An outsider is defined as a person that does not belong to a particular group. However, as time progresses so do people's acceptance. When looking back at the great inventors and innovators of our time, it becomes apparent that some of the greatest contributors to our society would have been labeled as outcasts. 

Throughout this unit, you will deepen your perspective of outsiders and outcasts by reading, writing, speaking, presenting, and listening. These goals will help you succeed on the Studio Performance-Based Assessments sprinkled throughout the studio.  

In this studio we will work to develop competencies in literacy, which is the comprehension of written, spoken, and watched mediums of communication. We will also develop writing and communicating skills. 

Use the competency guide to direct your learning. 

ELA 1 - Critical Reading

ELA 2 - Writing Effectively

ELA 3 - Collaborative Discussion

ELA 4 - Conducting Research

In this section of the studio we will begin the investigation of outcasts and outsiders. Here you will find L1A1 and L1A2, the launch assignments to start off this studio. 

In order to begin and deepen our thinking about outsiders, we must develop our reading strategies and learn skills to help understand how to better comprehend complex texts. Here you will find assignment 3 through 7 all designed to help you learn the skills needed to complete two opportunities to demonstrate mastery, Performance task 1 and 2.

After bettering your reading and comprehension skills, it is time to ask and answer questions about outsiders and outcasts. In this studio you will begin to gather research in assignments 8 through 11 to help write your argumentative paper.  You will demonstrate your proficiency at gathering reliable sources in Performance task 4.

This is the last milestone for this studio. Here you will write your argument paper about outcasts and outsiders. Assignment 12 through 17 are the stepping stones to building your final paper which will be presented as Performance task 5. You will then share with your peer about the information you learned about outcasts and outsiders in a collaborative discussion. You will demonstrate your ability to participate in collaborative discussion in Performance task 5 & 6 before earning your English credit.