Reading and Creative Writing

Unit 1: Essential Concepts

Skills

Topics

RHS 1.A--Identify and describe the components of the rhetorical situation; the exigence, audience, writer, purpose, context
and message.

CLE 3.A--Identify and explain claims and evidence within argument

CLE 4.A--Develop a paragraph that includes a
claim and evidence supporting the claim.

Rhetorical situation terms: speaker, purpose, audience, context, & exigence

Short nonfiction readings to practice with rhetorical situation terms

Guided reading of text

Writing claims and evidence

Revising writing

Unit 2: Rhetorical Analysis

Skills

Topics

RHS 1.B--Explain how an argument demonstrates understanding of an audience’s beliefs, values, or needs.

RHS 2.B--Demonstrate an understanding of an audience’s beliefs, values, or needs.

CLE 3.A--Identify and explain claims and evidence within an argument.

CLE 4.A--Develop a paragraph that includes a
claim and evidence supporting the claim.

CLE 3.B--Identify and describe the overarching
thesis of an argument, and any indication it provides of the argument’s
structure.

CLE 4.B--Write a thesis statement that requires
proof or defense and that may preview the structure of the argument.

Identifying and using the 3 appeals: ethos, pathos, and logos

Tone

Essential question: “to what extent has Declaration of Independence’s ‘all men are
created equal’ line been upheld throughout our history?”

Guided reading

Writing a thesis statement

Clearly connecting claims and evidence

Unit 3: Argument Essentials

Skills

Topics

CLE 3.A--Identify and explain claims and evidence within an argument.

CLE 4.A--develop a paragraph that includes a claim and evidence supporting the claim.

REO 5.A--describe the link of reasoning and explain whether it supports an argument’s overarching thesis.

6.A--develop a line of reasoning and commentary that explains it throughout an argument.

REO 5.C--recognize and explain the use of methods of development to accomplish a purpose

REO 6.C--use appropriate methods of development to advance an argument

Commentary within paragraphs, improving commentary in our writing

Identifying and avoiding fallacies

Reading and writing in a particular method of development: narration

Reading and writing in a particular method of development: cause-effect

Read & analyze texts

Unit 4: Advanced Argument

Skills

Topics

RHS 1.A--Identify and describe the components of the rhetorical situation: exigence, audience, writer, purpose, context, and message.

RHS 2.A--write introductions and conclusions appropriate to the purpose and context of the rhetorical situation

CLE 3.B--Identify and describe the overarching thesis of an argument, and any indication it provides of the argument’s structure.

CLE 4.B--write a thesis statement that requires proof or defense and that may preview the structure of the argument.

REO 5.C--recognize and explain the use of methods of development to accomplish a purpose

REO 6.C--use appropriate methods of development to advance an argument

Writing effective introductions and conclusions, improving introductions and
conclusions in our writing

Reading and writing in a particular method of development: compare/contrast

Reading and writing in a particular method of development: definition or description

Read & analyze various texts

Unit 5: Debate

Skills

Topics

CLE 3.C--explain ways claims are qualified through modifier, counterarguments, and alternative perspectives

CLE 4.C--qualify a claim using modifiers, counterarguments, or alternative perspectives

Citation using MLA or APA

Constructing an annotated bibliography

Various Debate Topics

Unit 6: Style Study

Skills

Topics

REO 5.A--describe the line of reasoning and explain whether it supports an argument’s overarching thesis

REO 6.A--develop a line of reasoning and commentary that explains it throughout an argument

REO 5.B--explain how the organization of a text creates unity and coherence and reflects a line of reasoning.

REO 6.B--Use transitional elements to guide the reader through the line of reasoning of an argument.

STL 7.A--explain how word choice, comparisons, and syntax contribute to the specific tone or style of a text.

Strategically use words, comparisons, and syntax to convey a specific tone or style in an argument.

Read and analyze excerpts from a variety of authors and texts:

Study mentor sentences from texts

Style imitation creative writing practices

Unit 7:
Synthesis

Skills

Topics

CLE 3.A--identify and explain claims and evidence within an argument

CLE 4.A--develop a paragraph that includes a claim and evidence supporting the claim.

CLE 3.B--identify and describe the overarching thesis of an argument, and any indication it provides of the argument’s structure

CLE 4.B--Write a thesis statement that requires proof or defense and that may preview the structure of the argument.

STL 7.A--explain how word choice, comparisons, and syntax contribute to the specific tone or style of a text.

STL 8.A--strategically use words, comparisons, and syntax to convey a specific tone or style in an argument

Excerpts from various articles and multimedia.