S+Cooper,+Susanna

**E-mail:**susanna.cooper@maine.edu =Summary of Unit= In this lesson unit on narrative writing and narrative stories students will get to learn and practice what elements go into creating a good story. Students will be able to use figurative language to embellish scenes in the story as well as draw the reader in. They will be able to deeply understand how plot themes and events tie a story together, as well as recognize the big plot elements in a story. Students will improve on their diction; understand terminology that will coincide with the unit. All of these steps will help the students effectively create their own exciting and well written narrative story by the end of the unit. =Establish Goals= Maine  Learning Results: English Language Arts: B. Writing B2. Narrative Grades 6-8 Students write narratives that convey complex ideas, observations, events, or reflections. = = =Students will understand that= •each narrative has a plot that conveys complex ideas. •different narrative strategies effectively convey the message or main points. •figurative language helps clarify and enhance the ideas and emotions. = = =Essential Questions= •How is the plot of a story developed? •Why do narrative strategies convey the message or main points? •How do I (the writer) incorporate figurative language into my narrative essay? = = =Students will know= • Terminology: metaphors, plot, conflict, personification, foreshadow, similes, paradox, and symbolism. •Sequences and timelines: Climax, exposition, conflict, falling action, resolution, • People and events: characters, antagonist, protagonist, = = =Students will be able to= •demonstrate different strategies for presenting the message. •make sense of the rise and fall of the plot and the major conflicts that took place. •produce their own narrative stories by using some of the narrative strategies. •analyze the figurative language in a passage and determine how it was effective. •consider how the story structure is effective by using figurative language. •realize that the plot breaks down the major ideas and events of the narrative. **Performance Task Overview**
 * Teacher:** Ms. Cooper
 * Office:**Metapohore alley- room 211
 * Office Phone**:(207) 333-9566
 * Office Hours:** Monday - Thursday 2:30-4 Wednesday 10-11am
 * Calling all stars, filmers, and story writers! Due to a low volume of movies being produced recently, Warner Brothers studio is sending out a plea for help! Ever wanted to be a movie star? Well now is your chance! Warner Bros. is having a contest where anyone young and old, new or experienced can take part. In order to win the contest and be the next top star, you must create an original movie trailer from a story that you have written, with a plot line included. If it makes it through the tough round of judging, by a panel of 10 Warner Bros. judges, then you just may be our next star for all the world to see! Contest ends March 1st. **

=Expectations= I know that every single student here is extremely capable of completing any assignments I give to you, and I know that with a little effort everyone can be very creative. I know that you would be angry if someone took your ideas, so I expect that everyone will makes sure not to steel anyone else’s ideas. I want to see what you know, not anyone else. If you are unsure, just do something else. The assignments we will be doing will allow you to be very creative and come up with many brand new ideas, all by yourself!
 * Plagiarism:**

**Assignments:** Assignments will be most of your grade, therefore I hope you will try your hardest to do the best you can on every assignment. I prefer that you always turn in your assignments in on time. But if there is a problem and you can't I won't mark you down right off. I will wait till the next class before taking any points off the final grade. If you take the time to come and tell me before the project is due that you are not going to have it done on time I will be happy to help and can plan with you how we can get it done. **Respect:** I believe that the only way we can all learn is by all treating each other with respect. Since I will respect all of you, I hope you will all do the same each and every class. By being respectful you should listen to who is talking to you, always keep any negative comments to your self, use manners when addressing me or and classmates, and keep the classroom the way it was when you first came in the room. **Attendance:** Attendance is very important since what we learn in class is going to help you with your homework. I expect you to be in class and be participating as much as you can so that we can all benefit from each other. I try really hard to make class a fun and relaxed place for you to learn. I will not penalize anyone for not participating in class. But it is my expectation that everyone will contribute to class and i will give you 20 extra points at the end of the unit if I feel you have really participated in class tried your hardest. If you do have to miss class due to family emergencies or an illness than I will be expecting you to contact me or a classmate to find out the information you missed. There will be a file in the back of the room where each of you will have an individual folder. When you are absent I will put any worksheets you missed in that folder. I expect that you will also check with me to make sure there isn't anything else you need to do. It's no fun to fall behind, by checking in with me and getting the work done before the next class you can stay right on track.

