the claim it supports. Commentary explains the significance and relevance of evidence in relation to the line of reasoning.
Signal Phrases: Writers introduce source material by using commentary to properly integrate it into their line of reasoning.
Paragraphing, Organization & Structure: The sequence of paragraphs in a text reveals the argument’s line of reasoning.
Flaws in a line of reasoning may render an argument specious or illogical.
Citing Sources of Information: Writers must acknowledge words, ideas, images, texts, and other intellectual property of others through attribution, citation, or reference.
Formative Assessment(s):
Journal Writing
Notes & Annotations
Group Discussion Notes / Anchor Chart
Creative / Literary piece
Online Discussion Board
Summative Assessment(s):
Photo Essays About Community - The New York Times Where We Are: Photo Essays About Community Contest (see general info and guidelines on contests page)
Author's Commentary
Persuasive Essay
This page has lesson plans for Unit 3 class sessions.
October 21 - November 22
(approx 16 sessions)
Assessment is focused on helping students develop:
critical thinking
creative expression
analytical writing skills
research skills
intellectual and professional communication skills
Visit the assessments page for more details.
Week of October 21
Week of October 21
3.1 Rhetorical Situation: Context: Examining Society, Work Social Class & Poverty
3.1 Rhetorical Situation: Context: Examining Society, Work Social Class & Poverty
Monday October 17
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Define and discuss the concepts of poverty and context.
Share and discuss thoughts and ideas related to addressing poverty.
Use a dialectical journal format to take notes while reading.
Agenda Items
Agenda Items
Overview: Poverty & Context
Journal Writing
Reading: The Other Wes Moore - Introduction (10 mins) & Part I Opening (4 mins)
Dialectical Journal for The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore, Part 1 Ch 1-3
What are students looking for when they take notes?
Write down at least 10 words you don't know (sentence with page #) --> Write down definitions for each word and use it in a sentence
Write down at least 3 sentences that stand out to you --> Why did this sentence stand out to you? What did it make you think of? What did it make you wonder?
Write down at least 3 examples of details (circumstances) that help us understand the historical, social or personal context in which each Wes grew up --> How does each circumstance contribute to the opportunities or challenges each Wes might face?
Write down one example of a contrast between the lives of the two Wes Moores --> How do these different contexts contribute to the opportunities or challenges each Wes might face?
Assignments
Assignments
Practice: Reading & Dialectical Journal for The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore, Ch 1 (pg 5-25)
3.2 Dialectical Journal for The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore, Ch 1 pg 5-25, Ch 2 pg 26-45 & Ch 3 pg 46-62 due Sunday October 22 by 11:59pm
_______________________________________________________
3.2 Dialectical Journal: Context
3.2 Dialectical Journal: Context
Wednesday October 18 - Friday October 20
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Quote, paraphrase, question and respond to information and ideas in a nonfiction text.
Identify and explain specific details and circumstances in The Other Wes Moore, and explain how each detail is relevant to understanding the context of each Wes’s upbringing.
Write commentary explaining your understanding and thoughts related to excerpts from the text.
Identify and write words you don’t know while reading.
In your dialectical journal, list 10 words you don't know, and include the original sentence (with page number), part of speech (noun, adjective, verb, adverb) and definitions for each word.
Agenda Items
Agenda Items
Reading & Dialectical Journal - Introduction (10 min), Part 1 Prelude (4 mins), Ch 1 (48 mins) & Ch 2 (42 mins) & Ch 3 (35 mins)
Quoting, paraphrasing, inferencing, responding/commenting
What are students looking for when they take notes?
Write down at least 10 words you don't know (sentence with page #) --> definitions for each word and use it in a sentence
Write down at least 3 sentences that stand out to you --> Why did this sentence stand out to you? What did it make you think of? What did it make you wonder?
Write down at least 3 examples of details (circumstances) that help us understand the historical, social or personal context in which each Wes grew up --> How does each circumstance contribute to the opportunities or challenges each Wes might face?
Write down one example of a contrast between the lives of the two Wes Moores --> How do these different contexts contribute to the opportunities or challenges each Wes might face?
