Students read Raymond Carver’s short story "A Small, Good Thing," focusing on characterization in order to develop one of the static characters—the hit-and-run driver who causes Scotty’s death—more fully. Students use a literary graphic organizer to analyze the three major characters. They compare the story to an older version titled "The Bath." Finally, they create an original anecdote involving the driver, share their stories, and respond to each other's writing.

 Students will write a 6 Word Memoir. Using the Waterlogue app on mini iPads, as well as the PicSee app, students will layer their 6 Word Memoir over a sketch, personal photograph or found image reflective of its theme.

 As the culmination of our study of Macbeth through John McDonald’s graphic novel, students will create their own original graphic narrative using the Book Creator app for iPads or Chrome.

This resource provides a lesson designed to help students understand the use of satire and the myriad technicques that authors may use to add it to their writing. Students use the film Shrek to examine the four techniques of exaggeration, incongruity, reversal and parody. Students prove their understanding by using satire to rewrite a fairly tale.

William Faulkner's self-proclaimed masterpiece, As I Lay Dying, originally published in 1930, is a fascinating exploration of the many voices found in a Southern family and community. The following curriculum unit examines the novel's use of multiple voices in its narrative.

In this lesson, students choose a character from a magazine, complete a character sketch, and develop a short story placing this character in a situation.

In this lesson, students will discuss and write messages about how it feels to be grouped or identified by gender. Then, students will work in groups to record and discuss messages shared with others in the class.

Students will read, critically analyze and write about a series of poems dealing with ghosts and spirits.

Students will complete close textual reading questions aligned with Common Core shifts for literacy. Scroll to "ELA 11-12 Winter Dreams" to access download.

In this lesson, students write a five-paragraph essay on the topic: What mistakes have you made and then learned a life lesson from?

Reading and stories can be an escape from real life, a window into another world -- but have you ever considered how new fictional experiences might change your perspective on real, everyday life? From Pride and Prejudice to Harry Potter, you will learn in this four-minute video how popular fiction can spark public dialogue and shape culture.

Why is J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy so compelling? How about The Matrix or Harry Potter? What makes these disparate worlds come alive are clear, consistent rules for how people, societies -- and even the laws of physics -- function in these fictional universes. This five-minute video offers a few tricks for you to create a world worth exploring in your own words.

A TED video that provides suggestions and tips for how to use language to make your fiction really come alive.

In this lesson, demonstrate their understanding of the jazz age following reading The Great Gatsby by using jazz-age terms to create an original story, scene, or letter.

Students will read, critically analyze and write about a series of poems dealing with light and darkness.

In this lesson, students write a character analysis of someone they know describing them through similes, metaphors, and hyperbole.

This unit contains a series a poetry lessons and poem suggestions on the poetry of war. Students will read and closely analyze several 'poems of war' and write their own poem as a culminating activity.

Students will read, critically analyze and write about a series of poems dealing with love.

In this lesson, students work in small groups to make children's books that teach a universal rule that obeys both conscience and authority.