Students read an article (which is included in this link) that asserts that all stories across time and medium can be put into one of seven models. Students will then search the newspapers and their own knowledge of books, film, television,etc. to compare and contrast with the nonfiction pieces as well as the article's theory about thematic connections. Any respected newspaper will suffice for this lesson.

Students chose a book of fiction from the media center. Given a specific amount of time to complete reading the book, students then write a review of that book giving a description of various components of the book as well as a recommendation. 

Students consider a novel approach to conservation biology in which the goal is not to preserve a particular organism or even a habitat, but to actively promote the reestablishment of the late Pleistocent environment. Once introduced to the topic, students will take on the role of a conservation biology advisory group and conduct research to gather more information and assess the overall impact of re-wilding, including environmental, social, and economic concerns. At the conclusion of the lesson, students will present their recommendation to reintroduce the organism or not.

By completing this guide in lieu of traditional annotations, a student can be fully prepared with laser-focused notes to write not only an excellent Rhetorical Analysis (Q2) essay, but also to demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the text through consistent, complex thought and a well-defined line of reasoning.

In this lesson, students examine historical and current examples of separation of church and state. A set of discussion questions is provided. In an associated activity, students discuss laws and governments acts concerning church and state. Then, students will write a persuasive letter to one of the historical figures mentioned in the reading who differs with their position on separating church and state.

In this lesson, students explore how different North America would be today if the South had won the Civil War.

In these lessons from Historical Thinking Matters, students learn to read more analytically as they investigate the causes of the Spanish-American War. After hypothesizing causes for the war, they test their hypotheses using successive sets of documents. They answer the notebook questions for these documents and consider how each informs the inquiry question. Using historian think-alouds from the site, the teacher can model a historical read of particular passages. Finally, students practice these new ways of reading with a document they find in a directed webquest. *The lessons are made available in 3 options: 1 Day, 3 Day or 5 Day. The 5 Day version includes an essay assignment with instructions on thesis writing.

Students examine the state of the print newspaper industry, then debate its future.

In this lesson, students examine the state of the print newspaper industry, then debate its future.

This activity asks students to examine and evaluate how the structure of a work can impact meaning and audience experience. Students are tasked with examining text structure, plotting events for a visual representation of the "highs and lows" of the story, and composing a formal paragraph explaining their findings/analysis. It is divided into 3 sections, which can be spread out and completed individually or it can be a single assignment. It should take students about 120 minutes to complete all parts.

A teacher's guide to American Tapestry, Michelle Obama's biography. Included are chapter-by-chapter discussion questions, writing prompts, and activities.

This resource includes five different models for teaching thesis writing, as well as some extra tips at the end.

This resource is a tool for text analysis. Students will read a text, complete an analysis chart, and write an analysis paragraph.

Students are presented with a paired critical reading activity uses excertps from Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird and a New York Times article "˜History of Lynchings in the South Documents Nearly 4,000 Names"™ to exlplore the deep and painful history of racial injustice in the south. Included are close fiction/non-fiction analysis, varied media resources, and writing assignments.

In this resource from the New York Times, a paired critical reading activity uses excertps from Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird and a New York Times article ‘History of Lynchings in the South Documents Nearly 4,000 Names’ to exlplore the deep and painful history of racial injustice in the south. Included are close fiction/non-fiction analysis, varied media resources, and writing assignments.

Students are invited to explore the cultural offerings around them "” from architecture to books, dance, fashion, film, food, music, theater, TV and video games "” and write reviews about what they experience. The New York Times models along with advice from current Times critics to help them through the process.

This lesson focuses on the concept of the afterlife and the importance of pleasing the gods and goddesses, the significance of tombs and tomb building, and the burial customs and traditions of the ancient Egyptians. After learning about all of these concepts, students will design a tomb, create a model of it, and complete a short written assignment explaining the design and contents of the tomb.

This resource provides a lesson designed to assist learners with successfully writing an argumentative essay. Students will view a presentation, review basic, essay elements and attempt to defend, challenge or qualify claims of their stance regarding passion over reason.

This resource provides 10 different argumentative prompts to spur student writing.

A classic Western, "True Grit" recounts the backcountry adventure of a one-eyed marshal, "Rooster" Cogburn, and a spirited fourteen-year-old, Mattie Ross, as they seek to avenge the death of Mattie's father. The Big Read Reader's Guide deepens your exploration with interviews, booklists, timelines, and historical information. We hope this guide and syllabus allow you to have fun with your students while introducing them to the work of a great American author.