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A Review of Characteristics of Literary and Informational Texts

Unit Plan

A Review of Characteristics of Literary and Informational Texts

Objectives

In this unit, students review characteristics of literary and informational texts. Students will:

  • identify literary elements and explain how they are important to a story.
  • identify features of informational texts and explain how they improve understanding.
  • compare and contrast information presented by two texts on the same topic.

Essential Questions

How do strategic readers create meaning from informational and literary text?
How does interaction with text provoke thinking and response?
What is this text really about?
  • 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?

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Formative Assessment

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    Short-Answer Items:

    1. Name two characteristics of literary text.
    2. Explain how each helps you understand literary text.
    3. Name two characteristics of informational text.
    4. Explain how each helps you understand informational text.

    Short-Answer Key and Scoring Rubric:

    Points

    Description

    4

    Student completes all four responses correctly. Suggested responses:

    • Characteristics of literary text include characters, setting, plot (problem/solution), and sequence.
    • These characteristics help the reader understand who is in the story, where and when the story takes place, what happens in the story, and how the events happen, etc.
    • Characteristics of informational text include facts and text features such as table of contents, pictures, captions, bold print, and glossary.
    • These characteristics help the reader find information, add to information presented in text, call the reader’s attention to important words, and explain what words mean.

    3

    Student completes three of the responses correctly.

    2

    Student completes two of the responses correctly

    1

    Student completes one of the responses correctly.

    0

    Student does not complete any of the responses correctly.

    Performance Assessment:

    Materials:

    • basket of books including both literary texts and informational texts at students’ independent reading levels
    • poster paper

     

    Assign or have students choose one of the following activities to complete:

    • Create a T-chart showing the differences between literary texts and informational texts.
    • From a basket of books including both literary texts and informational texts, select one literary text and one informational text. Explain or write how to determine each text type.
    • Create a poster about your life. Put your name or picture in the center of the poster. Present information about yourself, using informational text features.
    • Write a story about a single event in your life. Use a graphic organizer (L-2-3-1_Story Map.doc) to document the literary characteristics in your story.

    Performance Assessment Scoring Rubric:

    Points

    Description

    2

    Student completes one of the performance tasks and demonstrates adequate understanding of the appropriate characteristics.

    1

    Student attempts to complete one of the performance tasks but is not able to demonstrate understanding of the appropriate characteristics.

    0

    Student does not attempt to complete a performance assessment task.

     

Final 4/11/14
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