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Analyzing Features of Nonfiction Texts

Unit Plan

Analyzing Features of Nonfiction Texts

Objectives

Students will review and refine reading strategies used to understand nonfiction texts. This unit will provide concrete practice to advance students’ ability to comprehend text structure, determine the author’s purpose, and effectively use various methods for crafting their own writing. Students will:

  • identify and analyze the structures of nonfiction text.
  • explain the effectiveness of text organization to communicate an author’s purpose.
  • research and synthesize information on a nonfiction topic.

Essential Questions

How do readers know what to believe in what they read, hear, and view?
How do readers’ know what to believe in what they read, hear, and view?
How do strategic readers create meaning from informational and literary text?
How does interaction with text provoke thinking and response?
What is the purpose?
What is this text really about?
What makes clear and effective writing?
What strategies and resources do I use to figure out unknown vocabulary?
Why do writers write?
Why learn new words?
  • 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?
  • How do readers know what to believe in what they read, hear, and view?
  • Why do writers write? What is the purpose?
  • What makes clear and effective writing?

Related Unit and Lesson Plans

Related Materials & Resources

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Materials haven't been entered into the unit plan.

Formative Assessment

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    Short-Answer Item:

    Compare narrative nonfiction with a news article. Explain at least two similarities and one difference between these nonfiction passage types.

    Short-Answer Key and Scoring Rubric:

    Points

    Description

    3

    Student response provides at least two accurate similarities and at least one accurate difference between narrative nonfiction and a news article.

    • Similarities may include the following: use of facts, accuracy, realism, sequence, third-person point of view.
    • Differences may include the following: Narrative nonfiction may express the opinions or feelings of the author and may be written in first person. News articles are free of opinion/bias and should have verifiable facts. Narrative nonfiction and news articles may have different purposes.

    2

    Student response provides at least one accurate similarity and at least one accurate difference between narrative nonfiction and a news article.

    1

    Student response provides at least one accurate similarity or one accurate difference between narrative nonfiction and a news article.

    0

    Student response may be off topic, left blank, illegible, or incomplete.

    Performance Assessment:

    Ask students to write an editorial of at least 250 words (one printed page) about the following question:

                  The school board wants to change the school year so that students go to school year-round, for four days a week, and have a one-week vacation every two months. Would you be in favor of this schedule? Why or why not?

    The editorial should use at least three different text structures (e.g., description, definition, comparison, contrast, problem/solution) and contain at least three supporting reasons.

    Performance Assessment Scoring Rubric:

     

    excellent

    good

    fair

    needs work

    Editorial gives a clear opinion on the question.

    3

    2

    1

    0

    Editorial uses at least three different text structures.

    3

    2

    1

    0

    Editorial uses at least three supporting reasons.

    3

    2

    1

    0

    Editorial is free of mechanical errors.

    3

    2

    1

    0

     

Final 05/03/2013
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