8th grade Elements of LiteratureModule 2.0

Module 2.0 Nonfiction

In this Module you will read various nonfiction pieces, including a speech and a biography of a U.S. president. As you read each nonfiction piece think about how it imparts a sense of understanding or shares different view on it subjects. If you love reading true stories about real subjects and their lives, as I do, you will sure enjoy this module.

Goals and Outcomes

Goals

During this module, students will: Gain exposure to nonfiction works Understand the elements of nonfiction works Use their personal experiences to compose a nonfiction story

8th grade Elements of LiteratureModule 2.0

Outcomes

After completing this module, students will be able to: Identify the various forms of nonfiction Recognize and analyze the elements of form and style Analyze persuasive writing Write persuasive essays Compose a nonfiction story

Topic 2.1: Form and Style

When you describe friends as stylish, you probably mean they have a distinctive way of styling their hair or dressing, or they have a certain swagger to their walk. We admire style even when hesitate to imitate it ourselves. Good writers develop a style all their own. You can even sometimes recognize their work without their signature.

Form:

Form: Nonfiction comes in many forms—biographies, autobiographies, memoirs, essays, and news articles, to name just a few. What unites these forms is that they all involve real, rather than imaginary, subjects.

Biography: A biography is an account of a person’s life written by someone else. Authors can use primary and secondary sources to write about their subject’s life.

Autobiography: An autobiography is a writer’s account of his or her own life. An autobiography usually describes a writer’s life chronologically from childhood to adulthood.

Memoir: A memoir is a type of autobiography that usually focuses on a significant event or period in a writer’s life.

Personal Essay: Another, shorter type of autobiographical writing is the personal essay, which focuses on a subject of particular interest to the writer.

Journalism: In a newspaper or magazine article, the writer, called a journalist, presents factsStatistics, and statements by other people in a straightforward manner.

8th grade Elements of LiteratureModule 2.0

Style:

Style: If you read two biographies of Abraham Lincoln and find one boring and the other compelling, how do you explain your reaction? You may be responding to the authors’ different styles. An author’s style is the way he or she uses language.

Diction: A major component of style is diction—the way a writer uses words. If you write a scientific paper, will you discuss a busted leg or a fractured femur? In general, long words with

8th grade Elements of LiteratureModule 2.0

Latin roots tend to sound formal and intellectual. Contractions and slang are conversational and less formal.

Figurative Language: Style also involves the use of figurative language---imaginative comparisons between seemingly unlike things. Some common figures of speech are metaphor and personification. An example of metaphor would be someone calling their camera a weapon. An example of personification would be referring to water lilies as “praying hands”. Such comparisons reveal the author’s way of seeing the world.

Sentence Structure: Sentence patterns create rhythm and pace. Short, simple sentences can create suspense or excitement. Long, complex sentences might slow your reading.

Tone: An author’s attitude towards a subject or character is tone. This is conveyed through sentence structure and diction.

Mood: The overall feeling or atmosphere an author creates is called mood. Mood is often created by the story’s setting.

Watch the following video about tone and mood:http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=f927E64EIQ0

Topic 2.2: Persuasion

Some people seem to know exactly the right thing to say in order to get what they want. They are skilled in the art of persuasion. Politicians understand that persuasion is the key to swaying voters. Writers use persuasion to convince others to change their ideas or to act in a specific way. Learning to analyze their techniques will help you evaluate the quality of their arguments.

Watch this video about persuasion:http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Zjgfn71gT0Y

Elements of Persuasion: When writers try to persuade you, they are trying to convince you to believe or act in a certain way. You are most likely to agree with writers whose ideas seem credible and whose evidence seems valid. The structure and tone of an author’s argument can also influence how you react.

8th grade Elements of LiteratureModule 2.0

Writer’s Intent: In persuasive writing, the writer’s intent is to convince you to think or act a certain way. Sometimes the writer’s goal is to change the way you think, but a writer may also be calling you to action, and asking you to go out and do something. The writer communicates his or her intent objectively or subjectively. An objective approach uses probable facts. A subjective approach focuses on a writer’s experiences, feelings, and opinions. Sometimes a writer uses both approaches.

Credibility and Evidence: Credibility: Before you respond to a persuasive text, evaluate the writer’s credibility, or believability. Credibility depends of a writer’s qualifications as well as the quality of the evidence presented. A writer’s qualifications might include expert status or work experience in the field about which he or she is writing. Evidence: Would you believe someone who tried to convince you by saying, “Because I say so”? Probably not. You would want to evaluate the person’s argument carefully. To do this make sure it is supported with enough evidence, or proof. An appeal to logic uses facts, statistics, and examples to speak to a reader’s reason and common sense. Emotional appeals speak to reader’s emotions, such as fear, sympathy, or anger. An appeal to emotion may include loaded words, and anecdotes, stories or personal accounts of an event. A good argument will appeal both to logic and to emotion.

