UNIT 2 (Finding Your Beat: Writing a Feature Article)

UNIT 2, Day 1: Wed. March 8th

In Class

Homework

  • Choose a TOPIC for Project 2. Check to see if Prof. C approved the topic! 
  • Use the Project 2: Brainstorming handout to do a free write on your topic. Write a 100-250 word free write on your topic. You do not have to do any research, just write what comes to mind! Here are the two questions you should use to drive your writing: What do you know about the topic? What would you like to learn about the topic?

 

UNIT 2, Day 2: Mon. March 13th

In Class

  • PowerPoint
  • Finalize Project 2 Topic Choice: “Your Beat”
  • Develop create a KWL chart on our topics
  • Discuss the genre of a feature article

Homework

  • Read “How coronavirus stress may scramble our brains” by Laura Sanders
    • What did you think of the piece? Be honest! Did you find any parts interesting? Did you learn something new?
    • Who do you think is the intended audience of the piece? Who is meant to read this text?
    • What do you think is the purpose of this text? Why do you think the author wrote it?
    • How do you know that this is an example of a feature article? Be specific! 
    • What did you notice about how the author wrote this piece? Maybe the tone (formal, informal, humorous, casual, etc), or the use of ethos (statistics and facts) or the use of pathos (emotion) or the use of logos (logic)?
    • What stands out to you– what do you like/ dislike about this writer’s style?  What are you confused by? What do you want to know more about? Pay special attention to how this author uses research (outside facts, statistics, history, news, interviews) etc in their writing.
    • What did you learn from reading this feature article? How did this author use research? How do they use personal experience? Did the author tell any stories?  

 

UNIT 2, Day 3: Wed. March 15th

In Class

 

Homework

  • Read “Why I’m Behind the Athletes’ Bill of Rights” by Senator Cory Booker. 
    • What did you think of the piece? Be honest! Did you find any parts interesting? Did you learn something new?
    • Who do you think is the intended audience of the piece? Who is meant to read this text?
    • What do you think is the purpose of this text? Why do you think the author wrote it?
    • How do you know that this is an example of a feature article? Be specific! 
    • What did you notice about how the author wrote this piece? Maybe the tone (formal, informal, humorous, casual, etc), or the use of ethos (statistics and facts) or the use of pathos (emotion) or the use of logos (logic)?
    • What stands out to you– what do you like/ dislike about this writer’s style?  What are you confused by? What do you want to know more about? Pay special attention to how this author uses research (outside facts, statistics, history, news, interviews) etc in their writing.
    • What did you learn from reading this feature article? How did this author use research? How do they use personal experience? Did the author tell any stories?  

 

UNIT 2, Day 4: Mon. March 20th

In Class

Homework

  • Find 2 additional sources for your project. 
  • Complete the Project 2: Step 2 Handout. Focus on: 
    • The title and author of your source
    • The genre of your sources (be VERY specific) 
    • The proper MLA citation of your source
    • The reason you think this source might be helpful. 

 

UNIT 2, Day 5: Wed. March 22nd

In Class

  • PowerPoint
  • Discuss how to analyze and evaluate your 3 sources and practice with model text
  • Discuss how to prepare brief oral/ written Presentation of your research for Monday

Homework

  • Prepare a short oral presentation on one of the sources you found and share it with the class. The focus should be on the Rhetorical Situation (audience, purpose), how the author presents the information, and a brief summary of the piece. Explain why you chose the piece and what the information teaches you about your topic.

 

UNIT 2, Day 6: Mon. March 27

In Class

  • PowerPoint
  • Share / Present Research with the class 
  • Annotate sources looking for key information

Homework

  • Read “Using Sources Ethically” by Marcia Muth and write a response to the questions below: 
    • Choose one to two pieces of information that you found interesting or learned from reading this piece? Why was it interesting? Explain!
    • How can you use what you learned to help as you begin to write your articles?

 

UNIT 2, Day 7: Mon. March 29th

In Class

Homework

UNIT 2, Day 8: Mon. April 3rd. 

In Class

  • PowerPoint
  • Discuss elements of a “Nut Graf” paragraph 
  • Discuss elements of Intro paragraph
  • Begin to draft feature article 

Homework

  • Using your mentor article as a guide, begin to draft your article. Make sure you have a Nut Graf paragraph and an Intro paragraph.
  • Using your mentor article as a guide, continue to draft your article. 

 

**SPRING BREAK**

 

UNIT 2: Day 9: Mon. April 17th

In Class

 

Homework

  • Draft Due April 24th || Final Due May 1st 

UNIT 2, Day 10: Wed. April 19th

In Class

  • Citing Sources
  • Add the fieldwork and the body paragraphs to the drafts of your feature articles. 
  • Make sure that your feature articles have the genre elements of a feature article

 

Homework

  • Using your mentor article as a guide, complete your draft of your feature article. Due Monday, April 24th 

 

UNIT 2, Day 11: Mon. April 24th

In Class

  • PowerPoint
  • Revising with a focus on organization (headings, subheadings, titles) and editing for grammar and conventions using the Proj 2 checklist 
  • Adding a Cover Page
  • KWL Peer Review
  • Writing Your Unit 2 Reflection! 

Homework

  • Final Project 2 Due, Monday, May 1st
  • Final Unit 1 Reflection due Monday, May 1st