Unit 1

Final Product:

You will write a narrative essay for your unit 1 summative assessment. A "narrative" is a story. It can be a fictional narrative about made-up characters and events, or a personal narrative about an event in your life. It is not a novel or an autobiography, so it should focus on a single event, or very few events. If you have not yet applied for college or you are still in the process of applying for college, you must write a college admissions essay for this assignment (which is a type of personal narrative).

Prompt Options (Common Application 2015-16):

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

Specific Requirements:

College admissions essay: 300-650 words. Other short stories can be 300-1300 words.
Attention-grabbing or interesting introduction
Conclusion that provides reflection on the significance of events described
Use of narrative writing techniques such as "show don't tell," descriptive/vivid details, and figurative language
Proof of having gone through the writing process (spot checks for brainstorming, outlining, and revisions)

RUBRIC: Final Draft of Narrative Essay

Essential Questions:

What defines a "narrative," and what makes one either "good" or "bad"?
What tools can I use to enhance my writing of a narrative?

Workshops in this Unit:

Steps of the writing process
Prewriting strategies (brainstorming)
Elements of narrative writing

Narrative techniques such as dialogue, pacing, description, and reflection
Including vivid imagery and descriptive/sensory details
Creating smooth transitions
Making strong and precise word choices
Introduction writing - "catchiness"!
Identifying and using figurative language

STandards Assessed in this Unit:

ALL UNITS:

Grammar: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing. (Resolve issues of complex or contested grammar usage). (LF.1.b)
Revising and Editing: Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience. (W.5.a)

Respect: Listen to those who are speaking, follow class rules and policies, demonstrate classroom decorum.
Responsibility: Come to class prepared, stay organized, do your share of group work, turn assignments in on time.
Collaboration: Contribute to group discussions, contribute to group work in a way that is not domineering or lazy, share your ideas and respect the ideas and opinions of others.
Communication: Speak in English. Speak clearly and audibly when you are required to do so.

WRITING:

Exposition: Engage and orient the reader by setting out a problem, situation, or observation and its significance, establishing one or multiple point(s) of view, and introducing a narrator and/or characters; create a thoughtful progression of experiences or events. (W.3.a)
Narrative Techniques: Use a variety of techniques to sequence events so that they build on one another to create a coherent, interesting whole and build toward a particular tone and outcome (e.g., a sense of mystery, suspense, growth, or resolution). (W.3.c)
Literary Concepts: acquire and use accurately a range of academic and domain-specific words and phrases. Interpret figures of speech (e.g., hyperbole, paradox) in context and analyze their role in the text. (LF.6.a)

Language Use: Use precise words and phrases, telling details, and sensory language to convey a vivid picture of the experiences, events, setting, and/or characters. (W.3.d)
Conclusion: Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on what is experienced, observed, or resolved over the course of the narrative. (W.3.e)
Clarity and Cohesion: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (W.4.a)