This listing is for a characterization activity entitled "Personality Profiles" in which students analyze character by creating various social media profiles. This mini-lesson is part of the Mega Characterization Bundle of over 15 characterization mini-lessons that get your students working with all literary devices and techniques. You can find it listed separately in our store. Bundle and save over $15.00! For this mini-lesson: "Personality Profiles" Task To create social media pages from the perspective of a literary character in order to explore character traits Objectives To develop criteria for analyzing character To assess comprehension of character development across a text To select appropriate academic vocabulary for literary analysis To support analysis with textual evidence To apply modern-day culture and technology to character analysis Common Core Standards R1, 3, 6, 11/ W1-4, 10-11/ SL 1, 4, 6/ L1-3 Instructions One of the best ways for students to get “into” a character’s mind is to envision how a character would use social media. This always captures students’ attention because they themselves use social media in their everyday lives. The activities that follow can be used either as simple activities or as more involved project presentations. Depending upon your school’s technology (and whether or not these social media sites are blocked), you might even be able to have students design real accounts for a character and then share them with the class. You could even give the following handouts to groups as brainstorming and planning tools to use in class to brainstorm ideas for creating social media pages outside of class. This is particularly useful for me because we do not have computers at my school for students to use, so I have them plan out their social media pages in class and then assign students to create the “real” pages outside of class. They then bring in “screen shots” of each page to share with their peers and submit for a grade (due to the fact that all social media sites are blocked at my school). However, if your school has computers and these sites are not blocked, groups could even present their social media to the class and explain the rationale behind their posts, photos, comments, etc. The following handouts include forms modeled after such social media sites as: Twitter Facebook Instagram While these handouts are not exact replicas of these social media sites, they do capture the essence of how they are laid out, and students will understand how to fill them out based upon their own use of social media. A reflection guide follows each social media activity that asks students to explain their rationales behind the character’s posts/ pics/ page.

These Beowulf journal prompts contain writing tasks for all three levels of writing. They are excellent to use as warm-up/ bell-ringer tasks at the beginning of class periods or as more developed writing assignments. They also lend themselves to small group and/or whole class discussions. This listing is included in my MEGA BEOWULF BUNDLE with 25 lessons and activities plus answer keys! You can find the ENTIRE BUNDLE in our store, sold separately.

This product contains 26 pages of items to support a unit on nonfiction, or informational texts. You will find graphic organizers to assess the three more common text structures: descriptive, cause/effect, and compare/contrast. These graphic organizers are accompanied by writing tasks that are great tools to use for beginning an essay analyzing a nonfiction text. You will also find question stems to use for your nonfiction unit that include questions about text features, text structures, and rhetorical devices & appeals. These question stems are excellent tools for targeting Common Core skills and for preparing for standardized tests. In addition, there are two graphic organizers for addressing the 5W's of a nonfiction text as well as comparing/contrasting nonfiction texts. Overall, this is an excellent resource to enrich your next nonfiction unit!

As English teachers, we ask our students to edit and revise their peers' essays. However, students do not always know how to give constructive feedback. It's important that students are able to give constructive feedback about targeted writing skills while also maintaining the dignity of the writer. This product contains a handout with five tips for writing effective comments during peer revision and coaches students on how to go about giving thoughtful, quality feedback on academic essays in a supportive and encouraging manner. Then, there are "Comment Cards" that are divided according to targeted writing skills that give students a menu of options for giving positive comments and constructive criticism. Students are given models for writing criticism in a way that gives student an editing and revision task instead of simply marking something as incorrect. Writing criticisms as actionable items gives students a clear direction for editing and revising the essay. The Comment Cards are clustered according to the following targeted writing skills: Thesis Statement Introduction Paragraph Conclusion Paragraph Topic/ Concluding Sentences Body Paragraphs Organization Grammar & Punctuation Style & Word Choice Credibility MLA Format Following Directions Evidence Commentary & Analysis Students are also allowed to add their own comments to these cards in order to give themselves a bank of high-quality comment options. The Comment Cards are presented in two formats. The first format presents the comments clustered with their "sister" skills such as evidence and commentary. Following these pairings, each individual targeted writing skill is printed on a page of its own. You can decide how you want to give them to students as part of your writing workshop. These comments can also be used by teachers to give students feedback when they turn in essays. They can be easily converted into a checklist to accompany the essay rubric.

