Patrick Collins

The Analytical Essay and To Kill a Mockingbird Weekly Lesson Plan

OVERVIEW / RATIONALE
This is the first week in the Unit.
The entire week is allotted for writing thesis
statements since I will need to meet individually with each
student.
ENDURING UNDERSTANDINGS
Good writers develop and refine their ideas for
thinking, learning, communicating, and aesthetic
expression.
Good writers use a repertoire of strategies that
enables them to vary form and style, in order to write for
different purposes, audiences, and contexts.
Good writers select a form based on audience and
purpose.
Good writers give and receive thoughtful and
supportive critiques
GOALS / OBJECTIVES
SWBAT evaluate thesis statements
SWBAT write strong thesis statements
COMMON CORE STANDARDS FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE
ARTS
CC.1.4.910.D Organize ideas, concepts, and information to make
important connections and distinctions; use appropriate and varied
transitions to link the major sections of the text; include formatting when
useful to aiding comprehension; provide a concluding statement or
section.
CC.1.4.910.F Demonstrate a grade-appropriate command of the
conventions of standard English grammar, usage, capitalization,

Week: 1

MONDAY
Introduce Essay Assignment
Handout essay prompt and Essay Skeleton
Thesis powerpoint presentation in which students
will learn the three components of a thesis (claim,
evidence, significance) and will evaluate sample thesis
statements.
Homework: Select Essay prompt and begin looking for 3
quotations
TUESDAY
Pass out computers for the first time. Make sure
that each student shares his/her document with teacher
Students work independently writing thesis
statements
Students work independently finding and selecting 3
quotations
Teacher will meet with students individually to sign
off on thesis statements
If students finish early, they will work on creative
projects
Homework: Continue selecting quotations
WEDNESDAY
Students work independently writing thesis
statements
Students work independently finding and selecting 3
quotations
Teacher will meet with students individually to sign
off on thesis statements
If students finish early, they will work on creative
projects
Homework: Continue selecting quotations

punctuation, and spelling.

THURSDAY
Students work independently writing thesis
CC.1.4.910.S Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to
statements
support analysis, reflection, and research, applying grade-level reading
Students work independently finding and selecting 3
standards for literature and literary nonfiction.
quotations
Teacher will meet with students individually to sign
CC.1.4.910.T Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning,
off on thesis statements
revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on
If students finish early, they will work on creative
addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience.
projects
Homework: Continue selecting quotations
CC.1.4.910.U Use technology, including the Internet, to produce,
publish, and update individual or shared writing products, taking
advantage of technologys capacity to link to other information and to
display information flexibly and dynamically.

FRIDAY

Students work independently writing thesis

statements
Students work independently finding and selecting 3
CC.1.4.910.X Write routinely over extended time frames (time for
quotations
research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single
Teacher will meet with students individually to sign
sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes,
off on thesis statements
If students finish early, they will work on creative
and audiences.
projects
MATERIALS: Computers, To Kill a Mockingbird texts, thesis
Homework: Continue selecting quotations
powerpoint, Essay prompt handout, Essay Skeleton, creative
project handout