First Six Weeks
· Apply reading strategies to selected fictional texts, a play, and a novel.
· Write an imaginative story mindful of story elements, literary technique, and the conventions of grammar and language.
· Evaluate media in documentary presentation.
· Begin a reader’s notebook and a vocabulary notebook.
Second Six Weeks
· Analyze well-known speeches.
· Create a personalized poetry collection.
· Write a personal narrative.
· Read selective persuasive texts.
· Write a persuasive essay.
· Explore theme in a variety of media.
· Continue reader and vocabulary notebooks.
Third Six Weeks
· Read expository texts –attentive to structure and in written reflection, noting usefulness of graphic organizers.
· Compare two news reports of the same event.
· Write a process-analysis and include supportive graphics.
· Identify, investigate, and report on a newsworthy controversy.
· Reflect the same opinion using these three different contexts: text messaging, friendly letter, business letter/editorial.
· Continue reader and vocabulary notebooks, incorporating analogies in vocabulary routines.
Fourth Six Weeks
· Create connections across literary text.
· Create connections across informational text.
· Continue reader and vocabulary notebooks.
Fifth Six Weeks
· Explore theme across all genres.
· Participate in group media literacy assignments.
· Research and present in groups about historical culture and/or myths.
· Create a personal style portfolio using a magazine layout presentation.
· Continue reader and vocabulary notebooks.
Sixth Six Weeks
· Complete a research paper.
· Work with a group to create a media presentation –assignment includes peer evaluations.