8th Grade ELA - The Power of Storytelling

Unit Overview

By the end of this unit, you will be able to:

Use descriptive and sensory language to help the reader imagine an

experience or idea.
Draft and revise a narrative text that conveys a deeper meaning about life.
Compare and contrast how different texts convey meaning.
Pick apart how authors use decisions to convey meaning.
Describe the power of storytelling in a collegiate discussion.

Essential Question: What is the power of storytelling?

Performance Tasks:

1. Writing: compose a narrative text that conveys a deeper meaning about

life. Write a short cover letter that explains and analyzes your creative
choices. Share your work with an audience of your peers.
2. Reading: analyze and compare the power of stories across different genres.
3. Speaking and Listening: participate in a collegiate discussion.

Purpose:

1. to understand how authors uses devices / choices to create meaning.

2. to c onvey an image, idea, or experience to others effectively.
3. to c ompare different text types.

Audience: yourself, your classmates, your families, and your teacher.

Overview:

Part I: Story Elements

Part II: Form & Structure
Part III: Expression
Part IV: Stories, Ourselves, and the World
Part V: The Art of Being a Storyteller