Friday, October 31, 2014

7th Grade Unit of Study: Realistic Fiction



7th Grade Unit of Study:
Realistic Fiction

Writers must submit via google docs a draft by Sunday, November 2.  Be sure to put a proper heading on the paper.  See below:

Kathy Vogel
5th hour
November 2, 2014
Realistic Fiction Draft 2

Realistic Fiction Checklist

I created a narrative that has realistic characters, tension, and change; and that not only convey but  also develops an idea, lesson, or theme.

  • I wrote a beginning that not only sets the story in motion, it also grounds it in a place or situation. It includes details that will later be important to the story. These details might point to the central issue  or conflict, show how story elements connect, or hint at key character traits.

  • I used transitional phrases as well as paragraphs for organization

  • I gave the reader a sense of closure by showing clearly how the character or place changed or the problem was resolved. If there was no resolution, I gave details to leave the reader thinking about a central idea or theme.

  • I used a traditional - or slightly modified - story structure (rising action, conflict, falling action) to best bring out the meaning of his story and reach his audience.

  • I developed the action, dialogue, details, and inner thinking to convey an issue, idea, or lesson. I showed what is specific about the central character. I developed the setting and the characters’ relationship to the setting.

  • I developed change in characters and situations. I used specific details and figurative language to help the reader understand the  place and the mood (making an object or place symbolic, using the weather, using repetition). I used varied tone to match variety of emotions experienced by the characters across the story.

  • I used resources to check sure my spelling was accurate


8th Grade Unit of Study: Investigative Journalism



8th Grade Unit of Study:
Investigative Journalism
Narrative Nonfiction

Find an issue that will matter to others.

  • Present background knowledge on issue (could be the at beginning for a lead)
  • Include anecdotes (stories, and examples)
  • Include 2 direct quotes (from the interviews conducted)
  • Adhere to journalistic tone
  • Use a story to teach a lesson, comment on a social issue, and/or develop a point of view.
  • Incorporates transitional phrases
  • Circles back to central idea/issue or leaves the reader feeling a sense of closure at the ending
  • Uses paragraphs as a way to organize your article and best bring out the meaning of your story and reach the audience
  • Uses action, dialogue, details, inner thinking to convey an issue, idea or lesson
  • Uses specific details and figurative language to help the reading understand.
  • Varies tone to match the variety of emotions
  • Uses resources to check spelling
  • Varies sentence structure and correctly punctuates dialogue correctly (especially when including interviews)

Please submit a copy of your paper by Sunday, November 2 via google docs. You will also need to print a copy for your portfolio. Be sure to put a heading on all papers. See below:

Kathy Vogel
3rd hour
November 2,2014
Investigative Journalism



Monday, October 13, 2014

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