Annee+Dunn

**Unit Introduction ** **Unit Title: ** Get in the Know with the News


 * Name of Preparer:** Annee Dunn

**Estimated Timeline for Teaching: **Thirteen 50 minute lessons ** Unit Overview ** In a world where we are often overloaded with information, it is a surprise how uneducated most people are about current events in their cities, states, the country, and the world. After studying books that show the great (and sometimes grave) outcomes of current events, (I recommend Satrapi’s, //The Complete Persepolis// and Art Spiegelman’s, //Maus I,// even Harper Lee’s, //To Kill a Mocking Bird//), students’ will be asked to synthesize current events by researching some at the school, state, national, and global levels of news. Students will get the chance to become familiar with their library when researching both print and internet news sources to find the topics they view as important and pertain to their everyday lives. They will be introduced to investigative reporting as a type of field research to supplement one of the news events their media covers. From there, the students will create a Newspaper to share their findings with the class. The final newspaper will include four well-researched news stories from each level of life (school/local, state, national, global), one literary review, and one literary analysis. This project allows students’ to immerse themselves in their surrounding and become active, informed citizens by conducting research and gaining understanding of the worlds around them.  **From Theory to Practice **<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">This Unit allows students to become actively engaged in their own worlds by engrossing themselves with news that matters to them. They will practice researching skills; compiling different information from print and internet sources. Allowing the students to familiarize themselves with the information, we begin to show the process of differentiating between untrustworthy and vetted sources. By conducting interviews as a source for a news story, students learn the importance of asking the right questions to reach sound conclusions. The different writing genres (research, newspaper articles, and literary reviews) used in this assignment are ones students need to be familiar with, as they help master the skills of research, and literary analysis: both essential skills used in classrooms and the real world. By deconstructing genres with our students, we pull essential traits from each, leaving us with a group of skills to use interchangeably (clear concise language, analytical interpretation, drawing conclusions, using appropriate voice for your audience, etc.) in students’ writing. The project brings the students full circle, from brainstorming to researching to writing to presenting, however, provides a fresh new approach that is relevant to the students’ lives, which ultimately makes the impact of the learning deeper for both students and teachers alike. **<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-color: #ffffff;">Sources ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-ascii-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Arias, J. “Teaching Ethnography: Reading the World and Developing Student Agency. “ __English Journal__ 97.6 (2008): pg. 92-98. <span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-ascii-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Keene, Oliver Ellin. “The Essence of Understanding.” //Adolescent Literacy.// Ed. Beers, Probst, Reif. Heinemann: New Hampshire, 2007. 27-39. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Become comfortable using library resources <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Learn how to properly use Library’s cataloging systems <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Teach them how to properly search for topics within the library data base <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffffff;">·  <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Explore different paths of research <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Students will spend time collecting print research from various sources <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Students will complete interviews to supplement one news story <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Wingdings; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Students will complete key questions to ask interviewees, showing the significance of pin pointing key information necessary for writing news articles <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffffff;">·  <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Promote students to be active, informed citizens <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Introduce them to a variety of print and internet news sources <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Show students how to sift through information to find some that align with their beliefs <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Hopefully, introduce them to a news source they feel comfortable reading on a regular basis <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffffff;">·  <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Become familiar with the difference between a vetted and non-vetted source <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Discuss the importance of where the information is coming from; are their sources reliable? <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Show the students that news is inherently biased in some way, so the best way to gain knowledge of current events is to explore news from a variety of sources <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffffff;">·  <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Promote discussion of important topics, as picked by the students <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Provide safe atmosphere for open discussion <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Promote honest but respectful decorum when discussing hot topics <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Students share and compare information and sources <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffffff;">·  <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Hone ability to synthesize broad information into specific, key points <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Since this is newspaper style, students will be asked to focus on the 5 W’s for their research portions <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Wingdings; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Who: Who is this story about, who does the story effect? <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Wingdings; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">What: What is the story you are trying to tell? <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Wingdings; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Where: Where is this taking place, how far do the circumstances reach? <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Wingdings; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">When: When did this happen, how long has this been going on? <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Wingdings; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Why: Why is this story important to us as an audience? <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">For the literary review, have them pick reading from the semester to review by honing specific, key points <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Wingdings; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Who are the characters of the book <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Wingdings; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">What is the story <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Wingdings; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Where does the story take place <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Wingdings; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">When does the story take place/when was it published/historical context <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Wingdings; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Why is this book worth reading, is it worth reading in your opinion? What are the main themes/ideas that the book addresses? <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">For the literary analysis, you will chose one important scene/panel/symbol/theme from one of the books we read in conjunction with the assignment and discuss the overall significance this has to the book <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffffff;">·  <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Reflect on how many current events have far reaching circumstances <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Explore the significance/impact the story had on your life <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffffff;">·  <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Effectively convey ideas and information by writing newspaper articles <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Students become the authority, they have the ability to include or dismiss any information from the news stories they choose to cover <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">The writing process of scripts and articles will touch every Standard in 1.1, but especially focus on: <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore; msobidifontweight: bold;">· <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">CE 1.1.1, Demonstrating flexibility in independent and collaborative strategies to rework texts <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore; msobidifontweight: bold;">· <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">CE 1.1.4, Composing drafts that express an opinion, raises questions, or explores a topic while considering constraints of the selected form of genre
 * Grade Level(s):** 9-12; Adaptable to each unique classroom situation
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Student Objectives **
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Michigan ELA Content Expectations **