Assignments
Assignments
3.2 Dialectical Journal for The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore, Ch 1 pg 5-25, Ch 2 pg 26-45 & Ch 3 pg 46-62 due Sunday October 22 by 11:59pm
_______________________________________________________
Week of October 23
Week of October 23
3.3 Your Personal Story / Facts and Information in The Other Wes Moore Part 2
3.3 Your Personal Story / Facts and Information in The Other Wes Moore Part 2
Monday October 23
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Describe your current and past levels of economic stability, including details and circumstances.
Identify examples of facts and information researched by the author, and explain how the author connects the researched information to the personal story.
Agenda Items
Agenda Items
Journal Writing: Telling Your Personal Story
Do you have the resources essential to a healthy life? (This includes stable housing, safety, clean water, electricity, nutritious food, healthcare, education, employment that provides a living wage, transportation, Internet, etc.) If not, what resources do you need? Please complete the Family Support Form if you have unmet needs.
What opportunities/advantages or challenges/disadvantages do you currently have? What opportunities or challenges have you or your family faced in the past?
Was there ever a time when you or your family struggled with access to economic resources? What factors are/were affecting your access to essential resources?
How have these factors impacted your choices, habits, or behavior?
What concerns do you have for your economic stability in the future?
Historical Context & Research - Facts & Information in the Story
What are students looking for when they annotate or take notes?
Research: Examples of facts and information included in the story.
Relevance: How do the facts and information connect to the personal story?
Assignments
Assignments
3.2 Dialectical Journal for The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore, Ch 1 pg 5-25, Ch 2 pg 26-45 & Ch 3 pg 46-62 due Sunday October 22 by 11:59pm
_______________________________________________________
3.4 Reading Quiz & Reflection: Context
3.4 Reading Quiz & Reflection: Context
Wednesday October 24
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Quote, paraphrase, question and respond to information and ideas in a nonfiction text.
Write commentary explaining your understanding and thoughts related to excerpts from the text.
Use signal phrases to introduce text evidence.
Write a one-paragraph response applying the ACE strategy to include a claim, evidence and commentary (reasoning, explanation).
Agenda Items
Agenda Items
Historical Context & Research - Facts & Information in the Story
Reading Reflection & Response:
Context Analysis Paragraph (analyzing the text) - Describe an event or detail that is important for understanding one of the Wes Moores' background. How does this event or detail help us understand the context in which this Wes grew up?
Reflection & Response (expressing your ideas) - How does this context influence economic stability? What are some other examples of situations that would make economic stability easier or more difficult?
Personal Connection (sharing your experience) - Write a short personal story that reveals a larger issue or theme related to economic stability and context.
What are students looking for when they annotate or take notes?
Research: Examples of facts and information included in the story.
Relevance: How do the facts and information connect to the personal story?
Assignments
Assignments
3.2 Dialectical Journal for The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore, Ch 1 pg 5-25, Ch 2 pg 26-45 & Ch 3 pg 46-62 due Sunday October 22 by 11:59pm
_______________________________________________________
3.5 Reading Notes: Implications
3.5 Reading Notes: Implications
Thursday October 26 & Friday October 27
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Quote, paraphrase, question and respond to information and ideas in rhetorical and literary texts.
Identify and explain the implications of contexts, opportunities, challenges, and behavior in The Other Wes Moore Part 2.
Identify examples of facts and information researched by the author, and explain how the author connects the researched information to the personal story.
Agenda Items
Agenda Items
Silent Reading & Note-taking
Small Group Discussion
Assignments
Assignments
Read The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore, Part 2 pg 63-122 due Sunday October 29 by 11:59pm - take notes on:
3 sentences that stand out to you --> Why did this sentence stand out to you? What did it make you think of? What did it make you wonder?
3 examples of new opportunities each Wes received → What are the implications of this opportunity given the context? How did this opportunity influence Wes’s behavior?
3 examples of new challenges each Wes faced → What are the implications of this challenge given the context? How did this challenge influence Wes’s behavior?
3 examples of facts and information researched by the author
How does this information help us understand the historical, social or personal context in which each Wes grew up? How does Moore connect the researched information to the personal story?
How does this information help us understand the opportunities or challenges each Wes might face?
