ALEX Learning Activity

  

Postcard Publishers: Assessing Short Story Comprehension

A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.

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  This learning activity provided by:  
Author: Ashley Lucier
System:Autauga County
School:Marbury Middle School
  General Activity Information  
Activity ID: 2383
Title:
Postcard Publishers: Assessing Short Story Comprehension
Digital Tool/Resource:
Literary Postcard Instructions
Web Address – URL:
Overview:

Students will produce a literary postcard based on their comprehension of a short story. The postcard will include textual evidence, an image, and a creatively written message. This activity is designed to be used after a short story unit. 

This activity results from the ALEX Resource Development Summit. 
  Associated Standards and Objectives  
Content Standard(s):
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 7
R4. Utilize a writing process to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish writings in various genres.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
R4.
  • Writing process
  • Plan
  • Draft
  • Revise
  • Edit
  • Publish
  • Genres
Knowledge:
R4. Students know:
  • The writing process steps are to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish.
  • Various genres of writing.
Skills:
R4. Students are able to:
  • Plan writings in various genres.
  • Draft writings in various genres.
  • Revise writings in various genres.
  • Edit writings in various genres.
  • Publish writings in various genres.
Understanding:
R4. Students understand that:
  • The writing process is a set of steps that make writing easier.
  • There are different categories, or genres, of writing that can be used for different purposes.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 7
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.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
3.
  • Setting
  • Plot
  • Characters
  • Theme
  • Conflict
  • Dialogue
  • Point of view
  • Author's purpose
  • Prose
  • Poetry
  • Textual evidence
Knowledge:
3. Students know:
  • Authors of prose and poetry use literary elements, such as setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view, throughout a text to develop and/or enhance the meaning of the text.
  • An author's use of literary elements can indicate the author's purpose for writing the text.
  • Poetry is a genre of text that uses distinctive style and rhythm to aid in the expression of feelings, while prose is written in ordinary language.
  • Analysis of a text should be supported with text evidence from the writing.
Skills:
3. Students are able to:
  • Identify the setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view in prose and poetry.
  • Explain how literary elements contribute to and/or enhance the meaning and purpose of prose and poetry.
  • Support their explanations of literary elements with textual evidence.
Understanding:
3. Students understand that:
  • Prose and poetry contain common literary elements, such as setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view.
  • Literary elements contribute to and/or enhance the meaning and purpose of poetry and prose.
  • When they analyze a text, they should include text evidence to support their claims.
Learning Objectives:

1. Students will cite textual evidence to support analysis of a short piece of literature. 

 2. Students will produce clear writing that is appropriate to the writing task. 
  Strategies, Preparations and Variations  
Phase:
After/Explain/Elaborate
Activity:

  1. Students will read "Literary Postcard Instructions."

  2. The teacher should review rubric and ask if questions/clarification is needed. 

  3. Students will choose a short story in order to complete the Learning Activity. 

  4. Students will complete the Literary Postcard using a 5x7 index card and follow directions and rubric guidelines given on the "Literary Postcard Instructions." 
Assessment Strategies:

Once students have submitted their postcards, the teacher will assess the postcard using rubric on instruction handout. 
Advanced Preparation:

1. Make 1 copy per student of the "Literary Postcard Instructions." 

 2. Have the following materials available for students: 5x7 index card, colored pencils, crayons, or markers. 
Variation Tips (optional):

For students who need additional support, the message can be modified using a paragraph template.

For even more modification, the message can be a summary of a story rather than an original written piece. 
Notes or Recommendations (optional):

This assessment is designed to be used after students have read and analyzed a short story. It works well with stories that have been studied for theme or characterization. 
  Keywords and Search Tags  
Keywords and Search Tags: assessment, literature, short story