Structure and Tone: Structure: A good writer organizes an argument carefully and logically. An argument might be organized by cause and effect, problem and solution, chronological order, or question and answer. Readers will usually remember most about the beginning and end of a piece. Therefore, many writers structure an argument so that it moves from the least important idea to the most important idea, or from a general idea to a specific call of action.

Tone: A writer’s tone reflects his or her attitude toward the subject or audience and is closely related to intent. In persuasive writing the writer’s tone might be serious, sincere, concerned or amused. Identifying the tone of a text can help you evaluate the credibility of an argument.

8th grade Elements of LiteratureModule 2.0

Selective Readings and Assignments

Required

Complete the following assignments in MS Word Documents and submit in the submissions area of Moodle.

10/28 – 11/4 Form and Style:

First Week: All assignments due by 11:59pm on Wednesday or Sunday the first week of this module.

Due by 11:59pm on Wednesday, 10/30~Read the information on pgs. 440-443 of your text.~Read the personal essay, “My Two Lives” by Jhumpa Lahire on pg. 444 of your text.~Complete the Skills In Action Wrap Up on pg. 451 of your text.~Read the information on pgs. 452-455 of your text.~Read the biography from, “Team of Rivals” by Doris Kearns Goodwin on pg. 456 of your text.~Complete the Applying Your Skills activities and questions on pg. 467 of your text.

Due by 11:59 pm on Sunday, 11/3~Read the information on pgs. 468-470 of your text.~Read the Memoir from, “A Choice of Weapons” by Gordan Parks on pg. 473 in your text.~Complete the Applying Your Sills activities and questions on pg. 481 of your text.~Read the information on pg. 482- 484 of your text.~Read the autobiography, “Typhoid Fever” from Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt, pg. 485.~Complete the Applying Your Skills activities and questions, pgs. 493-494 in your text.~Read the information on pgs. 504-507 of your text.~Read the magazine article from, “Into Thin Air” by Jon Krakauer, pg. 508 of your text.~Complete the Applying Your Skills activities and questions, pg. 519-520 of your text.

11/4 – 11/10 Form and Style:

Second Week: All assignments due by 11:59pm on Wednesday or Sunday on the second week of this module.

8th grade Elements of LiteratureModule 2.0

Due by 11:59pm Wednesday, 11/6~Read the Comparing Themes Across Genres information on pgs. 522-524 of your text.~Read the nonfiction from, “102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers” by Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn pg. 525 in your text.~Complete the Applying Your Skills activities and questions pg.531 of your text.~Read the short story, “And of Clay Are We Created” by Isabel Allende, pg. 532 in your text.~Complete the Applying Your Skills activities and questions pg. 540 in your text.~Complete the Writing Focus section the Comparing Texts Wrap Up pg. 541 in your text.

Due by 11:59pm Sunday, 11/10~Read the Generating Research Questions information pgs. 542-543 in your text.~Read the pre story information pg. 544 in your text.~Read the graphic adaptation from “The 911 Report” by Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colon, pg. 545.~Complete the Applying Your Skills questions and activities pg. 549 of your text.~Complete the Literary Skills Review, Form and Style, story/questions pgs. 550-551.~Complete the Informational Skills Review, Generating Research Questions, story/questions pgs. 552-554.~Complete the Vocabulary Skills Review pg. 555 in your text.

11/11 – 11/17 Persuasion:

Third Week: All assignments due by 11:59pm on Wednesday or Sunday of the third week of this module.

Due by 11:59pm Wednesday, 11/13~Read the persuasion information on pgs. 558-565 in your text.~Read the personal essay, “Free Minds and Hearts at Work” by Jackie Robinson, pg. 566. ~Complete the Skills In Action Wrap Up, pg. 569 of your text.~Read the pre story/author information on pgs. 570-572 in your text.~Read the speech, “There Comes a Time When People Get Tired” by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. pg. 573 in your text.~Read the eulogy for Martin Luther King, Jr. by Robert F. Kennedy, pg. 577-578 in your text.~Complete the Applying Your Skills activities/questions/vocabulary development, pg. 570-580.~Complete the Your Turn writing activity, pg. 581 in your text.

Due by 11:59pm Sunday, 11/17~Read the pre story/author information pgs. 582-584 in your text.~Read the nonfiction from, “Silent Spring, A Fable for Tomorrow” by Rachel Carson, pg. 585.~Read the nonfiction, “Kiss and Tell”, by Judith Stone, pg. 587 in your text.~Complete the Applying Your Sills activities and questions, pg. 591 in your text.~Read the Comparing Viewpoints: Pro and Con, pgs. 592-594 in your text.

8th grade Elements of LiteratureModule 2.0

~Read the nonfiction from, “Cesar’s Way” by Cesar Millan, pg. 595 in your text.~Complete the Applying Your Skills activities and questions, pg. 602 in your text.

11/18 – 11/24 Persuasion:

Fourth Week: All assignments due by 11:59pm Wednesday or Sunday the fourth weed of this module.

