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Classroom Resources (14)


ALEX Classroom Resources  
   View Standards     Standard(s): [ELA2021] (6) 1 :
1. Identify and explain an author's rhetorical choices, including point of view, purpose, anecdotes, and figurative, connotative, and technical word meanings, to develop central and supporting ideas.
[ELA2021] (7) 12 :
12. Determine the intended purposes of techniques used for rhetorical effect in multiple digital sources.
[ELA2021] (9) 16 :
16. Interpret how an author's grammar and rhetorical style contribute to the meaning in both fiction, including poetry and prose, and nonfiction, including historical, business, informational, and workplace documents.
[ELA2021] (10) 16 :
16. Interpret how an author's grammar and rhetorical style contribute to the meaning in both fiction, including poetry and prose, and nonfiction, including historical, business, informational, and workplace documents.
[ELA2021] (11) 19 :
19. Interpret how an author's grammar and rhetorical style contribute to the meaning in both fiction, including poetry and prose, and nonfiction, including historical, business, informational, and workplace documents.
[ELA2021] (12) 19 :
19. Interpret how an author's grammar and rhetorical style contribute to the meaning in both fiction, including poetry and prose, and nonfiction, including historical, business, informational, and workplace documents.
Subject: English Language Arts (6 - 12)
Title: The Rhetorical Triangle | Ford's Theatre
URL: https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/rhetorical-triangle/the-rhetorical-triangle/
Description:

By understanding Aristotle’s three elements of persuasive speech—the ancient Greek words ethos, pathos, and logos—students will be able to analyze the effectiveness of rhetorical strategies and elements in commercials and speeches. This lesson could be used in grades 5-12. In Lesson Activity Two, there are links to resources that allow the teacher to choose appropriate texts for their students.



   View Standards     Standard(s): [ELA2021] (3) 14 :
14. Describe word relationships and nuances in word meanings, including relating them to their opposites and distinguishing shades of meaning in similar or related words, including nouns, verbs, and adjectives.

a. Determine meaning of words using synonyms in context.

b. Determine meaning of words using antonyms as a clue.

c. Describe the similarities and differences between related words.

d. Use knowledge of homophones to determine appropriate use of words.

e. Interpret figurative language.

f. Identify relationships and nuances in word meanings to determine real-life connections between words and their use.
Examples: Discuss relationships in words related to home (house, residence, habitat) and give reasons for choosing a particular word in speaking or writing.
Distinguish shades of meaning in words related to bad (terrible, awful, horrible) and give reasons for choosing a particular word in speaking or writing.
Distinguish shades of meaning in words related to talk (yell, scream, bellow) and give reasons for choosing a particular word in speaking or writing.
[ELA2021] (4) 10 :
10. Interpret words and phrases, including figurative language, as they are used in a text.

a. Explain how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.

b. Explain how figurative language contributes to the meaning of text, including simile, metaphor, alliteration, personification, hyperbole, and idioms.

c. Use the relationships between synonyms, antonyms, and homographs to increase understanding of word meanings.
[ELA2021] (5) 12 :
12. Interpret the meaning of words, phrases, and patterns as they are used in texts, including domain-specific and academic vocabulary and figurative language.

a. Locate similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, imagery, alliteration, onomatopoeia, and idioms and interpret their meanings in context.

b. Explain the meanings of common idioms, adages, and proverbs.

c. Use the relationships between synonyms, antonyms, and homographs to increase understanding of word meanings.

d. Explain how an author's vocabulary and style influence the tone and mood of a text and support his/her purpose for writing.

e. Use common, grade-appropriate Greek and Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meanings of words.
[ELA2021] (6) 1 :
1. Identify and explain an author's rhetorical choices, including point of view, purpose, anecdotes, and figurative, connotative, and technical word meanings, to develop central and supporting ideas.
Subject: English Language Arts (3 - 6)
Title: Literary Elements and Techniques | Figurative Language
URL: https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/litel18-fig/literary-elements-and-techniques-figurative-language/
Description:

Discover how authors use figurative language to enhance their writing and explore the differences between similes and metaphors in this animated video from WNET. Discussion questions below help students to further apply their understanding before analyzing a text.



