Unit 1: Comparative Text Analysis: Narrative Text and Its Insight into Human Behavior
In this unit, students will investigate the key elements of narrative text structure and explore ways in which novels and short stories give us insight into what it means to be human. Students will draw conclusions and support inferences with text-based evidence. Major focus will be on the cognitive processes of comparison, contrast, and classification. The core text for this unit is E. L. Konigsburg’s novel From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Independent reading selections will include Mrs. Frisby and The Rats of NIMH (Robert C. O’Brien). Students will compare their experiences to that of a character from a text they have read. This unit ends with a formal reading transfer task.
Unit 2: Tales of Mystery and Sleuthing: Unlocking Mysteries in Narrative Text
In this unit, students will investigate and discern patterns of reasoning, deduction, and inferring in mystery narratives. They will reflect upon the continuing appeal of the mystery genre—especially why many of us love the intrigue and tension in a mystery story. Ideally, their exploration of the work of amateur and professional detectives will enhance their own skills in deductive and inductive reasoning. As they respond to a range of mystery tales, students will express and support opinions, predictions and connections using text-based evidence. Text-based elements of narration should include plot structure, characterization, setting, atmosphere, conflict, and thematic development. Core texts include Blue Balliet’s novels Chasing Vermeer and The Wright 3.