Product Description Students will get the opportunity to be lawyers and prosecute or defend an accused person in a criminal trial (11 total). Each group will consist of 2 lawyers (prosecuting and defending), and an accused person. The teacher will act as the judge and guide the jury as they vote on the verdict. The majority vote determines the verdict. This unit includes court brief handouts, directions, and PowerPoint explaining how the cases will proceed. Visit my store for much more helpful and free stuff! Standards: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1 Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1.A Introduce claim(s), acknowledge and distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and organize the reasons and evidence logically. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1.B Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant evidence, using accurate, credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1.C Use words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1.D Establish and maintain a formal style. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1.E Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented. This lesson is student-centered meaning: –it allows you to become a facilitator –happier teachers –happier students –happier administrators

This 25-question multiple-choice reading test/quiz has questions from different levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy (revised) along with one optional essay question with lined paper to familiarize students with the format of standardized testing. It will test students’ literal and interpretive understanding of the story, characterization, point of view, making inferences, and literary devices. Questions are modeled after standardized tests (SAT, ACT, and state tests). Includes link to free file of the text. Answer key included. Feedback is always welcomed and appreciated! Standards: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.7.1 Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.1 Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.10 Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently. This lesson is student-centered meaning: –it allows you to become a facilitator –happier teachers –happier students –happier administrators

Working with young people who claimed to "hate reading" or that books are "boring" inspired me to write this book. I want to help spark a love of reading for your students. There are YouTube links to the clean hip-hop songs written by the protagonist in this novel. It is designed to be interactive for the students especially those who like hip-hop and rap music. How far would you go to make your dream come true? Troy Jones is a 16-yr-old high school student with the dream of becoming a successful rapper. He doesn’t want fame; he wants to help his mother who works three jobs to support her family after Troy’s father was killed as a bystander in a tragic drive-by. Having problems in school, Troy tries to get I.S.S. as often as he can so he can work on his rap lyrics. Mrs. Hass, his science teacher hates rap & hip-hop music and constantly gives Troy a hard time. On the other hand Troy’s English teacher, Mr. Salas, is a beacon of hope and inspiration to the young, aspiring rapper. Mr. Salas provides him with the tools to improve his craft of writing hip hop lyrics. When Troy’s best friend Jimmy moves to another school, Troy’s opportunity to perform in rap battles arrives. Being a nobody, he has nothing to lose and everything to gain. He dubs himself a mix “between a G and a nerd”. Along the way, he meets a love interest, suffers a big loss, meets his idol rapper and an ex-con, gets his music equipment stolen, and has doubts about his rapping ability. He knows that he does not only want to succeed; he needs to succeed.