Unit Title: Biographical Information and Literary Analysis (Poetry & Summer Reading)

Subject: English Grade Level: 9 th Grade Unit Title: Biographical Information and Literary Analysis (Poetry & Summer Reading) Unit Goals In this unit, reading, writing, speaking, and listening are centered on the big idea of how biographical information can affect analysis. Students read from, and write to, informational texts as well as classic and contemporary literature. They engage in class discussions involving informational text and literature to decipher the impact of biographical information on literary analysis. Key outcomes include identifying author s biographical information and how an author s background influenced their craft; gaining a deeper, and more aware, understanding of an author s work; and constructing a literary analysis in which students use textual and critical evidence. Standards RL.9-10.1 Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. RL. 9-10.2 Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provides objective summary of the text RL. 9-10.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific work choices on meaning and tone. (e.g. how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informational tone) RL. 9-10.5 Analyze how an author s choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within it (e.g. parallel plots), and manipulate time (e.g. pacing, Enabling Objectives RL. 9-10.1 Read closely and find answers explicitly in text (right there answers) and answers that require an inference RL. 9-10.2 Compose an objective summary stating the key points of the text without adding my own opinions or feelings. RL.9-10.4 Define and identify various forms of figurative language (e.g. simile, metaphor, hyperbole, personification, alliteration, assonance, onomatopoeia) Distinguish between literal language (it means exactly what is says) and figurative language (sometimes what you say is not exactly what you mean. Recognize the difference between denotative meanings (all words have a dictionary definition) and connotative meanings (some words carry feeling) RL. 9-10.5 Identify different literary text structures (e.g. narrative, poem, drama) Analyze a text and determine why an author chose to present his/her text using a particular structure. RI.9-10.1

flashbacks) create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise RI.9-10.1 Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. RI.9-10.3 Analyze how the author unfolds an analysis or series of ideas or events. Including the order in which the points are made, how they are introduced and developed, and the connections that are drawn between them. RI.9-10.4 Determine the meanings of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language of a court opinion differs from that of a newspaper). RI.9-10.5 Analyze in detail how an author s ideas or claims are developed and refined by particular sentences, paragraphs, or larger portions of a text (e.g., a section or chapter). RI.9-10.6 Determine an author s point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how an author uses rhetoric to advance that point of view or purpose. RI.9-10.8 Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is valid and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; identify false statements and fallacious reasoning. W.9-10.1 Define textual evidence (a word for word support format). Define inference and explain how a reader uses textual evidence to reach a logical conclusion ( based on what I ve read, it s most likely true that ). RI.9-10.3 Determine the overall analysis, ideas, or events being conveyed by an author. RI.9-10.4 Define and identify various forms of figurative language (e.g., simile, metaphor, hyperbole, personification, alliteration, onomatopoeia). Distinguish between literal language (it means exactly what it says) and figurative language (sometimes what you say is not exactly what you mean). Recognize the difference between denotative meanings (all words have a dictionary definition) and connotative meanings (some words carry feelings). RI.9-10.5 Identify particular sentences, paragraphs, or larger portions of a text that support an author s ideas or claims. Analyze and explain how the role of particular sentences, paragraphs, or larger portions of a text helps to develop and refine the author s ideas or claims. RI.9-10.6 Define point of view as how the author feels about the situation/topic of a text. Determine an author s point of view (What do I know about the author s opinions, values, and/or beliefs?) and explain his/her purpose for writing the text. RI.9-10.8 Determine the credibility of the author and his/her purpose (who wrote it, when it was written, and why it was written). Identify claims that are supported by fact(s) and those that are opinion(s). W.9-10.1

Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence. a. Introduce precise claim(s), distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and create an organization that establishes clear relationships among claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence. b. Develop claim(s) and counterclaims fairly, supplying evidence for each while pointing out the strengths and limitations of both in a manner that anticipates the audience s knowledge level and concerns. c. Use words, phrases, and clauses to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships between claim(s) and reasons, between reasons and evidence, and between claim(s) and counterclaims. d. Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing. e. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented. W.9-10.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content. a. Introduce a topic; organize complex ideas, concepts, and information to make important connections and distinctions; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., figures, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension. b. Develop the topic with well-chosen, relevant, and sufficient facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information Present my argument in a formal style that includes an introduction, supporting details with transitions that create cohesion and clarify relationships, and provide a concluding statement/section that supports my argument. W.9-10.2 Select a topic and identify and gather relevant information (e.g., well-chosen facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, examples) to share with my audience. Define common organizational/formatting structures (e.g., headings, graphics, multimedia) and determine the structure(s) that will allow me to organize my complex ideas best. W.9-10.4 Identify the writing style (argument, informative/explanatory, or narrative) that best fits my task, purpose, and audience. Compose a clear and logical piece of writing that demonstrates my understanding of a specific writing style. W. 9-10.5 Edit my writing by checking for errors in capitalization, punctuation, grammar, spelling, etc. W.9-10.6 Determine the most efficient technology medium to complete my writing task. W.9-10.7 connects with library standards Demonstrate understanding of the subject under investigation. W.9-10.8 connects with library standards Determine the credibility of a source by reviewing who wrote it, when it was written, and why it was written. Assess the usefulness of my sources to determine those that contain the information that best answers my research question. Avoid plagiarism by paraphrasing (putting in my own words) and/or summarizing my research findings. Follow a standard format for citation to create a bibliography for sources that I paraphrased or quoted in my writing. W.9-10.9