**Homework policy:** The homework I assign to you is to help you mast what we leaned last class and prepare you for what we will be learning next class. I try real hard to make you homework something you would be willing to do, therefore I assume that you will be willing to do your homework and have it done on time. If you can not finish you homework by the deadline, I expect that you will inform me ahead of time and tell me then when you will have it finished. Homework that is over a week old will have a few points taken off.

=Benchmarks= Here is an overview of everything we that will be addressed in our narrative writing unit. The assignments are a point system where each assignment gives a certain amount of points towards the final grade. The total amount of points that can be earned is 380. Below is a description of the assignments we will be doing in this unit and the points that can be earned.

After discovering an island, or deserted land on Earth, you will be asked to think up a way that you ended up discovering this unknown land and building something very special there. After writing about this special place you will write and create an I-Movie visual tour where you tell about this special land and made the whole world excited and willing to come to the middle of know where to this special place you have created. If you don't wish for your special place to be found, then you will make a tour without directions, but with some sneaky hints for fans to try and find. **(**50 points**)**
 * I-Movie of Resort tour:**

Near the end of the unit you will create a wikipage for 5th and 6th graders. You will be showing and teaching them all that you have learned about narrative writing. You will explain how to break down the plot of a story, and how characters play a big role. You will explain what you have learned in a creative way that will make the younger students excited to learn about narrative writing. Your wikispace page will need to be bright and easy to read for the young students. **(**50 points**)**
 * Wikispace for Plotting:**

To practice writing you own stories, you and a partner will work together to create a short cartoon book. You and your partner will think of your favorite children’s story book, examine the plot, and then see how you can take that plot and create your own story with it. The cartoon book will be made by using the computer program Comic Life. (50 points)
 * Comic Life Cartoon book:**

After creating discussing characters in class, each of you will practice creating your own, original characters. After you are satisfied with your character you will create a blog page for them. Each night you will be given a short prompt in reference to the character you have made. You will write entries relating to events in your character's life, which I will provide in prompt form, while using and practicing what we learned in class that day. Your blog will be checked throughout the unit and given a grade at the end of the unit. **(**50 points**)**
 * Character Blog:**

In class we will read a spooky story. Then you will be asked to create their own spooky story but not in written form. Your story must be created in Garage Band. Since there will be no images to guide the reader, you will be "painting a picture" for the reader with words. You can be as imaginative as you want as long as the movie is appropriate. These stories will be presented and listened to by the class.
 * Auditory Story:**
 * (**40 points**)**


 * Glogster Plot Outline:** You will be creating your own stories form scratch throughout this unit. In order to organize your thoughts and events in a story you will be using your Glogster account to create a plot outline. This outline will show the main events of the story and allow you to easily see what you will be writing about and where certain events will happen. **(**40 points**)**

This is the big assessment that will come at the end of the unit. The final assessment will be a movie trailer that is created from an original story that will be written in and outside of class throughout the unit. During this assignment you will become a filmer and a star as you get you audience excited about the story you wrote. This project will not be filming the whole story that you have written. You will only be making a trailer, a preview. It will be important that this movie trailer captures major points in your story, but still leaves out the cliff hanger. **(**100 points**)** = = =Grading Scale= //__GRADING SCALE:__//
 * Final Assessment- Movie Trailer:**

A **(93 -100),** A- **(90 - 92),** B+ **(87 - 89),** B **(83 - 86),** B- **(80 - 82),** C+**(77 - 79),** C **(73-76),** C- **(70 - 72),** D+**(67 - 69),** D **(63 - 66),** D- **(60 - 62),** F** (0 - 59). A grade of a C- is required for each individual course in the Block. Your grade for the Block will be the average of the four grades you earn from each individual course of the Block.