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Determining the Effects of Figurative Language

Unit Plan

Determining the Effects of Figurative Language

Objectives

In this unit, students analyze the effective use of figurative language in fiction, focusing particularly on imagery and symbolism. Students will:

  • identify the use of figurative language, including alliteration, hyperbole, imagery, metaphor, personification, simile, and symbolism, in particular selections.
  • analyze the effects of figurative language used in particular selections.
  • build a collection of individually chosen examples of figurative language, each one identified and its effectiveness briefly analyzed.
  • apply what they have learned by analyzing a particular selection at the close of the unit.
  • create together a rubric that evaluates the use of imagery and symbolism in a particular selection.
  • demonstrate understanding of the effective use of figurative language in fiction by creating a passage, implementing imagery and symbolism.
  • respond to the examples and work of other students in both written and oral form.
  • revise their own writing after responding to the work of others and receiving responses to their own work.
  • evaluate their own passage, using criteria from the rubric created by the class.

Essential Questions

  • How do strategic readers create meaning from informational and literary text?
  • What is this text really about?
  • How does interaction with text provoke thinking and response?
  • Why learn new words?
  • What strategies and resources do readers use to figure out unknown vocabulary?
  • How do learners develop and refine their vocabulary?
  • What makes clear and effective writing?

Related Unit and Lesson Plans

Related Materials & Resources

The possible inclusion of commercial websites below is not an implied endorsement of their products, which are not free, and are not required for this lesson plan.

Formative Assessment

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    Short-Answer Items:

    1. Write an evaluation of your paragraph using a symbol. Identify its meaning and the evidence you used to convey this meaning.
    2. Write an essay describing how a writer’s use of figurative language affects the reader. Include at least three examples of figurative language to support your answer.

    Short-Answer Key and Scoring Rubrics:

    1. Write an evaluation of your paragraph using a symbol. Identify your purpose and evidence to show that you accomplished your purpose.

    Scoring Rubric for item #1:

    Points

    Description

    3

    Student writes an evaluation of the paragraph using symbolism, including at least three of the following requirements:

    • an identification of the symbol
    • an explanation of the symbol
    • two examples of vivid imagery
    • three examples of figurative language, with each device named

    2

    Student writes an evaluation of the paragraph using symbolism, including at least two of the requirements.

    1

    Student writes an evaluation of the paragraph using symbolism, including one of the requirements.

    0

    Student fails to include any of the requirements.

     

     

     

    1. Write an essay describing how a writer’s use of figurative language affects the reader. Include at least three examples of figurative language to support your answer.

    Scoring Rubric for item #2

    Points

    Description

    3

    Student writes an essay describing how a writer’s use of figurative language affects the reader, including at least three examples of figurative language.

    2

    Student writes an essay describing how a writer’s use of figurative language affects the reader, including at least two examples of figurative language.

    1

    Student writes an essay describing how a writer’s use of figurative language affects the reader, including at least one example of figurative language.

    0

    Student fails to include any of the requirements.

     

    Performance Assessment:

    Student work for the unit should be assessed according to the following rubric.

    Performance Assessment Scoring Rubric:

    Points

    Description

    5

    Student received credit for all of the required assignments:

    • collecting at least the required number of examples of figurative language (Lesson 1)
    • identifying and explaining the effectiveness of the figurative language (Lesson 2)
    • completing required drafts of the paragraph using symbolism

    (Lesson 3)

    • submitting a paragraph evaluation of the symbolism paragraph

    (Lesson 3)

    • submitting a rubric evaluating the symbolism paragraph (Lesson 3)

    4

    Student received credit for four of the required assignments.

    3

    Student received credit for three of the required assignments.

    2

    Student received credit for two of the required assignments.

    1

    Student received credit for one of the required assignments.

    0

    Student received credit for none of the required assignments.
Final 03/01/2013
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