Friday, November 21, 2014

Unit on the Elements of Narrative



Objective:  The students will be able to identify the elements of narrative in both fiction and nonfiction and use these elements effectively in their own writing.

Performance Activity/Assessment:  Narrative essay, Expository essay, and a Character Sketch.

Focus:  Writing

Common Core Standards Covered:  Writing 1,2 3 and Language 1,2,3,4,5,6.

Duration:  4-6 Weeks

Essential Questions:

1.  How do authors use the resources of language to impact an audience?
2.  What is literature supposed to do?
3.  How does the study of fiction and nonfiction texts help individuals create their own understanding of reality and society?
4.  What influences an author to create?

What do we want the students to know?

  • Elements of narrative
  • Characterization (direct and indirect)
  • Setting
  • Tone and how it's created (connotation)
  • Theme (universal and personal)
  • Figurative language
  • Point of View
  • Narrator and Voice
  • Irony and Ambiguity

What do we want the students to do? 

  • Compare tone in fiction and nonfiction
  • Analyze dialogue
  • Analyze Structure of narrative
  • Analyze theme across genre
  • Write a narrative that includes narrative elements.
  • Write an expository essay explaining two stories.

Final Performance Tasks: 

1)   The student will compose their own autobiographical narrative that uses the elements of narrative effectively.

Essay Prompt:  Autobiographical Essay using "A Hero's Story" by Fred Pulse.

Autobiographical Narrative Essay

2)  The student will complete an expository essay which explains the two short stories "The Pedestrian" and "Long Way Home" and tells which story is most likely to happen in the future.

Essay Prompt:  Expository Essay using "The Pedestrian" and "Long Way Home."

"The Pedestrian" and "Long Way Home" Expository Essay Prompt

3)  The students will create an original character sketch using all aspects of indirect characterization that authors of narrative use.

Character Sketch Directions