Due by 11:59pm Wednesday, 11/20~Read the article, “Pack of Lies” by Mark Derr from the New York Times, pg. 603 in your text.~Complete the Applying Your Skills activities and questions, pg. 606 in your text.~Complete the Writing Focus writing assignment on Comparing Texts Wrap Up, pg. 607.~Read the information on Informational Text Focus, Analyzing an Argument, pgs. 608-609.~Read the editorial, “Target Real Violence, Not Video Games” by Robert D. Richards and Clay Calvert, pg. 610 in your text.

Due by 11:59pm Sunday, 11/24~Read the editorial, “Harmless Fun?” from Weekly Reader, pg. 615 in your text.~Read the Literary Skills Review, Persuasion pg. 616 in your text.~Complete Literary Skills Review, pg. 618 in your text.~Read the Informational Skills Review, Analyzing an Argument pg. 619 in your text.~Complete the Information Skills Review, pgs. 620-621 in your text.~Complete the Vocabulary Skills Review, pgs. 622-623 of your text.

11/25 – 12/1 Thanksgiving Break

No Assignments Due

12/2 – 12/8

12/9 – 12/15

We will spend these two weeks before Christmas break working on writing activities. I will post the assignments by 11/18 for these two weeks. After the Christmas break we will begin Module 3 in January.

8th grade Elements of LiteratureModule 2.0

“To Do” List

Discussions: Please see instructions at the bottom of this section

Please note that by Sunday of each week you have two responses to your classmates threads due by Sunday of each week.

“My Two Lives”: Due 10/31

The discussion topic for this week is: What do you think is Lahiri’s purpose for using metaphor of siblings to describe her bicultural identity?

“102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers”: Due 11/7

The discussion topic for this week is: Write a response as to the feelings that are evoked in you as you read this nonfiction.

“Free Minds and Hearts at Work”: Due 11/14

The discussion topic for this week is: Do you agree with Robinson’s beliefs? Why or why not?

“Pack of Lies”: Due 11/21

The discussion topic for this week is: Do you think these confrontational methods should be used on dogs? Why do you think as you do?Make your initial posts before 11:59 p.m. on Thursday of each week. After making your initial postings, review at least two of your classmates’ postings and reply to their threads. Complete your replies before 11:59 p.m. U.S. EST/EDT on the Sunday of each week.

Discussion postings should always be thoughtful and courteous and include some references or direct evidence from the module’s content, readings, or assignments to support your statements. In order to ensure that postings are appropriate in length and substance, please limit your initial postings to 50 – 100 words and each of your responses to 25 – 50 words.

8th grade Elements of LiteratureModule 2.0

Assessment 2: Nonfiction

Overview and Instructions

Your assessment for Module 2 is two writing assignments. Due on the last day of this Module 2, 12/15.

Your first assignment is to compose a nonfiction story. It can be an autobiography, biography, any form of nonfiction that you choose. I will be looking for depth rather than length. Please be sure to pay attention to your form and style when developing your work.

Your second assignment is to compose a persuasive essay. Be sure to include some of the elements and techniques we have covered in this module. Again, I am looking for content rather than length.

Watch this video about writing an autobiography. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=XNWtdMiuGnQ

Visit this site for more information on writing a biography:

http://mrkitching.wordpress.com/journals-biographies/

Watch these videos about writing persuasive essays:http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=7zF9mzGE1gs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=9mOCUP07-1I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=baxDMu_1M0c

Please see the scoring rubric at the bottom of this section for information on how it will be scored.

8th grade Elements of LiteratureModule 2.0

Goals

During this module, students will: Gain exposure to nonfiction works Understand the elements of nonfiction works Use their personal experiences to compose a nonfiction story

Outcomes

After completing this exercise, students will be able to:

Identify the various forms of nonfiction Recognize and analyze the elements of form and style Analyze persuasive writing Write persuasive essays Compose a nonfiction story

8th grade Elements of LiteratureModule 2.0

Submitting

To submit your assignment to your instructor, save your MS Word file as a DOC/DOCX file and name in the following manner:

Assign2_lastnamefirstinitial (i.e., assign2_suggsk.doc)

Submit your finished work to the assignment # link in the Submissions area of Moodle before 11:59 p.m. U.S. EST/EDT on the last day of Module 2, 12/15.

Grading

Grades on this paper will be based on the following rubric. Read it carefully to get a sense of the instructor’s specific expectations.

Poor Fair Good ExcellentCriteria 1 Writings do not

contain any of the elements of form

Writings contain some of the elements of form

Writings are pretty well developed with the use of form

Writings are well developed with the use of form

Criteria 2 Writings do not contain any of the elements of style

Writings contain some of the elements of style

Writings are pretty well developed with the use of style

Writings are well developed with the use of style

Criteria 3 Writings do not use any of the elements or techniques of persuasion

Writings contain some of the elements and techniques of persuasion

Writings are pretty well developed with the use of persuasion elements and techniques

Writings are well developed with the use of persuasion elements and techniques

Criteria 4 Numerous errors in grammar and spelling

Many errors in grammar and spelling

Few errors in grammar and spelling

No errors in grammar and spelling