Stefani Tweedy 8th Grade Language Arts Created: 6/23/09

Zillah Middle School Modified:

Unit Title:
Realistic Fiction

Time Frame:
15 Days

Grade Level:
8th

Unit Summary:
During this unit students will explore realistic fiction. The class
will discuss elements of literature, types of sentences, ending
punctuation, and will look at creating a character sketch. The
class will read the story “Dicey’s Song” to acquaint themselves with
this type of writing and will use it as a model to create their own
character sketch.

Essential Question(s):
What is realistic fiction?
What is a character sketch?
What are the elements of literature?
What are the different types of sentences?
How do I properly use ending punctuation?

Core Concept(s):
Reading
Writing

Content Area Standards (GLE’s):

Reading: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 3.1, 3.4
Writing: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3

Assessments:
Formative:
As new topics are presented (via PowerPoint presentation) students
will have an opportunity to quiz themselves on the material to see
if they understood it. If some did not, we will go back over the
material to clarify their understanding.

Students will be completing a variety of exercises on worksheets

and out of the textbook. These items will be corrected as a class
and missed concepts will reviewed as needed.

Students will be reading this story and discussing it aloud with the
class. The teacher will ask questions to check for understanding.
Stefani Tweedy 8th Grade Language Arts Created: 6/23/09
Zillah Middle School Modified:

Students will be called on at random both to read and to answer

questions to ensure participation.

Summative:
Students will be tested at the end of the unit on the following
concepts: story comprehension (questions will follow Bloom’s
Taxonomy), elements of literature, types of sentences, ending
punctuation, and vocabulary.

Students will be given a spelling test to check their understanding

of the vocabulary words from this unit.

Students will complete a book report on a realistic fiction novel.

For their assessment, students will create a character sketch of the
main character from their book.

Key Vocabulary:
Liable
Discouraged
Impressed
Congealed
Plagiarism
Sympathy
Impassive
Confident
Accompaniment
Perpendicularly

Materials/Resources:
Textbooks/Kits/Instructional Guides:
Spotlight on Literature (8th Grade Edition)
Elements of Writing (8th Grade Edition)
Academic Workout Teachers Guide
Academic Workout Overheads
Academic Workout Worksheets
Academic Workout Review (Use for final test)

Print Materials (Books, Articles):

Character Sketch of Grandma Atkinson (1 per student)

Multimedia:
Tone and Irony PowerPoint
Point of View PowerPoint
Symbolism PowerPoint
Figurative Language PowerPoint
Stefani Tweedy 8th Grade Language Arts Created: 6/23/09
Zillah Middle School Modified:

Sensory Language and Imagery PowerPoint

Types of Sentences PowerPoint
Ending Punctuation PowerPoint
Character Sketch PowerPoint

Websites:
www.projectplaylist.com
Have students listen to the song “Isn’t It Ironic” by Alanis
Morriset.

Handouts:
Tone and Irony WS
Point of View WS
Symbolism and Allusion WS
Figurative Language WS
Sensory Language and Imagery WS
Spelling List
Unit Assessment
“Sketching Someone” Handout

Other Materials:
Language Arts Journals
Journal Prompts
Dictionaries
Poster Paper

Lessons/Activities:
1. Elements of Literature (Tone and Irony)
a. Assign book report – Realistic Fiction
b. PowerPoint Presentation – students take notes in LA
notebook.
c. Have students listen to the song “Isn’t It Ironic” by Alanis
Morriset (on www.projectplaylist.com). Discuss how this
song talks about irony.
d. Walk students through AW overhead #41 (follow teachers
manual on pages 160-161)
e. Give students worksheet to complete on their own.
f. Assign list of spelling words.
2. Elements of Literature (Point of View)
a. PowerPoint Presentation – students take notes in LA
notebook.
b. Discuss ways that a person’s point of view could change the
way they tell a story.
c. Walk students through AW overhead #42 (follow teachers
manual on page 162-163)
d. Give students worksheet to complete on their own.
Stefani Tweedy 8th Grade Language Arts Created: 6/23/09
Zillah Middle School Modified:

3. Elements of Literature (Symbolism and Allusion)

a. PowerPoint Presentation – students take notes in LA
notebook.
b. Walk students through AW overhead #43 (follow teachers
manual on page 1164-165)
c. Give students worksheet to complete on their own.
4. Elements of Literature (Figurative Language)
a. PowerPoint Presentation – students take notes in LA
notebook.
b. Walk students through AW overhead #44 (follow teachers
manual on page 166-167)
c. Give students worksheet to complete on their own.
5. Elements of Literature (Sensory Language and Imagery)
a. PowerPoint Presentation – students take notes in LA
notebook.
b. Walk students through AW overhead #45 (follow teachers
manual on page 168-169)
c. Give students worksheet to complete on their own.
6. Read Dicey’s Song
a. Read “Before Reading” on page 3. Discuss which type of
point of view the story is told from.
b. Read story and discuss questions in teacher’s edition
throughout the story.
c. After reading, students will use dictionaries to find the
definition of their spelling words.
7. Read Dicey’s Song
a. Read story and discuss questions in teacher’s edition
throughout the story.
b. After reading, students will use each of their spelling words
in a sentence.
8. Read Dicey’s Song
a. Read story and discuss questions in teacher’s edition
throughout the story.
b. PowerPoint Presentation – Kinds of Sentences
i. Students are to take notes in their LA notebooks
c. Students will read and complete the activity on page 422 of
their Writing textbooks.
9. Read Dicey’s Song
a. Read story and discuss questions in teachers edition
throughout story.
b. PowerPoint Presentation – Ending Punctuation
i. Students are to take notes in their LA notebooks
c. Students will read and complete the activity on page 737 of
their Writing textbooks.
10. Comprehension Test
Stefani Tweedy 8th Grade Language Arts Created: 6/23/09
Zillah Middle School Modified:

a. Students will be tested on spelling, vocabulary,

comprehension, literary elements, types of sentences, and
ending punctuation.
b. After the test, the class will create a definition of “realistic
fiction” and list some characteristics of this type of book. The
information will be recorded on a poster paper and hung on
the wall for reference.
11. Character Sketch
a. PowerPoint Presentation – Character Sketch Assignment
i. Students are to take notes in their LA notebooks
b. Read “Grandma Atkins” character sketch.
i. Have students list three strengths of the paper in their
LA notebook.
ii. Ask students to share their list with the class – make a
master list on the board/overhead.
c. Hand out assignment, handout, and grading rubric
i. Go over each component – answer questions as needed
12. Character Sketch
a. Students are to think of a person that they know very well
(family member, friend, etc.).
b. 4 Square (Review)
i. The teacher will review the 4-Square concept today
and fill in a model one on the overhead.
ii. In the topic box, the teacher will write the name of the
person they are sketching.
iii. In the first three boxes of the 4-Square, the teacher
will list a topic sentence (a trait or quality about the
person being sketched).
1. Under that topic, the teacher will list examples
of how that trait applies (detail) and give a real
story “snippet” of the character exhibiting that
trait (vivid).
2. Repeat this process for each of the first three
boxes.
iv. In the final box, the teacher will explain how to wrap
up this essay.
1. First, restate the main idea.
2. Then, review the main points.
3. Last, give a good “feeling” sentence to end the
paper.
13. 4 Square
a. Students will follow the model done yesterday (put it on the
overhead) to complete their own character sketch 4 Square.
14. Rough Draft
Stefani Tweedy 8th Grade Language Arts Created: 6/23/09
Zillah Middle School Modified:

a. Students will take the information from their 4 Square and

turn it into a 5 paragraph essay.
15. Edit and Revise
a. Students will trade papers with a partner and proofread for
each other. The main focus of peer editing should be on
spelling and grammar but also on flow and staying on topic.
b. Students will take their edited rough draft home over night
to create a clean, handwritten final draft. This draft will be
turned in the following school day.