_______________________________________________________
Week of October 30
Week of October 30
3.6 Researching: Facts, Information & Implications in Personal Storytelling
3.6 Researching: Facts, Information & Implications in Personal Storytelling
Monday October 30
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Describe your current and past levels of economic stability, including details and circumstances.
Discuss examples of facts and information researched by the author, and explain how the author connects the researched information to the personal story.
Brainstorm at least 3 questions, topics, or events that will help you find information that is relevant to understanding the context of your personal story.
Research and write down facts and information that provide context for understanding your personal story.
Cite sources of information, including the title, author, and URL for the web page.
Take notes on information that provides relevant context details for your personal story.
Apply the facts and information to your personal story, describe how it influenced context, and explain the implications for events and behavior.
Agenda Items
Agenda Items
Journal Writing: Telling Your Personal Story
Do you have the resources essential to a healthy life? (This includes stable housing, safety, clean water, electricity, nutritious food, healthcare, education, employment that provides a living wage, transportation, Internet, etc.) If not, what resources do you need? Please complete the Family Support Form if you have unmet needs.
What opportunities/advantages or challenges/disadvantages do you currently have? What opportunities or challenges have you or your family faced in the past?
Was there ever a time when you or your family struggled with access to economic resources? What factors are/were affecting your access to essential resources?
How have these factors impacted your choices, habits, or behavior?
What concerns do you have for your economic stability in the future?
Assignments
Assignments
Read The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore, Part 2 pg 63-122 due Sunday October 29 by 11:59pm - take notes on details and sentences that stand out to you.
_______________________________________________________
3.7 Reading Quiz - The Other Wes Moore Part 2
3.7 Reading Quiz - The Other Wes Moore Part 2
Wednesday November 1
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Identify the author’s purpose in including specific details and rhetorical techniques.
Identify the implications of circumstances, events, and behavior in The Other Wes Moore.
Identify relevant text evidence to support claims.
Identify details and circumstances that reveal context or implications of opportunities, challenges, habits, and behavior in the lives of each Wes Moore.
Brainstorm at least 3 questions, topics, or events that will help you find information that is relevant to understanding the context of your personal story.
Research and write down facts and information that provide context for understanding your personal story.
Cite sources of information, including the title, author, and URL for the web page.
Take notes on information that provides relevant context details for your personal story.
Apply the facts and information to your personal story, describe how it influenced context, and explain the implications for events and behavior.
Agenda Items
Agenda Items
Reading Quiz - The Other Wes Moore Part 2
Theme Analysis Paragraph (analyzing the text) - How does Moore tell a personal story in a way that reveals a larger issue or theme?
Research facts & information for your personal story
Assignments
Assignments
_______________________________________________________
3.8 Embedding Text Evidence
3.8 Embedding Text Evidence
Friday November 3
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Quote, paraphrase, question and respond to information and ideas in rhetorical and literary texts.
Use appropriate grammar, punctuation, and signal phrase verbs when embedding quotes from a text.
Cite sources of information using MLA format for in-text citations.
Proofread and correct errors in capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and grammar.
Agenda Items
Agenda Items
Grammar & Punctuation Rules for Embedding Text Evidence
In-Text Citations
Proofread and correct errors
Assignments
Assignments
Read The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore, Part 3 pg 123-end due Monday November 13 - take notes on details and sentences that stand out to you.
_______________________________________________________
Week of November 6
Week of November 6
3.9 Socratic Seminar Discussion: Context, Implications & Themes
3.9 Socratic Seminar Discussion: Context, Implications & Themes
DATE
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Share and discuss thoughts and ideas related to addressing poverty.
Identify and discuss themes and facts and information in The Other Wes Moore.
Compare and contrast contexts in which individuals and families face poverty.
Consider and discuss how changes in technology and society influence our approach to eradicating poverty.
Identify and explain challenges that must be addressed in order to eradicate poverty.
Brainstorm and discuss ideas for addressing the issue of poverty in our communities.
Quote, paraphrase, question and respond to information and ideas in rhetorical and literary texts.
Brainstorm and discuss ideas for addressing the issue of poverty in our communities.
Agenda Items
Agenda Items
Brainstorming individually and in small groups
Socratic Seminar Discussion
How does Moore tell a personal story in a way that reveals a larger issue or theme?
