Final Unit Plan
Final Unit Plan
Final Unit Plan
Unit Plan:
Creative Nonfiction
Sarah Marie Grissom
Florida State University
2
Unit Plan Overview
Creative Nonfiction is a form of writing deeply embedded in our society. From frontpage journalism, to autobiographies, college application essays, and more, creative nonfiction is
ubiquitous. Students in their freshman year of high school are learning a great spread of new
information, and it is essential that part of this information be creative nonfiction and all that it
entails. It is especially important to expose students to this form of writing early on as it is the
form in which most college entrance essays are required to be written in.
I desire that through this two-week unit plan, students will be able to accomplish several
specific learning goals. By the end of it, students should be able to name and describe at least six
forms of creative nonfiction. They should write at least three creative nonfiction papers, of three
different types of creative nonfiction. Additionally, students should be able to revise each of their
papers, and select one for additional revising and present it to the class.
I believe that the classroom environment should, first and foremost, be an environment
dedicated to supporting learning. To further this ideal, I will be an encouraging and informative
teacher, and will try to encourage students to ask questions, and provide adept answers. I will
also create an environment physically suited to enhancing learning, through the seating plan. I
will seat my student with ADHD in an area with limited distractions, and my student with a
visual impairment in the front row. Additionally, I will strive to keep up constant communication
with all my students; especially so with my students with IEPs, and use informal and formal
assessments to monitor their understanding of the subject material. My classroom environment
will be warm and welcoming, and I will hastily discourage unkind words and potential bullying.
In short, I hope to create a learning centered environment in which students learn real-world
lessons and are prepared for future requirements.
3
Table of Contents
Page 1
Title Page
Page 2
Page 3
Table of Contents
Pages 4-6
Pages 7-8
Pages 9-10
Pages 11-12
Pages 13-14
Pages 15-16
Pages 17-18
Pages 19-20
Pages 21-22
Pages 23-24
Pages 25-26
Pages 28-31
Objectives:
SWBAT demonstrate understanding of common literary elements in journalistic articles
SWBAT discuss what constitutes creative nonfiction
SWBAT find and analyze real-life examples of creative nonfiction
Materials:
Article clippings from the days newspaper, read to make sure they are appropriate.
Dry-erase markers
Anticipatory set:
Bell-work- Journal Prompt: Today we are starting a new unit on Creative Nonfiction. Without
doing any research, write down what you think creative nonfiction means, and where you
might see it outside of the classroom.
Teaching Strategy/Procedure/Activity:
Time
5 minutes
Student is doing
Writing about narrative
nonfiction in student
Teacher is doing
Explain the directions, then
walk around to make sure
4 minutes
5
journals, addressing the
prompt I gave under
anticipatory set
Short class discussion
answering questions.
7 minutes
10 minutes
7 minutes
6 minutes
7 minutes
Summary/Closure:
Homework/follow-up assignment:
Students should find an appropriate newspaper article and bring it to class in print form.
Accommodations/adaptations:
Allow student with Aspergers to select an article they will have interest in reading, thus
encouraging them to participate in the activity.
Re-type article in size 18 font for student with visual impairment.
Be prepared with easy to read articles for below average students and English learners.
Attachments/Appendices:
None
Plan B:
If we finish early, I will have students write in journals what they now know about creative
nonfiction and how that compares or contrasts to what they originally wrote.
Objectives:
SWBAT analyze common elements in journalistic articles.
SWBAT write a short work of creative nonfiction.
SWBAT utilize the common journalistic elements in their writing.
Materials:
Students newspaper/magazine article clippings
Anticipatory set:
Bell-work- Journal Prompt: Reread the article you brought to class today. In your journal, take
note of at least 5 literary elements or other details that contribute to the article as a whole, and
how they do so. Examples: tone, tense, vocabulary, chronology, etc.
Teaching Strategy/Procedure/Activity:
Time
5 minutes
Student is doing
Bell-work.
