Week 1
Lesson 1
Grammar review
Introduce the class
Review the basic parts of speech
Review the rules on capitals, punctuation, spelling
Talk about eponyms, made-up words, re-duplication, portmanteau
Activity: Create your own words
Activity: Word game
HOMEWORK: Identify the parts of speech (Google Form)
 Week 2
Lesson 2
Context Clues
Warm-up: Identify parts of speech
Introduce interactive notebook on Google Docs
Context clues
Activity: Word Detective
Enrichment work: Discover the meaning of words based on context clues (Google Form)
HOMEWORK: Read chapters 1-9 of "The Giver" by Lois Lowry and complete notebook activities
 Week 3
Lesson 3
Genre
Warm-up: Read "Who was Lois Lowry?"
Introduce genres and characteristics of each genre
Read non-fiction text, “Would you Marry a Stranger?”
Discuss setting and types of characters
Introduce character sketch project
Activity: Work on a group character sketch
Enrichment work: Exploring genres (Google Form)
HOMEWORK: Read chapters 10-15 of "The Giver" and complete notebook activities. Also, be working on the character sketch.
 Week 4
Lesson 4
Plot diagram and literary devices
Warm-up: What genre is The Giver? Provide examples.
Discuss plot, sequence of events, climax, rising action
Guided discussion on reading: Imagery, summary, foreshadowing, and theme
Enrichment work: Complete a plot diagram (PDF assignment)
HOMEWORK: Finish character sketch project and the reading.
 Week 5
Lesson 5
Setting
Explore the setting of The Giver
Explore the plot of The Giver
Introduce short story project - Students will write a short story in the genre of their choice.
Discuss setting and plot
Enrichment work: Complete a plot diagram of The Giver.
HOMEWORK: Start working on brainstorming. Decide on the setting, plot, genre of your story. 
 Week 6
Lesson 6
Story writing part 1
Warm-up: Brainstorming activity
How to create believable characters
Activity: Character surveys
Types of characters
How to write dialogue
Enrichment work: Change the dialogue to make it better.
HOMEWORK: Finish planning and start working on writing your story.
 Week 7
Lesson 7
Story writing part 2
Warm-up: Describe the picture
Sensory details
Showing, not telling
Developing characters
Creating a scene
Enrichment: Practice showing, not telling (Google Forms)
HOMEWORK: Finish short story and submit for review.
 Week 8
Lesson 8
Prefixes and suffixes
Warm-up: Vocabulary
Prefixes and suffixes
Activity - Prefix/suffix word game
Enrichment: Word dissection (Google Forms)
HOMEWORK: Read staves 1-2  A Christmas Carol  by Charles Dickens and complete the interactive notebook pages.
 Week 9
Lesson 9
Charles Dickens
Warm-up: Context clues
Who was Charles Dickens?
Discuss reading
Read stave 3 of A Christmas Carol
Enrichment: Vocabulary practice
HOMEWORK: Finish reading A Christmas Carol and complete the interactive notebook pages.
 Week 10
Lesson 10
Biographical Essay
Guided discussion on book
Read an excerpt of Oliver Twist
What is a narrative essay?
Read an example of a biographical essay
Enrichment: Read a narrative essay and answer questions (PDF)
HOMEWORK: Read an example biographical essay and choose the person you want to write about.
 Week 11
Lesson 11
Sources
Introduce the biographical essay assignment
How to find good sources
What makes a good source
How to take notes
Enrichment: No enrichment because homework will be time-consuming
HOMEWORK: Do your research and find THREE sources. Then, work on taking notes.
 Week 12
Lesson 12
Citations
What is plagiarism?
How to avoid plagiarism
How to do a works cited page and in-text citations
Activity: Practice citations
Enrichment: Practice citations
HOMEWORK: Create your works cited page.
 Week 13
Lesson 13
Introductions
How to write an introduction
Activity: Practice attention-getters and thesis statements
How to write an outline
Enrichment: Practice writing attention-getters
HOMEWORK: Write the outline for your essay and the rough draft.
 Week 14
Lesson 14
Revision
What is revision?
Discuss common problems in essays.
Activity: Practice revising an essay
Enrichment: Add feedback to an essay (PDF)
HOMEWORK: Work on revising your essay.
 Week 15
Lesson 15
Editing
What is editing?
Common editing problems
Activity: Practice editing an essay
Enrichment: Edit an essay (Google Docs)
HOMEWORK: Edit your essay and turn in the final draft.