Week 1

Introduction to text features & text structures. Close reading activities for nonfiction analysis of compare / contrast organizational structure.

Week 2

In-depth analysis, practice, and writing assignments on problem / solution & cause / effect text structures. Students will continue thinking and writing critically about writers' craft in NF texts.

Week 3

In-depth analysis, practice, and writing assignments on description as an organizational text structure (even in nonfiction texts!) along with sequencing and chronological structures, too.

Week 4

Students will create an authentic, writing-rich pamphlet project to bring this nonfiction unit to a close. The week starts with an engaging “brain dump” brainstorming activity and ends with a written pamphlet. Each day of the week will have students working through specific prewriting and writing activities to guide them in the writing project using the text structures and text features they’ve learned about.

Week 1

Intro to the unit and the genre; fact vs. opinion vs. commonplace assertions; annotating & close reading; text features & text structures

Week 2

Excerpts from Helen Keller “The Miracle Worker” play; accompanying expository articles about hearing loss; expository writing reflection activities; objective vs. subjective writing

Week 3

Elements of autobiographies, biographies, memoirs; maintaining parallelism in writing (infinitive & participial phrases); writing concisely vs. descriptively (with purpose)

Week 4

Concept of online privacy and modern technology; expository passage writing responses; connection to real life issues involving online privacy and media usage

Week 1

Intro to the unit & genre; author’s purpose (inform, explain, describe); transition words/phrases; writing activities

Week 2

Active & passive voice; using infinitive, participle, and gerund phrases to create & maintain parallel structure in writing

Week 3

Cause & effect in expository writing; objective summarizing, using embedded quotes effectively for support and extension in writing

Week 4

Compare & Contrast text structure in expository writing; objective summary; more practice in using embedded quotes correctly