From Standard 1.3, students will meet the following expectations: <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore; msobidifontweight: bold;">· <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">CE 1.3.1, Compose written, spoken, and/or multimedia compositions in a range of genres: pieces that serve a variety of purposes <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore; msobidifontweight: bold;">· <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">CE 1.3.3, Compose essays with well-crafted and carried sentences demonstrating a precise, flexible, and creative use of language <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore; msobidifontweight: bold;">· <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">CE 1.3.4, Develop and extend a thesis, argument, or exploration of a topic by analyzing differing perspectives and employing a structure that effectively conveys the ideas in writing <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore; msobidifontweight: bold;">· <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">CE 1.3.5, Identify and assess audience expectations and needs; adapt communication strategies appropriately and effectively <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore; msobidifontweight: bold;">· <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">CE 1.3.7, Participate collaboratively and productively in groups <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore; msobidifontweight: bold;">· <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">CE 1.3.9, Use the formal, stylistic, content, and mechanical conventions of a variety of genres in speaking, writing and multimedia presentations

Students will work on all CEs in Standard 1.4 throughout the research process of this unit. Standard 1.5 CEs will all be covered during the final presentation portion of the unit and used in variation among the groups

**<span style="font-size: 120%; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-color: #ffffff;">Instructional Plan ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffffff;">

<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Before this unit, have student’s complete a book(s) about the significance current events can have on a persons’ life, I suggest: <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o //<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">To Kill A Mocking Bird //<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">, Harper Lee <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o //<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Persepolis //<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">, Marjane Satrapi <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o //<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Maus I //<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">, Art Spiegelman <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o //<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Night, //<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Eli Weiss <span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">If you decide to teach two, I would pick at least one of the Graphic Novels to teach in conjunction with a traditional novel. This allows students’ to explore a new genre of literature and the strong emotional effect visuals can invoke within the reader. <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Internet access must be made available for students’ to explore the vast amount of news outlets <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">This can be done in or outside the classroom. If your school has internet and laptops available, I would suggest doing the technology lessons in your own classroom, it allows you to better monitor their activities and gives less distractions. If this is not an option, schedule two library days where students’ can research the stories they want to write. <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Internet will also be necessary once students reach the end of the project to “publish” their newspapers. ReadWriteThink.org provides a publishing tool that gives your students different options for the format or their newspaper. This tool will save time on formatting for the students when this time comes at the end of the project. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffffff;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Teacher preparation ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffffff;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-spacerun: yes; msospacerun: yes;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">It will be your job to collect as many examples of print media that you can before teaching this assignment. Print newspapers are found online, but students’ should still have the experience of pursuing print sources as well. I would show students examples from all levels of print media, including local, state, national and international. Some examples that I have found are Time and Newsweek magazines. This is a chance to show ALL different examples of news media (both good and bad). I would suggest showing students a wide range of News outlets, including, non-vetted sources so they can compare the difference in tone and quoting sources. Vetted sources I would include are Time and Newsweek Magazines; for non-vetted sources, The National Enquirer, The Globe, and The Onion, are all available for comparison. <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffffff;">·  <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Computer time must be secured for at least two class sessions, whether this is in or out of the classroom does not matter, as long as they have some time during school to work on research <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffffff;">·  <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Become familiar with the ReadWriteThink.org website and the publishing tool you will have your students’ using; you want to be able to seamlessly guide them through the formatting process at the end of the unit <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffffff;">·  <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Copies can be made of specific articles you want to share with the class, but I would recommend bringing full issues to class to generate discussion <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffffff;">·  <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">You will need to make copies of the assignment sheet, rubric, and peer review for the students; I recommend handing out the assignment sheet and rubric when you introduce the unit to let students know from the beginning the expectations of the unit
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Resources **

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="font-size: 110%; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-color: #ffffff;">Pass this out to students on the first day of the unit, after the discussion takes place. This will be helpful to the students as they begin to work on their articles, as it clearly delineates what requirements they need to meet. **<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-color: #ffffff;">Pre-writing Activity ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">After students spend two days researching various news stories, it will be time for them to decide which stories they wish to cover in their newspapers. As homework, (I would suggest you give them the weekend, so introducing the Unit on a Wednesday, spend Thursday and Friday in the library and assign this for the following Monday) students will be asked to complete the templates used for the discussion prompt with the articles they want to propose to. We want to encourage students to not only investigate the stories, but also consider the trickledown effect they have on those involved, including their own lives. By connecting these stories to their own lives, we can expand their horizons from an individualistic perspective to a global one. **<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-color: #ffffff;">Peer Review ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">There will be two days set aside for the Peer Review of articles written by the students. Begin by having students fill out the top of a peer review sheet with their article information, name, and what they want their peer editors to focus on when reviewing their piece. Students will group all of their articles together and exchange the packets with another group. From there, each group will elect one person to read the articles aloud while the other three take notes of what they do and do not like. After they have finished, they will group all their findings onto the provided Peer review sheet. For each article, make sure the students rotate so each ahs the chance to read an article and critique and article. One peer review sheet will be filled out for every article reviewed. At the end of the hour, students will pass back the packets to the group. The next day, each group will look over the comments made the previous day by peer reviewers and from there work together to tweak their articles. In the end, at least eight people will have given their ideas for improvement to the articles. **<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-color: #ffffff;">Discussion activity/Prompt ** <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">To begin this Unit, I would ask students to bring in an article they want to discuss in class. Tell them it can be from any news source, but it cannot be celebrity gossip. They will complete the sheet provided and bring both this and the articles for class discussion. **<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Self Reflection ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffffff;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-color: #ffffff;">For the final component of this assignment, have students complete a self-reflection about their overall experience becoming a well-informed citizen. A prompt is provided and students will be expected to write at least 1000 words. Have students turn this in with the final project. I have allocated 260 points towards this project, but I believe you could either expand or deflate the number of points to adapt this unit to your specific classroom needs. However, I tried to map out as clearly as possible where I believed more emphasis should be placed, and that can be seen in the different amount of points given to various categories. I placed a whole page for comments and I highly advise you to give as much feedback as possible to the project as a whole to allow students into your thought process while grading. You should include both positive and negative feedback, along with any overarching issues or concerns you feel need to be addressed. If you notice, I did not include points on the rubric for completing the supplemental activities done in conjunction with the unit (Mini lesson participation, Discussion Prompts, Pre Writing Activity, Self Reflection, and Interview Questions) because I feel they should be included in a semester grade, as they have served as various tools for homework and class work. However, you can incorporate all this work into the unit grade as a whole; it is a personal choice I leave up to you.
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Assignment sheet ** <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">
 * Assessment Rubric **

As of now, the grammar mini lesson is more of a lecture, versus an exercise. It introduces the MLA format, goes over specific components that need to be met, looks at the use of quotations in text, and allows students to take them one-step further by inserting introductory and explanatory clauses before and after quotations. The mini lesson can be utilized in an exercise format by allowing students time to practice on their own writing with the new information presented in the lesson.
 * Grammar Mini Lesson**
 * Other Mini Lessons and Materials Used in this Unit **