SSK Unit 4.2 Planning Guide

Instructional Strategies / ActivitiesHISD PLANNING GUIDEEnglish Language Arts Grade 8SUMMER SCHOOLCooperative LearningLiterature Circles- Comparison Guiding QuestionsEncouraging students to discuss their interpretations and evaluations creates a deeper understanding of a text. Providestudents with guiding questions. Questions can include:1. Which speaker do you prefer?2. Who seems more credible? Likeable? Intelligent?3. What was your reaction to the speeches?4. Which had a greater impact on you?5. Did either of the speakers’ diction seem too formal? Informal?6. What were some main themes of the speeches? Were the themes appropriate for the occasion?7. What rhetorical devices did each speaker use? Were they effective?8. Did the speakers use humor? How did humor affect your opinion of the speaker?9. How did the speakers defend their positions?10. How did the conclusions of each speaker differ?11. Overall, which speech did you prefer? Why?See Miller’s Strange Bedfellows in Resources.Similarities and DifferencesGraphic Organizers- Venn DiagramOnce students have discussed and analyzed a speech, instruct them to create a visual representation of the similaritiesand differences of rhetorical devices in the speeches. This can serve as a closing to the Literature Circle Discussions.Speech #1 Speech #2See Resources for a Venn Diagram template.WritingCooperative LearningSentence Structure BasicsThis cooperative learning opportunity allows students to physically manipulate sentences. Words, phrases, and othersentence parts are placed on sentence strips. Students then move and shift these parts to see sentence structure inaction. See Laying the Foundation: A Resource and Planning Guide for Pre-AP Grade 8 in Resources.Cooperative LearningPeer ReviewIn pairs, have students read each other’s essay/article. Provide students with a list of questions to address as they read.Students use the responses from their partner to improve their writing. Questions include:1. Are the topic and purpose of the writing clear?2. How could I improve my thesis?3. What idea should I develop further? What do you want to know more about?4. What did you like best and least about the essay?5. Which sections are clear?6. Which sections are unclear?7. What changes should be made to the introduction?8. What changes should be made to the conclusion?9. Where should I add more specific details?10. Where should I add more transitions?See Resources for Peer Review. - English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) - Literacy Leads the Way Best Practices - Aligned to Upcoming State Readiness Standard- State Process Standard R - State Readiness Standard S - State Supporting Standard© Houston ISD Curriculum2013 – 2014Page 9 of 11