Curriculum Unit
Our Histories: A Scaffolded Approach in Teaching Creative
Nonfiction to English learners
Kariann Flynn
Title Author
KEY LEARNING, ENDURING UNDERSTANDING, ETC.
The unit aims to strengthen students’ self-concept as authors, enhance students’ academic writing skills, and provide an outlet for creative, personal expression. Students will explore, notice, and vigorously practice producing a variety of nonfiction texts that range from the traditional “how-to” document to obituaries to the personal essay. Students will develop conceptual understandings of the writing process as they organize, sequence, and narrate nonfiction events in a tone and style that is unique to their own authorial voice.
ESSENTIAL QUESTION(S) for the UNIT
How do authors use the writing process to produce texts?
How does the narration and sequence of events affect the theme of a nonfiction text?
How do authors use description as a tool to create tone in nonfiction texts?
CONCEPT A CONCEPT B CONCEPT C
Description and Tone
The Writing Process
Narration and Sequence
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS A ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS B ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS C
How do authors use the writing process to produce texts?
How does the narration and sequence of events affect the theme of a nonfiction text?
How do authors use description as a tool to create tone in nonfiction texts?
VOCABULARY A VOCABULARY B VOCABULARY C
Tone
Mood
Imagery
Sensory language
Narration
Theme
Point of view
Author Purpose
Prewriting
Drafting
Revising
Editing
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/MATERIAL/TEXT/FILM/RESOURCES
The Writing Process: Kelley Gallagher, Write Like This; Teaching Real-World Writing through Modeling and Mentor Texts. Stenhouse Publishers, (2011)
Jack C. Richards and Willy A. Renandya, Methodology in Language Teaching: An Anthology of Current Practice (New York, N.Y.: Cambridge University Press, (2001)
Narration and Sequence: Christina Pavlak, "“It is Hard Fun”: Scaffolded Biography Writing with English Learners," The Reading Teacher 66, no. 5 (2013)
Description and Tone: Kelley Gallagher, Write Like This; Teaching Real-World Writing through Modeling and Mentor Texts. Stenhouse Publishers, (2011)
John O'Connor, This Time It's Personal: Teaching Academic Writing through Creative Nonfiction. National Council of Teachers of English, (2011)
Informative Essays at CommonLit.org