Grade 9 ELA: Short Stories Unit

Sept. 28, 2012

Number of Lessons: 10
Class time: 60 minutes
Number of Students: 27
Unit Overview:
Upon successful completion, students will be familiar with a variety of short story forms
and the corresponding elements contained in each. They will have encountered texts ranging in
length, theme, and complexity, and will be able to correctly identify the seven different facets of
fiction (plot, setting, conflict, character, style, point of view and theme). They will then be able to
apply this knowledge in the form of a final project in which students create their own short story
for summative assessment.


Pre-Unit Considerations
Explain that the mini-assignments students will be doing throughout the lessons are
designed to prepare students for the final assignment, since each assignment requires the
students to design specific elements for their own short story.
o Explain that though these assignments are not for marks, they are designed to help
you with the final project, which will be summatively assessed. If the students hand
these formative assignments in, I will provide them with both numerical and
descriptive feedback (though the marks will not be included in their summative
assessment)
Arrange students into partners (3 sets/person) and groups (3 sets/person) using letters.
Students will use these groups for discussion and assignments throughout the unit.
o Eg. Before doing group discussion, I will ask students to get together with their C
group (consisting of 4-5 different students).
Explain that students will require a response journal within which they will be doing small
question sets and assignments throughout the unit (having all unit-related materials in
one place will keep their work organized).
o If a student, at any time during the course, would rather discuss the journal
questions with me, individually, instead of recording them in their journal,
arrangements can certainly be made.
o Journal entries will not only be graded for content, but for paragraph organization
as well

Unit Breakdown: 9 Lessons, 900 minutes total (18 classes/3.5 weeks)
Lesson 1: Overview of the 7 Elements of Short Stories/Fiction
1.75 classes (90 minutes)
Lesson 2: Conflict Study
1 class (50 minutes)
Lesson 3: Plot Study
2 classes (100 minutes)

Lesson 4: Setting Study
1.75 classes (80 minutes)
Lesson 5: Character Study
1.75 classes (85 minutes)
Lesson 6: Style Study
1.5 classes (70 minutes)
Lesson 7: Point-of-View Study
2 classes (82 minutes)
Lesson 8: Theme Study
2 classes (100 minutes)
Lesson 9: Create-Your-Own Short Story
5 classes (250 minutes)

Unit Outcomes (Curriculum & Practical)
Curriculum Outcomes:
1. General Learning Outcome # 1: Explore thoughts, ideas, feelings, and experiences
1.1.2: Consider Others Ideas
1.1.3: Experiment with Language Forms
2. General Learning Outcome #2: Comprehend and respond personally and critically to oral,
print, and other media texts
2.1.2: Comprehension Strategies
2.2.1: Experience Various Texts
2.2.3: Appreciate the Artistry of Texts
2.3.4: Experiment with Language
2.3.5: Create Original Texts
3. General Learning Outcome #3: Manage ideas and information
3.1.4: Create and Follow a Plan
3.3.2: Record Information
4. General learning Outcome #4: Enhance the clarity and artistry of communication
4.1.1: Generate Ideas
4.3.1: Grammar and Usage
4.3.3: Capitalization and Punctuation
4.2.1: Appraise Own and Others Work
4.2.2: Revise Content
5. General Learning Outcome #5: Celebrate and Build Community
5.1.2: Work in Groups
5.2.1: Share and Compare Responses




Differentiated Instruction Option: For this unit, I have chosen 8 very different short
stories that deal with a variety of cultures and themes, and would be appealing to a variety
of student interests.

Differentiated Instruction Option: The general setup of this unit is designed to appeal to
the logical/mathematical intelligence (sequence, pattern, connections, repetition), while
still including a variety of different activities to appeal to the other, more abstract and
creative intelligences as well.


Rational Outcomes:
Students will experience a gradual gain in individual responsibility, the culmination of
which will result in the successful completion of an independent project
Students will develop and articulate their thoughts and ideas on a variety of different
topics, in a well-organized manner
Students will be able to work effectively in groups
Students will develop an understanding of the 7 elements of fiction
Students will experience a variety of themes (both moral and cultural)
Students will be able to manipulate and integrate the 7 elements of fiction in a manner
that allows them to create their own short story

Unit Assessment Forms
Formative Assessment:
o Journal Response Questions (dealing with each short story)
o Create-Your-Own worksheets (dealing with the 7 elements of fiction)
Designed to prepare students for final project
Summative Assessment:
o Group Participation (ongoing)
Worth 10% of unit grade
*Note: Each student will finish the unit with the full 10% unless they should
not participate or participate disruptively in their group/partnership.
Should this occur, a 1% deduction will result
o Journal Response Activities (at the end of 5/9 lessons)
Worth 30% of unit grade
o Create-Your-Own Short Story (at the end of the unit)
Worth 40% of unit grade
o Create-Your-Own Movie Group Project (at the end of the unit)
Worth 30% of unit grade