TMA CURRICULUM MAP
COURSE: WRITING GRADE: 8
Unit Title (Time Frame) / Areas of Interaction / Guiding Question / Assessment (IB Criteria) / Students will know. . . / Students will understand. . . / Students will be able to. . . / Common Core Standards / IB ObjectivesIf applicable, what area of interaction will be used as the lens for this unit? / What provocative questions will foster inquiry, understand, and transfer of learning? / Through what authentic performance tasks will students demonstrate the desired understanding? If applicable, what IB criteria will be used to assess the students? / What key knowledge and skills will students acquire as a result of this unit? (State/city standards) / What are the big ideas? What specific understanding aout them are desired? What misunderstandings are predictable? / What should students eventually be able to do as a result of the acquired knowledge and skill? / What relevant state Common Core Standards will this unit address? / What IB Objectives (as stated in Subject Guides) will this unit address?
Descriptive Writing (Nov-Dec
4-6 weeks) / purpose of dictionary and thesaurus, descriptive language, simile, metaphor, hyperbole, personification / purpose of dictionary and thesaurus, descriptive language, simile, metaphor, hyperbole, personification, comma & semi-colon usage / brainstorm, organize, revision, use complex sentences
Cause and effect (Jan-Feb
4-6 weeks) / transition words & phrases / how to use transition words & sentences in their own writing / use transitions to enhance cause and effect writing, write a cause-and-effect essay, proofread/edit their work