End of Unit 2 Assessment, Part I: Write a Literary Argument Essay (Lessons 13-14) | EL Education Curriculum

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ELA 2019 G7:M3:U2:L13

End of Unit 2 Assessment, Part I: Write a Literary Argument Essay (Lessons 13-14)

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Focus Standards: These are the standards the instruction addresses.

  • W.7.1, W.7.6, W.7.9a

Supporting Standards: These are the standards that are incidental—no direct instruction in this lesson, but practice of these standards occurs as a result of addressing the focus standards.

  • RL.7.1, RL.7.2, W.7.4, W.7.10, L.7.1, L.7.2, L.7.6

Daily Learning Targets

  • I can plan and write an argument essay about three Harlem Renaissance works that most powerfully illustrate the theme of the power of dreams. (W.7.1)

Ongoing Assessment

  • Opening A: Entrance Ticket: Unit 2, Lessons 13-14
  • Work Time A: Argument Essay Writing Plan graphic organizer (W.7.1, W.7.4, W.7.10)
  • Work Time A: End of Unit 2 Assessment: Write a Literary Argument Essay (W.7.1, W.7.6, W.7.9a, W.7.10)

Agenda

AgendaTeaching Notes

1. Opening

A. Engage the Learner (5 minutes)

2. Work Time

A. End of Unit 2 Assessment, Part I: Write a Literary Argument Essay (75 minutes)

3. Closing and Assessment

A. Track Progress - W.7.1 (10 minutes)

4. Homework

A. Choose Sentence Types in Pair Conclusion Paragraph: Students choose among different types of sentences in Homework: Choose Sentence Types: Pair Conclusion Paragraph to review and revise the third Proof Paragraph of their pair essay.

B. Independent Research Reading: Students read for at least 20 minutes in their independent research reading text. Then they select a prompt and write a response in their independent reading journal.

Alignment to Assessment Standards and Purpose of Lesson

  • W.7.1 – Closing and Assessment A: Students track their progress on their abilities to write a literary argument, especially their ability to include evidence to support their points and write a conclusion that follows from the rest of their essay.
  • In Work Time A, students independently write a literary argument essay for Part I of their End of Unit 2 Assessment, being sure to clearly introduce and support their claim with well-organized reasons and relevant evidence. Students also use transitional words and phrases to clarify relationships between ideas, maintain a formal style, and provide a conclusion that follows from the rest of the essay. (W.7.1, W.7.6, W.7.9a, W.7.10)
  • Two lessons have been allocated for this assessment to ensure sufficient time for students to write an argument essay. If these are taught in two separate lessons rather than together as one block, revisit the learning targets and the task at the beginning of the second 45-minute lesson to remind students of the task and purpose.
  • In this lesson, students focus on becoming effective learners and ethical people by practicing integrity and perseverance as they independently write an essay for the end of unit assessment. They will also practice taking responsibility as they track their progress on writing skills.

Opportunities to Extend Learning

  • Encourage students who finish the assessment early to begin tracking their progress and revising or adding to their essays to meet their argument writing goals.
  • Invite students to trade assessments with a peer who also finished early, and assess their peer’s essay using the checklist, providing stars and steps.
  • Invite students to read their essays aloud, noticing places where further editing and revisions are needed.

How It Builds on Previous Work

  • In Unit 2, students have been closely examining how theme connects literary texts. This work prepares students for this end of unit assessment, in which they curate a Harlem Renaissance exhibit, choosing three works that most powerfully illustrate a theme. Next, they write an argument essay defending their claim about why these works powerfully illustrate a theme. Over the past several lessons, students worked in pairs to refine the skills related to writing an argument essay, so they are prepared to independently write the essay in this lesson.

Support All Students

  • Note that there is a differentiated version of the Argument Essay Writing Plan Graphic Organizer used in Work Time A in the separate Teacher's Guide for English Language Learners. ▲
  • If students receive accommodations for assessments, communicate with the cooperating service providers regarding the practices of instruction in use during this study as well as the goals of the assessment.
  • Some students may require more than the time allotted to complete the assessment.
  • Continue to monitor students to determine if issues surface from the content of this lesson that need to be discussed as a whole group, in smaller groups, or individually.

Assessment Guidance

  • Assessment materials (student copy, annotated student exemplar, teacher rubric) are included in the Assessment Overview and Resources.
  • When assessing and providing feedback to students on this assessment, use the Argument Writing Rubric and the annotated sample essay to help complete the student Tracking Progress recording form. (see Tools Page) Make notes in the appropriate column for each criterion in a different color from student responses. Respond to student comments in the space provided.
  • In this assessment, students are tracking progress toward the following anchor standard:
    • W.1: By the end of Grade 12 I will be able to: Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.

