This document provides instructions for an English lesson on applying understanding of non-fiction texts. Students will analyze themes of heroism in a short story called "And of Clay Are We Created" by filling out a graphic organizer and drafting a Facebook post about a hero. They will then practice developing effective attention-grabbing introductions for essays by writing some in their journals. Finally, students will work in groups to research topics related to the story and present their findings to the class through posters and presentations.

1. English
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English
12
HARMON
Objective: You will apply your understanding of non fiction texts
filling out a graphic organizer and a facebook post
Activator: Video on attention getter
TITLE: And of Clay Are We
Created—-> HEROISM
Date: Nov 6, 2015
Activities to make a cross connection between
Clay story by apply the literary skill of attention
getter in an essay by filling out
the active listening worksheet while watching
the video on essays beginnings
Heroism was a theme in this story. Write a a
facebook post outlining your
hero.
STANDARD: 2.RL.2 Determine two or more themes or central ideas of a text and analyze their development over the course of the text, including how
they interact and
build on one another to produce a complex account; provide an objective summary of the text.
Using the FB outline, create an attention
grabber in your journal for an essay on
your hero

2. Writing Workshop
Define: attention
grabber, theme
English
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HERO THEME
We discussed a
theme
of HEROISM in the
story. Use the
Facebook handout
to outline the hero
you contributed to
class the other
day.
Heroism was a theme in
the story.
Journal:
Without writing the entire
essay, just focus on the
beginning and use 2 or 3
of the TYPES of beginnings
of essays.
LEARN MORE
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3. Attention Grabber Effective
Attention Grabbers
English
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What did he say in the video?

4. Pair/Share your intros. Write them below.
English
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Activity: Develop the confidence to be creative &
bold
THINK. PROCESS. APPLY THE SKILL:
We discussed value and worth. What is a good introduction worth?
How could this skill - if applied to your life -
change the results you may get in relationships, a job etc?

5. attention grabber
Apply & Practice
English
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EX. from journal
OBJECTIVE

6. Reflect &
Self Assess AccountabilityEnglish
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50
Class
Participation
Group Work
Presentation

7. Descriptive Details Evolution of
Once Upon A Time
English
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“Midway in our life’s journey, I went astray from the straight road and woke to find myself alone in
a dark wood.” — Inferno – Dante
“Midway in our life’s journey, I went astray from the straight road and woke to find myself alone in
a dark wood.” — Inferno – Dante
Mr. Jones, of the Manor Farm, had locked the hen-houses for the night, but was too drunk to
remember to shut the pop-holes. Animal Farm by George Orwell.
“Hale knew, before he had been in Brighton three hours, that they meant to murder him.”
Brighton Rock by Graham Greene
“I write this sitting in the kitchen sink.” I Capture The Castle, Dodie Smith
“If this typewriter can’t do it, then f*** it, it can’t be done.” Still Life With Woodpecker, Tom Robbins
“Once upon a time…” Grimm’s Fairy Tales, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
What does each grabber DO/tell us?

8. Descriptive Details What kinds are
there?
English
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Introduce a character Introduce a scene
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want
of a wife.”
Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice (1813)
"All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."
Leo Tolstoy: Anna Karenina (1878)
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the
epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the
spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going
direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way."
Charles Dickens: A Tale Of Two Cities (1859)
"It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn't know what I was
doing in New York."
Sylvia Plath: The Bell Jar (1963)
Introduce a theme
"You don't know about me without you have read a book by the name of 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'; but that
ain't no matter. That book was made by a Mr Mark Twain, and he told the truth, mainly.”
Mark Twain: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884)
Reflect: Why are opening lines important?

9. What is a good question?
English
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Develop the confidence to ask good questions
Example:
What is the author’s motivation to tell the story?
Halfway through the story we find out “what happened”. What
technique is that? Imagine if in life we aren’t told what is
happening. Why does this work in literature?
Clay is a symbol in the story. What does it represent?
How do you define a hero? What caused the main character
to rise to the occasion?

10. APPLY & PRESENT Mini PresentationEnglish
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And of Clay Are We Created Group Mini-Presentation
Instructions
Students will research non-fiction topics related to the narrative “And of Clay
Are We Created” by reading a teacher provided article specific to their group. They
will complete a group poster and present their information to the class. As students
listen to the presentations, they will record the information that they learn from the
presenters on the Information Collection Sheet.
Each Group Must create a 8.5 x11 poster that:
teaches the class how this article relates to the story
presents 5 facts
presents 2 group-formed opinions about how this information affects reader’s
understanding of the story
includes a visual to help the class better understand your topic
Cites their source of information
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11. PRESENTEnglish
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What FACTORS determines a
QUALITY presentation?
Good Areas for Growth
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12. Annotate Story Read & ReviewEnglish
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PREZI
Multimedia Summary
Annotate Story:
1ST, let’s dicuss:
What is that worth? Why?
What constitutes the full
amount of points?
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