   View Standards     Standard(s): [ELA2021] (6) 1 :
1. Identify and explain an author's rhetorical choices, including point of view, purpose, anecdotes, and figurative, connotative, and technical word meanings, to develop central and supporting ideas.
[ELA2021] (6) 3 :
3. Explain how authors use setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view to contribute to the meaning and purpose of prose and poetry, using textual evidence from the writing.
[ELA2021] (7) 3 :
3. Explain how the author's choice of setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view contribute to and/or enhance the meaning and purpose of prose and poetry, using textual evidence from the writing.
[ELA2021] (8) 3 :
3. Analyze how authors use key literary elements, including setting, plot, theme, characters, internal and external conflict, dialogue, and point of view, to contribute to the meaning and purpose of a text, using text evidence as support.
[ELA2021] (9) -6 :
R2. Read and comprehend a variety of literary texts to develop a literal and figurative understanding as appropriate to the type of text, purpose, and situation.

Examples: short and long prose texts, poetry, dramas
[ELA2021] (9) 4 :
4. Analyze how authors use characterization, connotation, denotation, figurative language, literary elements, and point of view to create and convey meaning in a variety of texts.
[ELA2021] (10) -6 :
R2. Read and comprehend a variety of literary texts to develop a literal and figurative understanding as appropriate to the type of text, purpose, and situation.

Examples: short and long prose texts, poetry, dramas
[ELA2021] (10) 4 :
4. Interpret an author's use of characterization, connotation, denotation, figurative language, literary elements, and point of view to create and convey meaning in a variety of texts.
[ELA2021] (11) -6 :
R2. Read and comprehend a variety of literary texts to develop a literal and figurative understanding as appropriate to the type of text, purpose, and situation.

Examples: short and long prose texts, poetry, dramas
[ELA2021] (11) 4 :
4. Analyze how an author uses characterization, figurative language, literary elements, and point of view to create and convey meaning.
[ELA2021] (11) 6 :
6. Analyze a text's explicit and implicit meanings to make inferences about its theme and determine the author's purpose.
[ELA2021] (12) -2 :
R2. Read and comprehend a variety of literary texts to develop a literal and figurative understanding as appropriate to the type of text, purpose, and situation.

Examples: short and long prose texts, poetry, dramas
[ELA2021] (12) 4 :
4. Evaluate an author's use of characterization, figurative language, literary elements, and point of view to create and convey meaning.
[ELA2021] (12) 6 :
6. Analyze a text's explicit and implicit meanings to make inferences about its theme and determine the author's purpose.
Subject: English Language Arts (6 - 12)
Title: Lorraine Hansberry: "A Raisin in the Sun" | Analyzing Theme
URL: https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/hans17-ela-analyzing-theme/analyzing-theme/
Description:

In this interactive lesson, discover how literary techniques like setting, characterization, and conflict contribute to the overarching theme of a text. Through analysis of Lorraine Hansberry's iconic play A Raisin in the Sun, explore the importance of these different elements individually, then learn how each piece comes together to establish a theme.



   View Standards     Standard(s): [ELA2021] (6) 1 :
1. Identify and explain an author's rhetorical choices, including point of view, purpose, anecdotes, and figurative, connotative, and technical word meanings, to develop central and supporting ideas.
[ELA2021] (7) 17 :
17. Identify the conventions of standard English grammar and usage in writing.

a. Identify subject-verb agreement with compound subjects joined by correlative and coordinating conjunctions and with collective nouns when verb form depends on the rest of the sentence.

b. Identify the usage of simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex statements and questions to signal differing relationships among ideas in a text.