Down the Road

  • In the next lesson, students will engage in critiques of each other’s essays, focusing on using different types of phrases, clauses, and sentences to elaborate on or explain their evidence. Students will have an opportunity to incorporate their peers’ feedback.

In Advance

  • Ensure there is a copy of Entrance Ticket: Unit 2, Lessons 13-14 at each student's workspace.
  • Post the learning targets and applicable anchor charts (see Materials list).

Tech and Multimedia

  • Continue to use the technology tools recommended throughout previous modules to create anchor charts to share with families; to record students as they participate in discussions and protocols to review with students later and to share with families; and for students to listen to and annotate text, record ideas on note-catchers, and word-process writing.

Supporting English Language Learners

Supports guided in part by CA ELD Standards 7.I.A.1, 7.I.B.5, 7.I.B.7, 7.I.B.8, 7.I.C.11, 7.I.C.12, 7.II.A.1, 7.II.A.2, 7.II.B.3, 7.II.B.4, 7.II.C.6, and 7.II.C.7.

Important Points in the Lesson Itself

  • To support ELLs, the assessment in this lesson consists of writing an essay, using the same graphic organizer and process that students used throughout the unit. This gradual release supports students in independently completing the task successfully.
  • ELLs may find it challenging to plan and write an essay independently. In addition to the supports below, consider whether some students might benefit from a shorter assignment, writing a paragraph or a shorter essay. Beginning ELLs can apply the same introduction, proof, and conclusion structure to a paragraph response. Doing so will allow them to demonstrate their writing and analysis skills while making the task achievable.

Vocabulary

  • N/A

Materials from Previous Lessons

Teacher

Student

  • Criteria of an Effective Argument Essay anchor chart (one for display; from Module 3, Unit 2, Lesson 8, Work Time A)
  • Work to Become Effective Learners anchor chart (one for display; from Module 1, Unit 1, Lesson 5, Work Time A)
  • Work to Become Ethical People anchor chart (one for display; from Module 1, Unit 1, Lesson 2, Opening B)
  • Academic word wall (one for display; from Module 1, Unit 1, Lesson 1, Opening A)
  • Domain-specific word wall (one for display; from Module 1, Unit 1, Lesson 1, Work Time B)
  • Mid-Unit 2 Assessment: Analyze "The Boy and the Bayonet," Part III (returned with feedback; one per student; from Lessons 6-7)
  • Argument Writing checklist (one per student; from Module 3, Unit 2, Lesson 9, Closing and Assessment A)
  • Note-catchers from Module 3, Units 1 and 2 (one per student; from throughout Module 3)
  • Texts and Artwork from Module 3, Units 1 and 2: Shuffle Along, "Lift Every Voice and Sing," "Calling Dreams," "Hope," "I Shall Return," Ethiopia Awakening, African Phantasy: Awakening, "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," "His Motto," and "The Boy and the Bayonet"
  • Track Progress folders (one per student; from Module 1)
  • Independent reading journal (one per student; begun in Module 1, Unit 1, Lesson 6, Work Time B)

New Materials

Teacher

Student

  • End of Unit 2 Assessment, Part I: Write a Literary Argument Essay (example for teacher reference) (see Assessment Overview and Resources)

  • Entrance Ticket: Unit 2, Lessons 13–14 (one per student)
  • End of Unit 2 Assessment, Part I: Write a Literary Argument Essay (one per student; see Assessment Overview and Resources)
  • Argument Essay Writing Plan graphic organizer (one per student and one for display)
  • Argument Essay Writing Plan graphic organizer ▲
  • Track Progress: Argument Writing (one per student)
  • Sticky notes (three per student)
  • Homework: Choose Sentence Types: Pair Conclusion Paragraph (one per student; see Homework Resources)

Assessment

Each unit in the 6-8 Language Arts Curriculum has two standards-based assessments built in, one mid-unit assessment and one end of unit assessment. The module concludes with a performance task at the end of Unit 3 to synthesize students' understanding of what they accomplished through supported, standards-based writing.

Opening

Opening

A. Engage the Learner (5 minutes)

  • Return students' Mid-Unit 2 Assessments with feedback.
  • Repeated routine: Students respond to questions on Entrance Ticket Unit 2, Lessons 13-14 about the feedback on their Mid-Unit 2 Assessments.
  • Repeated routine: Follow the same routine as with the previous lessons to review learning targets and the purpose of the lesson, reminding students of any learning targets that are similar or the same as in previous lessons.

