March 10-20 Non Fiction Unit
Unit Overview
Students will read a variety of non-fiction texts to evaluate the structure of writing used by the author including how they use evidence to support their theories and analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone. By the end of this unit, 8th‑grade students will be able to analyze and evaluate two nonfiction texts on the same unsolved mystery, producing a coherent five‑paragraph evidence‑based essay that compares how each author's structural choices and tone shape the reader’s understanding.
Section 1
Students will read nonfiction texts about mysterious disappearances throughout history in order to analyze the author's use of structure and how it impacts the readers understanding. The students will consider how the structure communicates the author’s point of view and any biases that may exist based on structure and word choice.
Section Diagnostic- Writing and Cold Read
Write 3 paragraphs to address the following prompt:
Choose two of the articles about mysterious disappearances that we have read and analyzed in this section. Write and essay analyzing how the authors structure their writing in order to make their article more compelling. Explain which disappearance is presented most convincingly by the author. Provide reasoning and evidence that strongly support your claim.