Fourth Quarter Unit Plan
English I Pre-AP – Ms. Spence
Major Readings:Alas, Babylon
Assortedthematicreadings
Book Club Selection(TBA)
Assorted poetry
Grammar/Vocabulary: Vocabulary Power Plus
Assorted Grammar
Summative Grades: Alas, Babylon Test
Survival Research Project
Book Club Project
Poetry Final Exam
Essential Questions:
*How far would you be willing to go to survive?
*How does Pat Frank communicate his views in Alas, Babylon without alienating his audience?
*In what way does the tone of Alas, Babylon compare to other post-apocalyptic literature?
*How do today’s YA authors incorporate adult themes while still engaging their young readers?
*What are the major poetic devices and why do poets use these devices in their writing?
*How does poetry differ from other forms of writing?
Date / Week at a Glance / Objectives / Assessments3/23 / Monday – STAAR Prep – Thesis focus
Tuesday – STAAR Prep – Evidence focus
Block Day – STAAR Prep – Analysis focus
Friday – scoring expository essays, last minute STAAR reminders /
- Text support
- Critical thinking
- Organization of ideas
- Test strategies
HW Essay
3/30
(EOC) / Monday – English I STAAR test
Tuesday – Background to Alas, Babylon;read chapters 1-5 by Monday
Wednesday – apocalyptic introduction, survival simulation
Thursday – Finish notes + free reading
Friday – No School Good Friday! /
- Historical and cultural connections to literature
- Group cooperation
- Reading strategies
- Critical thinking
4/6 / Monday – reading quiz and discussion over 1-5, character change, military footage, 6-7 due block day
Tuesday – body biographies
Block Day – discussion of 6-7, rhetorical analysis of “survival” speeches, chapters 8-10 due Monday
Friday – Vocabulary Unit 5 Quiz, Colonyclips
(End of Progress Report 3 Weeks) /
- Reading comprehension
- Character analysis
- Rhetorical analysis
- Cross-genre Connections
- Vocab development
Rhetorical analysis
Vocabulary Unit 5 Quiz + Activities
4/13 / Monday – Discussion of 8-10, test review
Tuesday – Alas, Babylon 1-10 test, HW: read 11
Block Day – Discussion of 11, “Song Before Sunset” reading and analysis, finish Alas, Babylon by Monday.
Friday – “Who Lives & Who Dies?” “The Rock” /
- Character analysis
- Cross-genre connections
- Theme
4/20 / Monday – final reading quiz + Alas, Babylon wrap-up, assign book club options
Tuesday – Assign research project, research reminders
Block Day – research day in in the computer lab
Friday – Vocabulary Unit 6 Quiz, research day /
- Research skills
- Analysis of reputable sources
- Group cooperation
- Vocabulary development
Vocab Unit 6 quiz + Activities
4/27 / Monday – research day
Tuesday – research day
Block Day – Survival presentations
Friday – Finish Presentations + group evaluations
(End of Progress Report 6 Weeks) /
- Research skills
- Presentation skills
- MLA documentation
Survival Presentation
5/4
(EOC) / Monday – Poetry introduction, teen poetry
Tuesday – Thursday –concrete poetry, Song lyric / music analysis
Friday – Book Club #1 /
- Tone
- Theme
- Poetic structure
- Literary analysis
Book Club #1
5/11 / Monday – Love Poetry (sonnets and e.e. cummings)
Tuesday – Death poetry (Donne and Thomas)
Block Day – Book club #2
Friday – Vocabulary PP #7 quiz, Walt Whitman /
- Poetic devices
- Poetic structure
- Literary analysis
- Vocab development
Vocabulary Unit 7 Quiz + Activities
5/18 / Monday – Latino Poetry (Espada and Cisneros)
Tuesday - World Perspective Poetry
Block Day – Book club #3
Friday – Projects due; “My Papa’s Waltz” /
- Cultural poetic connections
- Theme
- Group cooperation
5/25 / Monday (25th) – Memorial Day Holiday
Tuesday – Shakespearean Sonnet
Block Day – “One World” activity and partner poem
Friday – Unit 8 Quiz, “Wear Sunscreen” + advice for incoming 9th graders /
- Tone
- Poetic devices
- Theme
- Vocabulary development
Vocabulary Unit 8 Quiz + Activities
6/2 / Monday – Poetry test review
Tuesday – Thursday – Poetry Final Exam /
- Poetic devices
- Poetic structure
- Cold read practice
(summative)