Unit Overview/Summary - FOCUS:

Analysis of craft and structure in informational text requires readers to identify the author’s purpose and perspective to determine how an author acknowledges and responds to a position. Critical readers examine the organization of ideas in the text to identify the ideas that signal and address opposing viewpoints. Furthermore, they can identify the argument and claims within a text, evaluate an author’s argument, and recognize when the evidence is irrelevant and unsound based on the claims made by the author in terms of accuracy and viewpoint. 

Within text types and purposes, students will be required to write various arguments. Students should be able to provide credible and relevant evidence that specifically relates to the topic sentence and explain how the topic sentence and evidence support each other. Appropriate text organization and transitions should be used while addressing alternate or counterclaims by providing evidence and reasons specific to the counterclaim, and distinguishing why their argument is still stronger (rebuttal). Students must provide a conclusion that restates the thesis, summarizes the main points in the argument, and provokes further or deeper thinking from the reader (e.g., prediction, recommendation, revelation, final thought, call to action, or moral of the argument). 

Unit Duration:  

29 days (25 instructional days and 4 re-teach/enrichment days); Five periods per week based on a traditional bell schedule