Unit: Watsons Go To Birmingham

Unit Description

While we read Watsons, we are working on our ability to think critically about a novel: combining what happens in the text with our own opinions about those events. We examine several types of questions: right there, clarify, think and search, on your own. The goal is to write page-long journal responses to the text combining our knowledge of all the types of questions. The unit goes along with the expository writing unit. We are reading a lot of non fiction articles about the Civil Rights Movement and then writing reports.

Resources

LP Clarifying Template

Lessons

Types of Questions
SWBAT define and identify right there, clarify, think and search, and on your own questions.
"Clarifying" Questions
Students will be able to aptly answer “clarify” questions for words, phrases, or quotes. In their responses, they will be able to situate the given phrase in context, clarify the meaning, and explain the importance of the concept.
"Think and Search" Questions
SWBAT define think and search questions, as well as answer them appropriately
Character Chart
SWBAT identify character traits and identify text evidence that supports those traits
"On Your Own" Questions
SWBAT define and answer on your own questions.
Thoughts + Text Journal Entries
SWBAT explain criteria for writing an effective Watsons journal entry, identify the criteria in a sample entry, and finally, compose one of their own.
All Question Types Practice
SWBAT answer right there, clarify, think and search, and on your own questions with 80% or higher accuracy.
Text's Purpose
SWBAT list 3 purposes of texts, features of each, and determine the purpose for given reading selections.
Just Right Summaries
SWBAT write a 3-5 sentence summary of a chapter.