Work Time

Work TimeLevels of Support

A. End of Unit 2 Assessment, Part I: Write a Literary Argument Essay (75 minutes)

  • Review appropriate learning target:

“I can plan and write an argument essay about three Harlem Renaissance works that most powerfully illustrate the theme of the power of dreams.”

  • Invite students to retrieve the following materials:
    • Argument Writing checklist
    • Note-catchers from Module 3, Units 1 and 2
    • The texts and artwork from Units 1 and 2: Shuffle Along, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” “Calling Dreams,” “Hope,” “I Shall Return,” Ethiopia Awakening, African Phantasy: Awakening, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” “His Motto,” and “The Boy and the Bayonet”
  • Remind students that in this lesson they will complete their end of unit assessment by independently writing a complete argument essay to a new prompt about the Harlem Renaissance, and they will revise the essay further in Lessons 15–16.
  • Distribute a new blank copy of the Argument Essay Writing Plan graphic organizer and the Argument Essay Writing Plan graphic organizer ▲ to each student as necessary. The differentiated organizer supports students’ writing with sentence frames and simplified questions. ▲ Explain that students may use this graphic organizer or one they create themselves to plan the essay. The planner will not be scored; only the essay will be assessed.
  • Distribute the End of Unit 2 Assessment, Part I: Write a Literary Argument Essay.
  • Read the prompt aloud as students follow along, reading silently. Answer clarifying questions.
  • Remind students that because this is an assessment, they should complete it independently in silence. Focus students on the Work to Become Effective Learners and Ethical People anchor charts and review perseverance and integrity as necessary. Remind students that in writing independently for the assessment, they will practice perseverance and integrity.
  • Remind students that they worked in pairs to practice writing an argument essay in previous lessons.
  • Direct students to begin the assessment.
  • Circulate to monitor and document their test-taking skills and to ensure that students are on task and using the correct resources.
  • Repeated routine: Encourage students to reflect on their progress toward the relevant learning target and how well they practiced perseverance and integrity in this assessment.

For Lighter Support

  • Before Work Time A, encourage students to join with a classmate who needs heavier support to review their new note-catchers from the previous lesson’s homework. Doing so will ensure that they and their classmates have a firm grasp of the content for their essay.
  • Before the end of unit assessment in Work Time A, challenge students to underline key vocabulary in the assessment directions and prompt as they are read aloud together as a class. Also, invite students to restate or clarify information for their classmates who need heavier support. These supports ensure that students understand each task included in the assessment.

For Heavier Support

  • Before Work Time A, encourage students to join with a classmate who needs lighter support to review their new note-catchers from the previous lesson’s homework. Doing so will ensure that they have a firm grasp of the content for their essay.
  • During Work Time A, invite students to use the Argument Writing Plan graphic organizer . The sentence starters and rephrased questions in this resource support students in planning their essay.
  • In Work Time A, read the directions for the assessment slowly, twice, and also post them. This ensures that ELLs who may not be able to easily follow the language of the directions have multiple opportunities to access them.
  • Display a “map” of the assessment to reference while explaining directions to the mid-unit assessment. This will reduce ambiguity and give students a clearer picture of what they can expect so that they can better allocate their time and attentional resources. Provide students with colored pencils or highlighters so that they can mark up the map as needed. Example:

    Part I: 

1. Write an essay in response to the prompt with 

a. an introduction paragraph (with a focus statement that tells the main claim or opinion),

b. three Proof Paragraphs (with evidence—one for each work or text), and

c. a conclusion paragraph (with a restatement of the focus and a reflection) 

2. Use the Argument Writing checklist to reread the essay to check that it says what you want it to say and there aren’t any errors in punctuation, spelling, or grammar.

Closing & Assessments

Closing

A. Track Progress - W.7.1 (10 minutes)

  • Give students specific, positive feedback on their completion of Part I of the End of Unit 2 Assessment: "I saw you persevering to find the best evidence to complete the whole essay. I saw you using integrity as you did your work and focused on doing your best."
  • Distribute Track Progress folders, Track Progress: Argument Writing, and sticky notes.
  • Tell students the sticky notes are for them to find evidence of the following criteria:
    • W.7.1b
    • W.7.1e
  • Guide students through completing the recording form.

Homework

Homework

A. Choose Sentence Types in Pair Conclusion Paragraph

  • Students choose among different types of sentences in Homework: Choose Sentence Types: Pair Conclusion Paragraph to review and revise the third Proof Paragraph of their pair essay.

B. Independent Research Reading

  • Students read for at least 20 minutes in their independent research reading text. Then they select a prompt and write a response in their independent reading journal.

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