ALEX Resources

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ELA2021] (7) 1 :

1. Evaluate the contributions of informational text elements, including categories, point of view, purpose, and figurative, connotative, and technical word meanings, to develop central and supporting ideas.

[ELA2021] (7) 14 :

14. Create and edit digital products that are appropriate in subject, occasion, audience, purpose, and tone.

[ELA2021] (7) 14 :

14. Create and edit digital products that are appropriate in subject, occasion, audience, purpose, and tone.

[ELA2021] (7) -4 :

R3. Use digital and electronic tools appropriately, safely, and ethically when researching and writing, both individually and collaboratively.

[ELA2021] (7) 1 :

1. Evaluate the contributions of informational text elements, including categories, point of view, purpose, and figurative, connotative, and technical word meanings, to develop central and supporting ideas.

[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 :

R4. Utilize a writing process to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish writings in various genres.

[ELA2021] (7) 1 :

1. Evaluate the contributions of informational text elements, including categories, point of view, purpose, and figurative, connotative, and technical word meanings, to develop central and supporting ideas.

[ELA2021] (7) 9 :

9. Participate in collaborative discussions about prose and poetry by evaluating the use of literary devices and elements.

After reading the book Duck commander family: how faith, family, and ducks built a dynasty, students will analyze characters and their varying points of view by creating two social media pages to represent them. Students will use the digital format of a Fakebook page to represent two individual people from the book. Profiles for their characters should accurately represent the characters' likes and dislikes, interests, and perspectives.

This is a college-and career-ready standards showcase lesson plan.

   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) 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] (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) -4 :

R3. Use digital and electronic tools appropriately, safely, and ethically when researching and writing, both individually and collaboratively.

[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) -4 :

R3. Use digital and electronic tools appropriately, safely, and ethically when researching and writing, both individually and collaboratively.

[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.

Students examine graphic novels and comic books and discuss the important components of the genre, such as captions, dialogue, and images. They then use an online tool to create a six-panel comic highlighting six key scenes in a book they have read. By creating comic strips or cartoon squares featuring characters in books, students are encouraged to think analytically about the characters, events, and themes they've explored in ways that expand their critical thinking by focusing on crystallizing the significant points of the book in a few short scenes.

The updated link for the Comic Creator resource can be found at https://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/comic-creator. 

   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.

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) -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

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) -4 :

R3. Use digital and electronic tools appropriately, safely, and ethically when researching and writing, both individually and collaboratively.

[ELA2021] (6) -3 :

R4. Utilize a writing process to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish writings in various genres.

[ELA2021] (6) 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 incorporating key literary elements, including characters, plot, setting, point of view, resolution of a conflict, dialogue, and sensory details.

b. Write informative or explanatory texts with an organized structure and a formal style, incorporating a focused point of view, a clear purpose, credible evidence, and technical word meanings.

c. Write an argument to convince the reader to take an action or adopt a position, stating a claim and supporting the claim with relevant, well-organized evidence from credible sources.

[ELA2021] (6) 13 :

13. Create and edit digital products that are appropriate in subject and purpose for a particular audience or occasion.

Examples: social media posts, blog posts, podcast episodes, infographics

[ELA2021] (6) 24 :

24. Write about research findings independently over short and/or extended periods of time.

[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) 14 :

14. Create and edit digital products that are appropriate in subject, occasion, audience, purpose, and tone.

[ELA2021] (7) 23 :

23. Implement ethical guidelines while finding and recording information from a variety of primary, secondary, and digital sources.

[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] (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) 1 :

1. Analyze how informational and graphic text elements, including allusions, point of view, purpose, comparisons, categories, and figurative, connotative, and technical word meanings, develop central and supporting ideas.

[ELA2021] (8) 8 :

8. 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 that establish a clear purpose, use narrative techniques, and sequence events coherently.

Examples: narratives - memoir, short story, personal narrative; techniques - dialogue, pacing, description, reflection;
sequencing - chronological, reverse chronological, flashback

b. Write informative or explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas or processes effectively, by developing the topic with relevant information or data from credible sources and using appropriate transitions and precise vocabulary.

c. Write an argument to defend a position by introducing and supporting a claim, distinguishing the claim from opposing claims, presenting counterclaims and reasons, and citing accurate, relevant textual evidence from credible sources.

[ELA2021] (8) 13 :

13. Create and edit digital products that are appropriate in subject, occasion, audience, point of view, purpose, and tone.