c. Evaluate the functions of phrases and clauses in general and their function in specific sentences.
[ELA2021] (8) 3 :
3. Analyze how authors use key literary elements, including setting, plot, theme, characters, internal and external conflict, dialogue, and point of view, to contribute to the meaning and purpose of a text, using text evidence as support.
Subject: English Language Arts (6 - 8)
Title: "The Tell-Tale Heart" | Edgar Allan Poe: Buried Alive
URL: https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/poe17-ela-heart/the-tell-tale-heart-edgar-allan-poe-buried-alive/
Description:

Explore Edgar Allan Poe’s famous short story, “The Tell-Tale Heart,“ in this video from the American Masters film Edgar Allan Poe: Buried Alive. Discussion questions, teaching tips, and a student handout ask students to analyze the work while also learning more about the art of writing a short story. Students are asked to consider why the story remains popular today, its connections to music, and how Poe hooks readers from the very first sentence. Students are also asked to identify the theme of the work. Students also analyze the author's word choice or diction.



   View Standards     Standard(s): [HE] (6) 8 :
6.2.3) Investigate how messages from media influence health behaviors.

Examples: social media, fast food advertisements, editing photos to enhance physical appearance

[ELA2021] (6) 1 :
1. Identify and explain an author's rhetorical choices, including point of view, purpose, anecdotes, and figurative, connotative, and technical word meanings, to develop central and supporting ideas.
Subject: Health Education (6), English Language Arts (6)
Title: Critical Viewing: Cigarette Ads
URL: https://thinktv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/b9212b88-b3bb-4e76-87e5-43b3d33395ea/b9212b88-b3bb-4e76-87e5-43b3d33395ea/
Description:

Students will analyze four different cigarette ads to understand the meaning of critical viewing and active viewing. They have an opportunity to study the elements— in this case, an advertisement for tobacco, and consider a series of questions, each designed to elicit important clues and information. This interactive learning activity can be used during a lesson on how social media influences health behaviors or when studying author's purpose.



   View Standards     Standard(s): [ELA2021] (6) 1 :
1. Identify and explain an author's rhetorical choices, including point of view, purpose, anecdotes, and figurative, connotative, and technical word meanings, to develop central and supporting ideas.
[ELA2021] (6) 2 :
2. Make inferences and draw logical conclusions from the content and structures of informational texts, including comparison and contrast, problem and solution, claims and evidence, cause and effect, description, and sequencing.
[ELA2021] (6) 5 :
5. Evaluate the development of central and supporting ideas in recorded or live presentations by examining the speaker's rhetorical choices regarding point of view, purpose, anecdotes, and figurative, connotative, and technical word meanings.
[ELA2021] (6) 23 :
23. Use an audio or audio-visual source of information to obtain the answer to a question.
[ELA2021] (7) -4 :
R3. Use digital and electronic tools appropriately, safely, and ethically when researching and writing, both individually and collaboratively.
[ELA2021] (7) -3 :
R4. Utilize a writing process to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish writings in various genres.
[ELA2021] (7) 7 :
7. Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writing in which the development, organization, style, and tone are relevant to task, purpose, and audience, using an appropriate command of language.

a. Write narratives to convey a series of events incorporating key literary elements, establishing a clear purpose, using narrative techniques (dialogue, pacing, description, and reflection), and sequencing events coherently (chronological and/or flashback).

b. Write informative or explanatory texts with an organized structure and a formal style to examine ideas or processes effectively while developing the topic and utilizing appropriate transitions, precise vocabulary, and credible information or data when relevant.

c. Write an argument to defend a position by introducing and supporting claim(s), acknowledging alternate or opposing claims, and presenting reasons and relevant text evidence from accurate and credible sources.
[ELA2021] (7) 11 :
11. Compare and contrast the effectiveness of techniques used in a variety of digital sources to generate and answer literal, interpretive, and applied questions and create new understandings.
[ELA2021] (8) -6 :
R1. Utilize active listening skills during discussion and conversation in pairs, small groups, or whole-class settings, following agreed-upon rules for participation.
Subject: English Language Arts (6 - 8)
Title: Investigating the Holocaust: A Collaborative Inquiry Project
URL: http://readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/investigating-holocaust-collaborative-inquiry-416.html
Description:

In this unit, students explore a variety of resources—texts, images, sounds, photos, and other artifacts—to learn more about the Holocaust. Beginning with journal writings and a picture book to introduce the central issues, the unit focuses on student-centered inquiry. Students explore a range of print and non-print resources through extensive online inquiry activities. Progressing from individual work to a group learning project, the unit culminates in publishing the group's findings in topic-based newspapers. 

The lesson includes complete lists of picture books, read-aloud books, reference texts, and online sites and collections that allow teachers to customize the activities to fit the available resources and students' specific research interests.



   View Standards     Standard(s): [ELA2021] (6) -6 :
R1. Utilize active listening skills during discussion and conversation in pairs, small groups, or whole-class settings, following agreed-upon rules for participation.
[ELA2021] (6) 1 :
1. Identify and explain an author's rhetorical choices, including point of view, purpose, anecdotes, and figurative, connotative, and technical word meanings, to develop central and supporting ideas.
[ELA2021] (6) 9 :
9. Participate in collaborative discussions about literary devices and elements found in prose and poetry.
[ELA2021] (7) -6 :
R1. Utilize active listening skills during discussion and conversation in pairs, small groups, or whole-class settings, following agreed-upon rules for participation.
[ELA2021] (7) 3 :
3. Explain how the author's choice of setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view contribute to and/or enhance the meaning and purpose of prose and poetry, using textual evidence from the writing.
[ELA2021] (7) 9 :
9. Participate in collaborative discussions about prose and poetry by evaluating the use of literary devices and elements.
[ELA2021] (8) -6 :
R1. Utilize active listening skills during discussion and conversation in pairs, small groups, or whole-class settings, following agreed-upon rules for participation.
[ELA2021] (8) 3 :
3. Analyze how authors use key literary elements, including setting, plot, theme, characters, internal and external conflict, dialogue, and point of view, to contribute to the meaning and purpose of a text, using text evidence as support.
[ELA2021] (8) 10 :
10. Engage in coherent and collaborative discussions about prose and poetry by evaluating the use of literary devices and elements.
Subject: English Language Arts (6 - 8)
Title: Cover to Cover: Comparing Books to Movies
URL: http://readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/cover-cover-comparing-books-1098.html
Description:

Movies can be an integral part of the language arts classroom when they are used in ways that encourage and develop students' critical thinking. In this activity, students explore matching texts—novels and the movies adapted from them—to develop their analytical strategies. They use graphic organizers to draw comparisons between the two texts and hypothesize about the effect of adaptation. They analyze the differences between the two versions by citing specific adaptations in the film version, indicating the effect of each adaptation on the story, and deciding if they felt the change had a positive effect on the overall story. Students then design new DVD covers and a related insert for the movies, reflecting their response to the movie version.



   View Standards     Standard(s): [ELA2021] (6) -6 :
R1. Utilize active listening skills during discussion and conversation in pairs, small groups, or whole-class settings, following agreed-upon rules for participation.
[ELA2021] (6) -4 :
R3. Use digital and electronic tools appropriately, safely, and ethically when researching and writing, both individually and collaboratively.
[ELA2021] (6) 1 :
1. Identify and explain an author's rhetorical choices, including point of view, purpose, anecdotes, and figurative, connotative, and technical word meanings, to develop central and supporting ideas.
[ELA2021] (6) 24 :
24. Write about research findings independently over short and/or extended periods of time.
[ELA2021] (6) 26 :
26. Utilize research findings to communicate relevant details, opinions, and ideas about a topic or text in oral presentations.

a. Answer questions in discussions about their research findings.
[ELA2021] (6) 27 :
27. Discover word meanings by analyzing word parts, examining connotation and denotation, or using print or digital reference tools.
[ELA2021] (7) -6 :
R1. Utilize active listening skills during discussion and conversation in pairs, small groups, or whole-class settings, following agreed-upon rules for participation.
[ELA2021] (7) -4 :
R3. Use digital and electronic tools appropriately, safely, and ethically when researching and writing, both individually and collaboratively.
[ELA2021] (7) -3 :
R4. Utilize a writing process to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish writings in various genres.
[ELA2021] (7) 9 :
9. Participate in collaborative discussions about prose and poetry by evaluating the use of literary devices and elements.
[ELA2021] (7) 24 :
24. Determine the relevance, reliability, and validity of information from nonfiction and fictional printed and/or digital texts.
[ELA2021] (7) 26 :
26. Produce research writings over extended periods with time for research, reflection, and revision and within shorter time frames, with minimal guidance.

Examples: a day or two, a single sitting
[ELA2021] (7) 28 :
28. Incorporate research into oral presentations, summarizing and supporting opinions and ideas with relevant details.

a. Collect information through the research process to answer follow-up questions and participate in discussions about their research findings.
[ELA2021] (8) -6 :
R1. Utilize active listening skills during discussion and conversation in pairs, small groups, or whole-class settings, following agreed-upon rules for participation.
[ELA2021] (8) -4 :
R3. Use digital and electronic tools appropriately, safely, and ethically when researching and writing, both individually and collaboratively.
[ELA2021] (8) -3 :
R4. Utilize a writing process to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish writings in various genres.
[ELA2021] (8) 10 :
10. Engage in coherent and collaborative discussions about prose and poetry by evaluating the use of literary devices and elements.
[ELA2021] (8) 23 :
23. Determine the relevance, reliability, and validity of information from nonfiction and fictional printed and/or digital texts.
[ELA2021] (8) 25 :
25. Produce research writings independently over extended periods of time which encompass research, reflection, and revision and over shorter time frames.

Examples: a day or two, a single sitting
Subject: English Language Arts (6 - 8)
Title: Finding the Science Behind Science Fiction Through Paired Readings
URL: http://readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/finding-science-behind-science-927.html
Description:

Science fiction has the potential to spark lively discussions while inviting students to extrapolate from their own working knowledge of scientific principles. This genre offers a human lens to what can otherwise be a complex science concept. In this lesson, students will be able to explore the genre of science fiction while learning more about the science integrated into the plot of the story using nonfiction texts and resources. They first define the science fiction genre and then read and discuss science fiction texts. Next, they conduct research to find scientific facts that support or dispute the science included in the plot of the science fiction book they read. Students then revisit their definition of the genre and revise it based on their reading. Finally, students complete a project that examines the science fiction genre in relation to real-world science concepts and topics.



   View Standards     Standard(s): [ELA2021] (6) 1 :
1. Identify and explain an author's rhetorical choices, including point of view, purpose, anecdotes, and figurative, connotative, and technical word meanings, to develop central and supporting ideas.
[ELA2021] (6) 5 :
5. Evaluate the development of central and supporting ideas in recorded or live presentations by examining the speaker's rhetorical choices regarding point of view, purpose, anecdotes, and figurative, connotative, and technical word meanings.
[ELA2021] (7) 3 :
3. Explain how the author's choice of setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view contribute to and/or enhance the meaning and purpose of prose and poetry, using textual evidence from the writing.
Subject: English Language Arts (6 - 7)
Title: Book Report Alternative: Hooking a Reader With a Book Cover
URL: http://readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/book-report-alternative-hooking-977.html
Description:

In this lesson, students select a book to read based only on its cover art. They then analyze why the art attracted them and anticipate what the book may be about before examining the rest of the information found on the book cover. After reading the book, they reexamine the book cover to determine whether, in their opinion, it conveys the key elements of the book. Finally, students use an interactive tool to redesign the book cover.



ALEX Classroom Resources: 9

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