English 12 - EOP
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Unit 1: Introduction to the Short Story
This unit is intended to continue the students' experience of the short story form. They will
encounter a wider variety of styles and themes. In addition, relevant literary terms and devices will
be introduced and/or reviewed.
In this unit you will be reading seven short stories. The stories are of different genres or styles
and concentrate on different things. Each short story has the following components:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
Notes
Focus
Vocabulary
The Story
Responding to the Selection Questions
Analyzing Literature and Critical Thinking and Reading
Activities
At the end of this unit you will be expected to
write a Unit Test and
complete an extended piece of writing.
At the beginning of each story there is a section called Guide For Reading that provides essential
information about the author and the selection. This is divided into four parts:
1) About the Author, which is in the blue sidebar,
2) Information about a specific literary term or technique, (eg. Plot, Suspense and
Foreshadowing),
3) Focus, which provides insight into the theme of the story and prompts you with questions
that will help you make a personal connection to the story, and
4) Vocabulary, which defines and shows the pronunciation key for any words in the story that
you may not be familiar with.
Notes
You are expected to read all four sections and make notes on the first two. In About the Author
make note of any suggestions as to the author’s intention. Take notes on the literary term or
technique. Do not copy the material. You will be marked on the thoroughness and relevance of
your notes and your ability to paraphrase and summarize. You can use point form, draw diagrams,
etc. The key is for you to take the paragraph of information and transform it so it makes sense to
you and provides a quick reference to the term/technique.
Focus
The Focus activity raises a central theme from the selection and connects the theme to your life.
This is the section where you will express yourself in writing about your own experiences or feelings
as they relate to each story. Use the questions that are given to help guide you. Do not just
answer the questions. Each journal entry should be a minimum of ½ of a typed page, in a size 10 or
English 12 - EOP
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12 font, although you are welcome to write more if you would like. Your work will be evaluated using
the impromptu writing standards.
Vocabulary
Before your read, consult the words in the Vocabulary section. This will prepare you for the words
in the story that you may be less familiar with. As you read the story, you will notice that there are
also words defined at the bottom of some pages.
The Story
Read the story carefully, re-reading it if necessary. On page 2 of your text there is an explanation
of Reading Actively. There is also an example of how a particular student used this process when
she read Games at Twilight, the first story you will read in this unit. You are expected to actively
read all of your stories. That means you will Question, Visualize, Predict, Connect, and Respond to
them.
Responding to the Selection
There will be questions to answer at the end of each story. The questions are organized into four
sections, three of which you will answer:
1) Your Response requires you to put yourself into the story.
2) Interpreting requires you to make interpretations or critical evaluations based on the facts.
3) Applying requires you to make generalizations about the meaning, significance, or value of
the selection.
Answer each question in complete sentences. Some of the questions have multiple parts, so it is
important to read the question carefully and answer all of the parts. Your responses to these
questions will be evaluated using the Reading Comprehension Standards.
Analyzing Literature and Critical Thinking and Reading
These sections cover literary terminology and techniques. The activity begins with a term and its
definition followed by a number of questions. There are usually multiple parts to this section, and it
is important to answer each part. Answer the question in complete sentences. Additional
information about the term can be found in the Handbook of Literary Terms at the back of the
book. Your responses to these questions will be evaluated using the Reading Comprehension
Standards.
Activities
This section will include additional assignments from the textbook and/or worksheets, and writing
assignments.
Test
At the end of Unit One is a unit test, which will assess your understanding of the concepts, rather
than your memory of any particular story you read. You will have to set up a time to write this test
with your instructor.