[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

This lesson incorporates graphic novels to help students expand their reading, writing, research, and technology skills. Students first read graphic novels to become familiar with the text structure, then research a self-selected topic using web-based resources. Students follow the research process and synthesize the information they obtained to create their graphic novel using the Comic Life software or other comic software. This unit works best with students who are already familiar with writing research papers.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [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) 14 :

14. Create and edit digital products that are appropriate in subject, occasion, audience, purpose, and tone.

[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] (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) 8 :

8. 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 that establish a clear purpose, use narrative techniques, and sequence events coherently.

Examples: narratives - memoir, short story, personal narrative; techniques - dialogue, pacing, description, reflection;
sequencing - chronological, reverse chronological, flashback

b. Write informative or explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas or processes effectively, by developing the topic with relevant information or data from credible sources and using appropriate transitions and precise vocabulary.

c. Write an argument to defend a position by introducing and supporting a claim, distinguishing the claim from opposing claims, presenting counterclaims and reasons, and citing accurate, relevant textual evidence from credible sources.

[ELA2021] (8) 14 :

14. Utilize digital tools and/or products to enhance meaning.

Examples: hashtags, videos, slide presentations, audio clips, GIFS, memes, clips from social media

[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

[ELA2021] (9) -4 :

R4. Use digital and electronic tools appropriately, safely, and ethically.

[ELA2021] (9) -3 :

R5. Utilize a writing process which includes planning, revising, editing/peer-editing, and rewriting to create a focused, organized, and coherent piece of writing for a specific purpose and audience.

[ELA2021] (9) 9 :

9. Compose both short and extended narrative, informative/explanatory, and argumentative writings that are clear and coherent, use an appropriate command of language, and demonstrate development, organization, style, and tone that are relevant to task, purpose, and audience.

Examples: paragraphs, constructed responses, essays

a. Write a memoir, narrative essay, or personal or fictional narrative to convey a series of events, establishing a clear purpose and using narrative techniques.

Examples: dialogue, pacing, description, reflection

b. Write explanations and expositions that incorporate evidence, using transitions and techniques that objectively introduce and develop topics.

Examples: relevant and sufficient facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations

c. Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning, relevant and sufficient evidence, transitions, and a concluding statement or section that follows from the information presented.

[ELA2021] (9) 14 :

14. Create and edit digital texts that are suitable in purpose and tone for their intended audience and occasion.

[ELA2021] (9) 26 :

26. Compose clear, coherent writing that incorporates information from at least one scholarly source and demonstrates a clear position on a topic, answers a research question, or presents a solution to a problem.

[ELA2021] (10) -5 :

R3. Utilize active listening skills in formal and informal conversations, following predetermined norms.

[ELA2021] (10) -4 :

R4. Use digital and electronic tools appropriately, safely, and ethically.

[ELA2021] (10) 9 :

9. Compose both short and extended narrative, informative/explanatory, and argumentative writings that are clear and coherent, use an appropriate command of language, and demonstrate development, organization, style, and tone that are relevant to task, purpose, and audience.

Examples: paragraphs, constructed responses, essays

a. Write a memoir, narrative essay, or personal or fictional narrative to convey a series of events, establishing a clear purpose, using narrative techniques, and sequencing events coherently.

Examples: dialogue, pacing, description, reflection; chronological order, reverse chronological order, flashbacks

b. Write explanations and expositions that incorporate relevant evidence, using effective transitions that objectively introduce and develop topics.

Examples: specific facts, examples, details, statistics/data, examples appropriate to the audience's knowledge of the topic

c. Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning, relevant and sufficient evidence, appropriate transitions, and a concluding section that follows from and supports the information presented.

[ELA2021] (10) 14 :

14. Create and edit collaborative digital texts that are suitable in purpose and tone for their intended audience and occasion.

[ELA2021] (10) 26 :

26. Compose clear, coherent writing that incorporates information from at least one scholarly and at least one non-scholarly source and demonstrates a clear position on a topic, answers a research question, or presents a solution to a problem.

Students need to practice all types of writing, and oftentimes argumentative writing is ignored in favor of persuasive writing. In fact, students may not even understand there is a difference between these two types of writing. In this lesson, students examine the differences between argumentative writing and persuasive writing. After choosing topics that interest them, students conduct research which becomes the foundation for their argumentative essays. After completing their essays, students use Piktochart to create infographics to represent their research.