Name: ___________________ Discovering Yourself as a Writer Unit Outline

Last quarter, each of you chose a narrative for your independent novel study. You analyzed your stories and learned about some of the elements that are used to create a narrative, such as characterization, setting & mood, plot, conflict, and theme. This quarter, you get to apply what you know about stories. This time, YOU ARE THE AUTHOR! We will have lots of fun and use lots of creativity coming up with believable characters and putting them in conflict situations. We will learn how to mix description, dialogue, introspection and action in a way that is interesting for the reader. In the end, each of you will have a narrative that you are proud of and we will publish them on line! Along the way, well be looking at several short stories as models. At the end of the unit, well collect our thoughts about story-writing in a How-to Booklet or Mindmap. Intended Learnings: M.E1.3 identify the ways in which specific language forms, features, and of text are used to shape meaning as a reader M.E1.4 identify the ways in which grammatical and mechanical structures (e.g. quotation marks and paragraph breaks) are used to shape meaning as a reader M.E3.4 apply appropriate formats and devices relevant to specific writing genres and media M.E4.3 produce pieces of text that display a specific mood M.E4.4 use elements of fiction to engage an audience M.E4.7 use words in new and different ways

KEY VOCABULARY FOR THIS UNIT:

ASSESSMENTS:
Completion Checks for Various Steps of the Writing Process Planning (character, setting/mood, story string/plot line) 15 points Drafting 5 points Peer Reviewing 5 points Revising & Editing 5 points Publishing 5 points Final Draft of Scene Ideas Organization Voice (mood) Word Choice (description) Sentence Fluency Conventions (punctuation, capital letters, spelling etc.) How-to Booklet / Mind Map Quiz: Quotation Marks 40 points

Narrative Characterization Protagonist Antagonist Minor Character Setting Mood Plot Exposition Rising Action Conflict Climax Resolution

20 points 20 points

Dialogue Introspection Description Dialogue

Week of March 19 Lesson 1-4: Create Character (5 points) Week of March 26 Lesson 1: Create Setting (5 points) Week of April 02

Lesson 2/3: Wonderful Wednesday Read aloud Library Journal write Lesson 2/3: Wonderful Wednesday Read aloud Library Journal write

Lesson 4: Peer Edit character (5 points) Highlight potential conflicts Lesson 4: Peer Edit (5 points)

SPRING BREAK

SPRING BREAK
Lesson 2/3: Wonderful Wednesday Read aloud Library Journal write Make plot line (5 points) Choose 1 scene to write Lesson 2/3: Wonderful Wednesday Read aloud Library Journal write Lesson2/3: Wonderful Wednesday Read aloud Library Scene writing time Lesson 2/3: Wonderful Wednesday - Library, - Writing/revising time for scene - Peer feedback and revision (5 points) Lesson 2/3: Wonderful Wednesday Read aloud Library

SPRING BREAK
Lesson 4: Complete plot line (5 points) Choose 1 scene to write

Week of April 10 Lesson 1: The Rules Create Story String (5 points) Week of April 16 Lesson 1: What is introspection? The Mix Practice writing Week of April 23: Punctuating dialogue Adding dialogue to your scene Week of April 30 Lesson 1: Revise scene

Lesson 4:

Mixing action and dialogue

Start Writing Your Scene!

Lesson 4: Adding description to your scene Revise scene, adding description Lesson 4: Quiz: Quotation Marks (20 Points)

Submit draft
Lesson 4:

Week of May 07 Lesson 1: Intro- Mind map project

The Description Game

Week of May 14 Lesson 1: -Revise drafts -more description game? - Mind map work time Week of May 21 Lesson 1: Work on How to booklet or mind map Submit by Friday

Mind Map project Lesson 2/3: Wonderful Wednesday - Library, book share

TBA

Submit final scene on 16 May

Lesson 2/3: Wonderful Wednesday - Library, book share Work on How to Booklet or mind map Lesson 4: Finish How-to Book (20 points)