What similarities do you notice between their lives? What crucial differences do you notice so far?
What themes do you notice in the text?
What are some factors that affect economic sustainability?
What are your thoughts and ideas for addressing the issue of poverty?
Paraphrasing, inferencing
Assignments
Assignments
Read The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore, Part 3 pg 123-end due Monday November 13 - take notes on details and sentences that stand out to you.
_______________________________________________________
3.10 Planning & Structuring Your Essay
3.10 Planning & Structuring Your Essay
Monday November 6 & Wednesday November 8
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Write at least one paragraph in response to a question or prompt.
Plan your essay by choosing a prompt, reflecting on ideas and information, and choosing a text structure.
Use appropriate grammar, punctuation, and signal phrase verbs when embedding quotes from a text.
Agenda Items
Agenda Items
Choose one of the following questions to use as your essay prompt:
What are some of the factors that can increase a person’s chances of experiencing poverty?
What is the impact of poverty? How does it impact individuals, families, and societies?
How can we address the issue of poverty? As individuals? As a community? As a society?
What are some of the challenges in addressing poverty?
What organizations are working to address poverty in our community?
What organizations are working to address poverty around the globe?
In what ways does faith influence our approach to eradicating poverty?
In what ways does education influence our approach to eradicating poverty?
In what ways does technology influence our approach to eradicating poverty?
How can we create a more equitable, just, and inclusive society that still values individuality, creativity, and freedom?
Other: Propose a critical question you would like to explore in your essay.
Structure & Methods of Development: narration, cause-effect, comparison-contrast, problem-solution, definition and description
Forming Your Own Opinion Questions - Answer the following questions about the prompt you chose.
What are your initial thoughts? Given what you have learned so far, how would you answer this prompt?
What additional questions does this make you think of? What does it make you wonder?
What additional information do you need in order to provide more context?
What text structure would be best for your essay?
What do you hope to accomplish with your essay? How will your essay impact your life or others lives outside of the classroom?
Wisdom from The Other Wes Moore: Write down a quote (with page #) from the book that relates to the essay prompt you chose. What wisdom or “big idea” does this quote reflect? Be sure to embed quotes in your response and cite your source of information.
Assignments
Assignments
3.10 Planning & Structuring Your Essay - "Forming Your Own Opinion" questions due Wednesday November 8 - Rubric | My Example
_______________________________________________________
3.11 Structure & Line of Reasoning: Outline & Thesis
3.11 Structure & Line of Reasoning: Outline & Thesis
Thursday November 9
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Write an outline for your essay that includes a thesis and main ideas for each paragraph and that reflects your line of reasoning and essay structure.
Agenda Items
Agenda Items
Thesis, Outline & Line of Reasoning
Outline: index cards, mind map, or list
Line of reasoning
The sequence of paragraphs in a text reveals the argument’s line of reasoning.
Commentary explains the significance and relevance of evidence in relation to the line of reasoning.
Assignments
Assignments
Practice: Outline your essay and organize your line of reasoning
_______________________________________________________
3.12 Line of Reasoning in Essay Draft
3.12 Line of Reasoning in Essay Draft
Friday November 10
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Write a 2-3 page essay discussing the issue of economic stability from a personal and/or societal perspective. Be sure to include:
thesis statement
text evidence from the texts you studied
a structure for presenting your ideas: narration, cause-effect, comparison-contrast, problem-solution, definition or description
analysis body paragraphs: claim, evidence, commentary
use appropriate punctuation and grammar to embed quotes in your explanation
use signal phrases to cite sources of information (title and author)
appropriate transition phrases
use appropriate capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and grammar.
Write a 2-3 page essay discussing a current issue in a way that includes facts and information to provide context for understanding the implications of historical events and social conditions.
Agenda Items
Agenda Items
Introduction Paragraph
Drafting Essay
Reasoning, elaborating, forming a complete, coherent response - How do you know this explanation is adequate?
Body paragraphs - claim, evidence, commentary
Commentary explains the significance and relevance of evidence in relation to the line of reasoning.
Sequencing, transition words
Assignments
Assignments
3.9 Line of Reasoning in Essay Draft due Sunday November 12 by 11:59pm
_______________________________________________________
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse