Write Paragraphs! Responding to Fiction & Nonfiction

This is a reading and writing class rolled into one! In this four-session course, students will practice critical reading skills for both fiction and nonfiction and learn to write short-answer responses that expresses their comprehension in the form of a paragraph. Writing short responses to text is common tool in the ELA classroom for grades 3-12. It is also a requirement of most states' standardized ELA assessments, like the Texas STAAR exam. Please see the week-by-week breakdown below.

Week 1: Fiction-Make Inferences about Text
Common Core Reading: Literature Standards RL.4.1, RL.4.3, RL.5.1-2, RL.6.1., RL.6.3
Common Core Writing Informational/Explanatory Texts Standards W.4.2.A-E, W.4.4-5, W.4.9.A
In Week 1, students will learn how to make inferences about text and read a short fiction piece. Students will make inferences about character and theme and compose a paragraph in response to a writing prompt about those inferences. Students will be taught how to structure the paragraph, including a topic sentence, details from the text, elaboration of details and how they support the topic sentence, transition words & phrases, and a concluding sentence.

Week 2: Fiction-Explain Plot Elements in Fiction (Conflict & Resolution)
Common Core Reading: Literature Standards RL.4.1, RL.4.3, RL.5.1-2, RL.6.1., RL.6.3
Common Core Writing Informational/Explanatory Texts Standards W.4.2.A-E, W.4.4-5, W.4.9.A, W.5.2.A-E, W.5.4-5, W.5.9.A, W.6.2.A-F, W.6.4-5, W.6.9.A
In Week 2, students will learn about plot and read a short fiction piece. Students will identify the conflict of the narrative and how it is resolved within the text. Students will then compose a paragraph in response to a writing prompt about the conflict and resolution of the story based on the writing structure described in Week 1. 

Week 3: Nonfiction-Summarize (Identify Main Idea & Key Details) 
Common Core Reading: Informational Text Standards RI.4.1-2, RI.5.1-2, RI.6.1-2
Common Core Writing Informational/Explanatory Texts Standards W.4.2.A-E, W.4.4-5, W.4.9.B, W.5.2.A-E, W.5.4-5, W.5.9.B, W.6.2.A-F, W.6.4-5, W.6.9.B
In Week 3, students will learn how to break down a short nonfiction text to determine the main idea and key details expressed in the piece. Students will then compose a paragraph in response to a writing prompt that requires the students to use the main idea and key details to summarize the text using the writing structure described in Week 1. 

Week 3: Nonfiction-Compare & Contrast (Identify Similarities & Differences) 
Common Core Reading: Informational Text Standards RI.4.1-2, RI.5.1-2, RI.6.1-2
Common Core Writing Informational/Explanatory Texts Standards W.4.2.A-E, W.4.4-5, W.4.9.B, W.5.2.A-E, W.5.4-5, W.5.9.B, W.6.2.A-F, W.6.4-5, W.6.9.B
In Week 4, students will compare and contrast elements of two short nonfiction text using a graphic organizer to determine the similarities and differences within the texts. Students will then compose a paragraph in response to a writing prompt that requires the students to explain their comparisons using the writing structure described in Week 1. 

*Note: This course builds on Ms. Heather's one-session course "Elaboration: How to Explain Your Citations" that teaches students how to explain how their text evidence supports their ideas. (The "Elaboration" course is not a prerequisite for this class.)