Informational Essay Unit:
In this unit, students will compare and contrast two different perspectives on a critical issue by conveying ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content. After learning about the concepts of comparison and contrast, students will brainstorm critical issues that are characterized by contrasting perspectives and are of significant interest to them. They will record prior knowledge about these critical issues, perform directed exploration through research, and make a final decision about their essay topic. They will develop research questions about their critical issue and perform research to help them develop a central idea, which they will use to group relevant details, quotations, examples, and other information into categories. Students will then write a first draft using one of two comparison/contrast organizational structures, analyze information to explain the differences between the chosen perspectives, and transition between sentences and paragraphs. They will conclude with a paragraph that summarizes their findings and explains to the reader why this is important information and what the future of the debate might involve. Students will generate multiple revisions to strengthen the clarity of ideas, organization of the essay, and completeness of analysis. They will engage in peer review to give and receive constructive feedback that will assist with revision. (Adapted from the 8th Grade ELA MAISA Units)
Learning Targets:
LESSON 1:
I can compare and contrast the similarities and differences within a topic.
LESSON 2:
I can analyze a text in order to locate and identify key components within the compare/contrast text structure.
LESSON 3:
I can investigate potential critical issue topics to narrow down and select my preferred option.
LESSON 4:
I can develop research questions to further investigate my topic.
LESSON 5:
I can analyze my research and sort it into categories and subcategories for my topic.
LESSON 6:
I can choose and apply the best method of organization for my compare/contrast essay.
LESSON 7:
I can use facts, details, quotations, and examples to support the topic sentences in my body paragraphs.
I can use transitions within and between paragraphs to help my readers understand the logical flow of ideas in my body paragraph.
LESSON 8:
I can use pictures, graphs, charts, headings, and subheadings to help my reader better understand my central and supporting ideas.
LESSON 9:
I can write a central idea to focus the drafting of my essay.
LESSON 10:
I can write introductory and concluding paragraphs that make clear to the reader the importance of my topic.
LESSON 11:
I can apply grammatical rules to proofread and edit my writing.
I can compare and contrast the similarities and differences within a topic.
LESSON 2:
I can analyze a text in order to locate and identify key components within the compare/contrast text structure.
LESSON 3:
I can investigate potential critical issue topics to narrow down and select my preferred option.
LESSON 4:
I can develop research questions to further investigate my topic.
LESSON 5:
I can analyze my research and sort it into categories and subcategories for my topic.
LESSON 6:
I can choose and apply the best method of organization for my compare/contrast essay.
LESSON 7:
I can use facts, details, quotations, and examples to support the topic sentences in my body paragraphs.
I can use transitions within and between paragraphs to help my readers understand the logical flow of ideas in my body paragraph.
LESSON 8:
I can use pictures, graphs, charts, headings, and subheadings to help my reader better understand my central and supporting ideas.
LESSON 9:
I can write a central idea to focus the drafting of my essay.
LESSON 10:
I can write introductory and concluding paragraphs that make clear to the reader the importance of my topic.
LESSON 11:
I can apply grammatical rules to proofread and edit my writing.
Handouts & Assignments:
PRE UNIT ACTIVITIES:
LESSON 1 (Day 1):
LESSON 1 (Day 2):
LESSON 1 (Days 3-4);
LESSON 2 (Day 1):
LESSON 2 (Days 2-3):
LESSON 2 (Day 4):
LESSON 2 (Day 3):
LESSON 3 (Days 1-2):
LESSON 4 (Day 1):
LESSON 4 (Day 2):
LESSON 5 (Day 1):
LESSON 5 (Day 2):
LESSON 5 (Day 3):
LESSON 6 (Days 1-2):
LESSON 7 (Day 1):
LESSON 7 (Day 2):
LESSON 7 (Day 3):
LESSON 7 (Days 4-5):
LESSON 7 (Day 6):
LESSON 8 (Days 1-2):
LESSON 9:
LESSON 10 (Days 1-2):
LESSON 10 (Day 3):
LESSON 10 (Days 5-6):
LESSON 10 (Day 7):
LESSON 11: