SUGGESTED TIME:
50 minutes
RELATED SUBJECT:
English Language Arts
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Conduct a short research project on a topic of interest from either One Thousand and One Arabian Nights or The Travels of Ibn Battuta
- Locate three sources on the chosen topic
- Write an informative text that examines the topic and conveys ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
- Prohuman Grade 7 Unit 8 Worksheet 3: Writing an Informative Text
ELA COMMON CORE STANDARDS MET
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.2.A
Introduce a topic clearly, previewing what is to follow; organize ideas, concepts, and information, using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.2.B
Develop the topic with relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.2.C
Use appropriate transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.2.D
Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.2.E
Establish and maintain a formal style.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.2.F
Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented.
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
Conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions for further research and investigation.
Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, using search terms effectively; assess the credibility and accuracy of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation.
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
CHARACTER AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL (CSED) NATIONAL STANDARDS MET
Intellectual Character A3
Recognize and understand why the intellectual character strengths are not innate (something you are born with) but can be developed with practice and support
Intellectual Character A5
Understand the difference between facts and opinions (or feelings)
LESSON PROCEDURE
-
Explain that students will write an informative text about one of the two
texts we read earlier in this unit:
Thousand and One Arabian Nights
or
The Travels of Ibn Battuta . Students may choose either:
-
Option 1: Choose their favorite story from
One Thousand and One Arabian Nights . Conduct research to learn more about the story such as what scholars
know about the history of the story, the moral of the story, the
translation history of the story, or any other aspect they find
interesting.
-
Option 2: Choose what they find to be the most interesting place that
Ibn Battuta visited, as documented in
Travels of Ibn Battuta . Conduct research to learn more about that place and write an
informative essay that discusses three aspects of that place which could
include the history, culture, language, religion, geography, art,
literature, or any other aspect they find interesting.
- Find and read at least three different articles about the topic.
-
Each student’s informative text will be shared with three classmates for
peer review.
-
Your informative text will be shared with three classmates for peer review.
-
Informative texts will be graded on the following criteria:
-
Meets the length requirement of at least 2-3 pages.
-
Includes at least 3 sources with a list of sources at the end.
-
Examines a topic and conveys ideas, concepts, and information through
the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.
-
Introduces a topic clearly, previewing what is to follow.
-
Organizes ideas, concepts, and information, using strategies such as
definition, classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect.
-
Includes formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables),
and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.
-
Develops the topic with relevant facts, definitions, concrete details,
quotations, or other information and examples.
-
Uses appropriate transitions to create cohesion and clarify the
relationships among ideas and concepts.
-
Uses precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or
explain the topic.
- Establishes and maintains a formal style.
- Provides a concluding statement or section.
-
Demonstrates command of the conventions of standard English grammar,
usage, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.
GRADE 7 UNIT 4 WORKSHEET 3: WRITING AN INFORMATIVE TEXT ABOUT CURIOSITY
Write an informative text about one of the two texts we read earlier in this unit: One Thousand and One Arabian Nights or The Travels of Ibn Battuta. You may choose either:
Option 1: Choose your favorite story from One Thousand and One Arabian
Nights. Conduct research to learn more about the story such as what scholars know about the history of the story, the moral of the story, the translation history of the story, or any other aspect you find interesting.
Option 2: Choose what you find to be the most interesting place that Ibn
Battuta visited, as documented in The Travels of Ibn Battuta. Conduct research to learn more about that place and write an informative essay that discusses three aspects of that place which could include the history, culture, language, religion, geography, art, literature, or any other aspect you find interesting.
- Find and read at least three different articles about the topic.
-
Each student’s informative text will be shared with three classmates for
peer review.
-
Your informative text will be shared with three classmates for peer review.
-
Informative texts will be graded on the following criteria:
-
Meets the length requirement of at least 2-3 pages.
-
Includes at least 3 sources with a list of sources at the end.
-
Examines a topic and conveys ideas, concepts, and information through
the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.
-
Introduces a topic clearly, previewing what is to follow.
-
Organizes ideas, concepts, and information, using strategies such as
definition, classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect.
-
Includes formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables),
and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.
-
Develops the topic with relevant facts, definitions, concrete details,
quotations, or other information and examples.
-
Uses appropriate transitions to create cohesion and clarify the
relationships among ideas and concepts.
-
Uses precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or
explain the topic.
- Establishes and maintains a formal style.
- Provides a concluding statement or section.
-
Demonstrates command of the conventions of standard English grammar,
usage, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.
