For the short story, there is a chart with all the literary terms they must illustrate, such as plot, characters, conflict, theme, setting. They also include historical details from the antebellum South and have a modern character who goes back in time. These stories go through several drafts before they are posted on the school's web site for all to see. In order for students to understand and recognize literary terms, they are discussed in class in relation to the novel. We discussed in depth themes, characterization, and character conflicts, as well as searching for historical details in Kindred about the antebellum South and slavery.
Students produce written work that makes connections to related topics or information.
They critique their own writing and a classmate's writing, revise drafts, and publish to a wide audience. They provide evidence of critiquing a public document. They use both primary and secondary sources of information for research. They recognize a range of literary elements and techniques and use these elements to interpret the work. They write their own imaginative texts using plot, character, setting, dialogue, conflict to engage the reader.