UNIT PLAN
Grade Level:
Unit #:
Unit Name
5
3
Understanding and Using Literary Non-Fiction
Big Idea/Theme: Literary non-fiction is based on truth but written in a literary
style.
Culminating Assessment:
Choose a short biographical sketch from Social Studies book, inventors
from the Industrial Revolution unit, World War II figures, Civil Rights
leaders, etc.
Student should choose one event from this person’s life to write a short
reader’s theatre. (Example: Alexander Graham-Bell and the day he
talked to Mr. Watson on the phone for the first time; Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the days he spent writing his “I Have A Dream Speech.”)
Unit Understanding(s)
Students will understand that…
Literary non-fiction is used to gain
information.
Personal essays, autobiographical
and biographical sketches, and
speeches are types of literary nonfiction and have unique
characteristics..
Literary non-fiction is written in a
different style than informational
text.
Literary non-fiction is influenced by
the author’s style.
Readers use comprehension
strategies to understand meaning of
texts.
Literary non-fiction texts are found
in a variety of genres each with its
own characteristics.
Unit Essential Question(s):
How is literary non-fiction used to
gain information?
What are the different types of
literary nonfiction?
What characteristics distinguish
each type of literary nonfiction?
How is literary nonfiction different
from informational text?
How is literary non-fiction influenced
by author’s style?
How do you use comprehension
strategies to understand meaning of
texts?
What are the characteristics of
literary non-fiction?
(The focus should not be so much
on identifying and characteristics of
each type of Literary Non-fiction,
but on students being able to read
Literary NF to gain information and
use the comprehension strategies
detailed in the indicators in
Standard 5-1.)
Students will know… / Students will be able to…
Analyze literary non-fiction texts to draw conclusions and make
inferences.
Analyze the details that support the expression of the main idea in a given
literary text.
Predict events in literary texts on the basis of cause-and-effect
relationships.
Analyze works of literary non-fiction by characteristics.
South Carolina Academic Standards:
5-1.1
Analyze literary texts to draw conclusions and make inferences.
5-1.6
Analyze the details that support the expression of the main idea in
a given literary text.
5-1.7
Create responses to literary texts through a variety of methods (for
example, writing, creative dramatics, and the visual and performing
arts).
5-1.8
Analyze works of fiction (including legends and myths) and works of
nonfiction (including speeches and personal essays) by
characteristics.
5-1.10
Predict events in literary texts on the basis of cause-and-effect
relationships.
5-1.11
Read independently for extended periods of time for pleasure.
Interim Assessment (formative)
100 BC Conferences
Class discussion
Classwork
Cold Read Tests
Homework
Exit slips
Journal entries
Parking Lot
Quizzes
Teacher observation
Think-Pair-Share
Vocabulary
Argument
Author’s bias
Biography
Non-print sources
Unsupported opinions
Key Criteria (to meet the standard/rubric)
Rubric
**Note to teachers
For a sample reader’s theatre:
Go to “O” drive
Language Arts- 5th grade
“Behind the Carnegie Steel Company”
Can use to model what a reader’s theatre looks like and one that follows the
rubric/checklist
*This is a way to integrate social studies standards*
For sample rubrics and a checklist:
Go to “O” drive
Language Arts- 5th grade
*Additional “timeline” lesson on the “O” drive