and examples appropriate to the audience s knowledge of the topic. c. Use appropriate and varied transitions to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships among complex ideas and concepts. d. Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to manage the complexity of the topic. e. Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing. f. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented (e.g., articulating implications or the significance of the topic). W.9-10.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1 3 above.) W.9-10.5 Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience. (Editing for conventions should demonstrate command of Language standards 1 3 up to and including grades 9 10 here.) W.9-10.6 Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products, taking advantage of technology s capacity to link to other information and to display information flexibly and dynamically. Determine textual evidence that supports my analysis, reflection, and/or research. W.9-10.10 Determine a writing format/style to fit my task, purpose, and/or audience. L.9-10.2 Identify misspelled words and use resources to assist me in spelling correctly. L.9-10.4 (Ongoing within Vocabulary) Use context (e.g., overall meaning in a sentence, paragraph, or text; a word s position or function in a sentence) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase. Identify and correctly use patterns of word changes that indicate different meanings or parts of speech (e.g., analyze, analysis, analytical; advocate, advocacy). Consult general and specialized reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning, its part of speech, or its etymology. Verify the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase (e.g., by checking the inferred meaning in context or in a dictionary). L.9-10.5 (Ongoing within Vocabulary) Interpret figures of speech (e.g., euphemism, oxymoron) in context and analyze their role in text. Analyze nuances in the meaning of words with similar denotations. L.9-10.6 (Ongoing within Vocabulary) Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression. SL.9-10.2 Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source.

W.9-10.7 Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a selfgenerated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation. SL.9-10.4 Present my information in a sequence that allows the listener to follow my line of reasoning. SL.9-10.6 Identify various reasons for speaking (e.g., informational, descriptive, formal, informal). Determine speaking tasks that will require a formal structure. W.9-10.8 Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources, using advanced searches effectively; assess the usefulness of each source in answering the research question; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation. W.9-10.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. a. Apply grades 9 10 Reading standards to literature (e.g., Analyze how an author draws on and transforms source material in a specific work [e.g., how Shakespeare treats a theme or topic from Ovid or the Bible or how a later author draws on a play by Shakespeare] ). b. Apply grades 9 10 Reading standards to literary nonfiction (e.g., Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is valid and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; identify false statements and fallacious reasoning ). W.9-10.10 Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter

time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences. L.9-10.2 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing. a. Use a semicolon (and perhaps a conjunctive adverb) to link two or more closely related independent clauses. b. Use a colon to introduce a list or quotation. c. Spell correctly. L.9-10.4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grades 9 10 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies. Use context (e.g., the overall meaning of a sentence, paragraph, or text; a word s position or function in a sentence) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase. Identify and correctly use patterns of word changes that indicate different meanings or parts of speech (e.g., analyze, analysis, analytical; advocate, advocacy). Consult general and specialized reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning, its part of speech, or its etymology. Verify the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase (e.g., by checking the inferred meaning in context or in a dictionary). L.9-10.5

Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings. o Interpret figures of speech (e.g., euphemism, oxymoron) in context and analyze their role in the text. o Analyze nuances in the meaning of words with similar denotations. L.9-10.6 Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression. SL.9-10.2 Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source SL.9-10.4 Present information, findings, and supporting evidence clearly, concisely, and logically such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, substance, and style are appropriate to purpose, audience, and task. SL.9-10.6 Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate. (See grades 9 10 Language standards 1 and 3 here for specific expectations.)

Summative Assessments Summer Reading Literary Analysis Essay- LDC Informative/Expository Rubric Given a new poem and biographical text students will explain two ways that the author s life influenced his/her work. LDC Informative/Expository Rubric Formative Assessments Writer s Notebook Exit/Entrance Slips Evidence of Talking to the Text Informal Presentations of Poetry Analysis Venn Diagram Analysis of two different media- Artistic Representation/ Written Representation Materials and Resources Various Poems- Billy Collins: Another Reason Why I Don t Keep a Gun in the House and Introduction to Poetry Walt Witman: Oh, Captain, my Captain! Robert Frost: Nothing Gold Can Stay, The Road Not Taken, The Impulse Sylvia Plath: Mad Girl s Love Song and Insomniac Maya Angelou: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Still I Rise Emily Dickinson: Because I Could Not Stop for Death Yertle the Turtle, by Dr. Seuss Various Biographical Articles Various Critical Articles Various Videos