Unit 1- The Creative and the Critical (5-6 weeks)
“In Preparation for life, we develop writers, speakers and problem -solvers
through the cultivation of comprehension, critical thinking, collaboration,
creativity, and communication.”
Objectives
Students will:
1.) learn to think, write, and read as authors of imaginative literature. We are all writers!
2.) gain a cogent understanding of the Short Story and its forms.
3.) develop skills to perform a insightful literary analysis of short stories
4.) practice effectively creating tone and atmosphere in writing
5.) author a short story and two poems
6.) begin the practice of free writing
Texts:
Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft
The Two Rivers (Twain)
The Eagle
My Papa’s Waltz
Brief Interviews With Hideous Men
Readings:
Norman Mailer (Paret Fight)
The Two Rivers
Sea Fairies
A Visit of Charity
Bullet in the Brain
Tandolfo the Great
What You Pawn I Will Redeem
My Kid’s Dog
Hominids
Reply All
Brief Interview #2
Concepts and Content (Ordered Chronologically):
 Close reading (close reading weekly for specific element covered in class)
 Significant detail (attitude, tone, specificity)
 Active voice/ passive voice
 Showing not telling
 Figurative language/descriptive language
 Place and emotion (tone, diction, syntax intro)
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Symbolic and suggestive place
Alien and familiar place
Place and character (fictional place)
Characterization (dialogue, action, appearance, thought)
Narrative point of view (who speaks? To whom? At what distance? In what form?)
Summary and scene (fictional time)
Plot arc/ plot elements/ plot structure
The editing process
Vocabulary (throughout the term)
Learning Promise:
Comprehension:
 Vocabulary hunt
 Close reading sheet
 Reading quizzes (close reading questions)
 Double entry log (text selections)
Collaboration:
 Group video project
 Partner group work (in class)
 Peer editing process (of each writing assignment)
 Creative writing workshop experience
Critical thinking:
 Close reading sheets
 Double entry log
 Identification of literary elements
 Peer editing process (of each writing assignment)
Creativity:
 Free writing
 Short story
 Poem and significant detail assignments
Communication:
 Partnered group work
 Participation in class
 Peer editing process