10 minutes
Teacher is doing
Explain the directions, then
walk around to make sure
students are focused and on
task.
Give class second set of
5 minutes
5 minutes
25 minutes
8
work in their journalsHow and why are the
elements they found used?
Meeting in pairs to discuss
their articles and what they
wrote in their bell-work.
Listening to instructions,
asking questions if need be.
Summary/Closure:
Assessment:
Homework/follow-up assignment:
None
Accommodations/adaptations:
Monitor the pairs containing students with IEPs to make sure they are grasping the instructions
and staying on task, and to provide help when needed.
Talk to English learners to clarify homework instructions.
Attachments/Appendices:
Newspaper.
Plan B:
None
Objectives:
SWBAT analyze common elements in biographies.
SWBAT discuss biographical nonfiction.
SWBAT research and write a biography.
Materials:
Computers or school tablets
Anticipatory set:
Bell-work: Students should peer review another students journalistic article rough draft.
Teaching Strategy/Procedure/Activity:
Time
10 minutes
Student is doing
Bell-work.
15 minutes
Teacher is doing
Explain the directions, then
walk around to make sure
students are focused and on
task.
Giving short lecture
introducing biographies.
10
10 minutes
Following directions.
10 minutes
5 minutes
Summary/Closure:
Listening as teacher gives the homework assignment, and asking questions if clarification is
needed.
Assessment:
Homework/follow-up assignment:
Students interview someone in their life- an older relative, for example, and use what they learn
to write a short biography for the person of their choice.
Accommodations/adaptations:
Make PowerPoint with size 20+ font for student with visual impairment.
Attachments/Appendices:
Homework assignment suggestions and rubric
Lecture PowerPoint
Plan B:
If we finish early, I will have students free-write in their journals.
If I experience technical difficulties with the PowerPoint, I will provide handouts to the students.
11
Objectives:
SWBAT revise their biographies.
SWBAT identify biographical literary elements.
SWBAT conduct biographical research.
Materials:
Lecture PowerPoint
Research handout
Anticipatory set:
Students are to get in pairs and read and peer-edit each others biographies.
Teaching Strategy/Procedure/Activity:
Time
15 minutes
Student is doing
Peer-editing biographies
Teacher is doing
Explain the directions, then
walk around to make sure
students are focused and on
task.
12
30 minutes
Lecturing on biographical
research.
5 minutes
Assigning homework
Summary/Closure:
Listening as teacher gives the homework assignment, and asking questions if clarification is
needed.
Assessment:
Homework/follow-up assignment:
Students should do additional research on the person whose biography they wrote, or subjects
highly pertinent to the biography, and revise the biography to include this new research and peer
suggestions.
Accommodations/adaptations:
Size 20+ font on PowerPoint.
Define unfamiliar terms for English learners and below grade level student.
Attachments/Appendices:
Lecture PowerPoint.
Plan B:
If we finish early, I will have students peer revise with a second partner.
If the PowerPoint fails, I will give students a handout.
13
Objectives:
SWBAT create creative nonfictions in groups.
SWBAT utilize common elements of creative nonfiction.
Materials:
Photographs
Anticipatory set:
Students are to write in journals. Prompt: Think back to your earliest memory. When was it?
Where was it? Who were you with? Write down all that you remember.
Teaching Strategy/Procedure/Activity:
Time
10 minutes
Student is doing
Bell-work
5 minutes
5 minutes
Teacher is doing
Explain the prompt, then
walk around to make sure
students are focused and on
task.
Calling on volunteers.
5 minutes
20
14
Summary/Closure:
Have students quietly restore their desks to the original positions and turn in their creative
nonfictions.
Assessment:
Homework/follow-up assignment:
None
Accommodations/adaptations:
Monitor groups containing students with IEPs to ensure their peers are being helpful and
cooperative, and monitor student understanding.
Attachments/Appendices:
Group Activity handout
Photographs.
Plan B:
none
15
Objectives:
SWBAT identify the purpose of personal essays.
SWBAT communicate past experiences with eloquence and authenticity.
SWBAT create a list of five past personal experiences they can expand on in a writing
assignment.
Materials:
none
Anticipatory set:
Bell-work- Journal Prompt: Brainstorm a list of at least five experiences you feel have truly
shaped who you are as a person.
Teaching Strategy/Procedure/Activity:
Time
10 minutes
Student is doing
Bell-work
Teacher is doing
Administering prompt,
20 minutes
18 minutes
2 minutes
16
preparing for lecture.
Listening to lecture, taking
Giving lecture on Personal
notes
Narrative Essays, answering
questions.
Choosing one of the 5
Answering questions,
experiences they
making sure students are on
brainstormed to write about, task.
then beginning to write a
personal essay on the
experience and the impact it
had on them.
Paying attention to
Instructing students to
instructions.
finish their personal essays
for homework and bring
them the following day.
Summary/Closure:
Assigning homework.
Assessment:
Homework/follow-up assignment:
Finish personal essays.
Accommodations/adaptations:
Make lecture engaging, interesting for student with ADHD; limit distractions.
Attachments/Appendices:
Lecture PowerPoint
Plan B:
If PowerPoint fails, pass out handouts.
17
Objectives:
SWBAT embellish a memory with creative nonfiction.
SWBAT offer constructive criticism to each other.
SWBAT revise their personal essays using others suggestions.
Materials:
none
Anticipatory set:
Bell-work- Journal Prompt: Pick a major historical event that has happened within your lifetime
and describe what you were doing when it happened. Describe your reaction, and those of any
people around you. Describe what happened next, and/or how it affected you or your family. 2-3
paragraphs.
Teaching Strategy/Procedure/Activity:
Time
15 minutes
Student is doing
Bell-work
30 minutes
Teacher is doing
Giving bell-work prompt,
answering questions.
Forming groups of four,
giving workshop
5 minutes
18
instructions, answering
questions and listening in
on group workshops.
Assigning homework.
Summary/Closure:
Writing down homework.
Assessment:
Homework/follow-up assignment:
Students should revise their personal essays with their small groups suggestions and criticism in
mind, and turn in a revised copy the following day.
Accommodations/adaptations:
Monitor groups containing students with IEPs.
Attachments/Appendices:
none
Plan B:
None.
19
Objectives:
SWBAT identify different forms of creative nonfiction.
SWBAT find a real-world example of creative nonfiction.
Materials:
Handout
Anticipatory set:
Bell-work- Journal Prompt: Weve learned a lot about creative nonfiction so far. Weve studied
journalistic articles, biographies, and personal essays. But there are many more forms of creative
nonfiction. Brainstorm at least four other forms, and where you see them in your own day-to-day
life.
Teaching Strategy/Procedure/Activity:
Time
10 minutes
Student is doing
Bell-work
30 minutes
Teacher is doing
Giving prompt, collecting
homework.
Lecturing- Additional
Forms of Creative
Nonfiction and Famous
10 minutes
20
Creative Nonfictions.
Explaining the Unit Paper
Summary/Closure:
Instructions for unit paper.
Assessment:
Homework/follow-up assignment:
Revise your choice of either your journalistic article, biography, or personal essay. Bring this
revised edition to class tomorrow.
Accommodations/adaptations:
Students will be given handouts to follow along the lecture with.
Attachments/Appendices:
Unit Paper rubric
Plan B:
None.
21
Objectives:
SWBAT peer-edit each others creative nonfiction.
SWBAT identify ways their own writings could be improved.
SWBAT apply all theyve learned in this unit to create a well-written creative nonfiction.
Materials:
none
Anticipatory set:
Bell-work-Journal Prompt: What brand-new information have you learned in this unit? How
can you apply this to your writing in the future? What has been your favorite part of this unit?
Teaching Strategy/Procedure/Activity:
Time
10 minutes
Student is doing
Bell-work
36 minutes
Peer-revision activity.
Students should match up
with 4 different partners for
8 minutes each and read
Teacher is doing
Making sure students are on
task.
Giving instructions,
answering questions as
needed, sitting in on peer
revisions and listening to
22
each others creative
nonfiction and offer
constructive criticism and
advice.
4 minutes
Summary/Closure:
Teachers final advice for unit papers.
Assessment:
Homework/follow-up assignment:
Revising their creative nonfictions for the final copy.
Accommodations/adaptations:
Monitor student pairings, be sure to conference with students with IEPs.
Attachments/Appendices:
none
Plan B:
None.
23
Objectives:
SWBAT submit a final copy of their creative nonfiction.
SWBAT discuss what they have learned about creative nonfiction.
SWBAT explore and identify new forms of creative nonfiction.
Materials:
None
Anticipatory set:
Bell-work- Journal Prompt: What sort of careers could you have that involve creative
nonfiction? Identify at least five and explain.
Teaching Strategy/Procedure/Activity:
Time
10 minutes
15 minutes
Student is doing
Bell-work
Participating on class
discussion.
Teacher is doing
Collecting final papers
Leading class discussion on
the creative nonfiction unit
and what students have
25 minutes
24
learned.
Giving instructions and
feedback.
Summary/Closure:
none
Assessment:
Homework/follow-up assignment:
none
Accommodations/adaptations:
Allow students to volunteer to share, thus doing so only if they feel comfortable. Students with
IEPs may not feel comfortable doing so.
Attachments/Appendices:
none
Plan B:
none
25
References
Mahnken, M. (n.d.). Creative Non Fiction Rubric. Retrieved November 22, 2014, from
http://teacherweb.com/WA/LakesHighSchool/Mahnken/photo1.aspx
26
Appendices
Information
Content
Structure
Connections
Topic broad or
vague. Information
vague, inaccurate, or
generally known.
May be hard to find
or blended roughly
into essay.
Topic unclear.
Information sparse,
vague AND/OR
inaccurate.
Attention to structure
is evident. Logical
organization includes
strong beginning;
fitting, satisfying
conclusion and
transitions to show
order.
Some attempt at
structuring beyond
bare narrative or
simple research.
Reader can follow
flow of ideas though
in some places order
may seem random or
unclear.
Structure is bare or
unclear. Beginning
and/or conclusion is
abrupt or
uninteresting. Order
of ideas confusing or
seemingly random.
Structure is confusing.
Beginning uninteresting
or confusing.
Conclusion too abrupt.
Order of ideas makes
information hard to
follow
Well-developed
connections between
different topics
AND/OR personal
meaning demonstrate
why topic is
important to both
writer & audience.
Connections between
different topics
AND/OR personal
meaning demonstrate
why topic is
important to both
writer & audience.
Connections between
different topics
AND/OR personal
meaning demonstrate
why topic is
important to the
writer but it is not as
clear why audience
should care.
Style
Narrators voice is
distinct & engaging.
Word-choice
interesting &
appropriate.
Sentences smooth,
rhythmic, and vary in
length & type
according to the
purpose & topic.
Imagery is concrete
& specific
& appeals to most of
the 5 senses.
Literary
Devices
TOTAL:
(Mahnken, 2014)
Demonstrates clear,
deliberate use of
literary devices such
as dialogue,
figurative language,
allusion,
characterization, etc.
to engage reader and
make subject
interesting.
27
Narrators voice is
stronger in some
places than others.
Word choice and
sentences are
functional, but do not
enhance the essay.
Narrators voice is
hard to distinguish.
Voice is indistinct.
Diction doesnt fit piece
or is inappropriate.
Sentences are
sometimes repetitive, Sentences are so choppy
choppy, or unsuited or lengthy they are hard
to purpose & topic
to read.
but still get point
across.
28
29
30
31