In this set of debate activities by Bespoke ELA, students will participate in a series of debates in response to "yes/no" questions about Shakespeare's play Macbeth. There are 10 debate questions in all. Students will collect evidence to support both sides of the argument and then debate a side with their peers in order to practice constructing logical arguments supported by textual evidence. Each debate chart is followed by an argumentative writing assignment as a culmination of the class debate. The teacher page included gives some suggestions for how to run a debate in your classroom, and I have also included my Debate Guide & Rubric for scoring your students' participation. These debate activities are excellent starter activities for an essay on Macbeth. Use them to facilitate the writing process and/or have students create "oral argument" presentations in which they share their interpretations with the class.

This activity has students making connections between Shakespeare's play Macbeth and the real world through the topic of corruption. In this scavenger hunt activity, students are to locate three Real World Macbeth figures who became corrupt as a result of their ambition. Students are then to write paragraphs that explain their connections using textual evidence from the play and from nonfiction articles. Included in this product you will find: The Scavenger Hunt Assignment Page with Common Core Standards & Objectives Real World Macbeth Comparison Chart Scavenger Hunt Rubric This is an excellent way to connect literature to the real world while targeting Common Core Standards.

Product Description In this Thanksgiving activity by Bespoke ELA, students will study Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamations in order to assess the relationship between language and persuasion while targeting the Common Core. First, students will read an editorial from The New York Times in order to understand better the relationship between Abraham Lincoln and Thanksgiving. Then, they will analyze the rhetoric of Lincoln's two Thanksgiving Proclamations-- from 1863 and 1864. Thanksgiving became a national holiday as the result of the Civil War. While other presidents had called for a day of "thanksgiving," it was not nationalized as an American holiday until Lincoln saw the need to unite the nation as our country was being ravaged by war. The article from The New York Times also reveals how Thanksgiving had nothing to do with pilgrims and Indians but later became intertwined with the "Founders Day Celebration" of New England. Originally, Thanksgiving came from our leaders' desire to recognize progress in our country. This activity is an excellent Thanksgiving activity that targets non-fiction Common Core skills while also targeting close reading skills and rhetorical analysis. As a final step in this activity, students will write their very own Thanksgiving Proclamations including rhetorical devices and appeals to entreat their audience to adopt Thanksgiving using their own reasons to be thankful. Great activity for grades 9-12, including Honors and Advanced Placement. Answer Keys Included

Product Description This lesson by Bespoke ELA contains an assignment for explicating a Shakespearean sonnet. It's tailored specifically for Shakespearean sonnets rather than poems in general. The Shakespearean Sonnet Explication Assignment includes: 1. Explication Essay Assignment 2. Explication Rubric 3. Sample Explication Essay of "Sonnet 18" 4. Sonnet Analysis Guide/ Explication Preparation Guide Use this assignment as a summative assessment for your next Shakespearean sonnet unit. It's a great way to assess both reading and writing skills using Shakespeare's sonnets! Pair this with the Bespoke ELA Pop Sonnet Assignment to engage students with Shakespeare's work! Click here! Common Core Standards R1-6, 11/ W1-2, 4-5, 10/ L1-6

Check out BespokeClassroom.com for more products and ideas for teaching secondary English Language Arts! Product Description This lesson by Bespoke ELA is a great lesson to use in February to celebrate Valentine's Day in a unique and creative way that is sure to engage students! Task: To analyze how famous love letters use language, literary and rhetorical devices, and imagery to convey a message about love. Enduring Understandings: Students will understand how language, literary and rhetorical devices, and imagery affect a letter's meaning. Students will learn about famous people from history through the lens of their relationships and love letters. Students will understand how to construct an argument backed by evidence. Students will understand how to use language, literary and rhetorical devices, and imagery to create a message in the format of a letter. Materials: Copies of Famous Love Letters "Famous Love Letters" Debate Activity "Love Letter Task Cards" Construction paper, markers, stickers, etc. to decorate love letters Common Core Standards R1-6, 9-11/ W1,2,4,5,10,11/ SL1,2,4,6/ L1-6 Procedure: The "Famous Love Letters" activity by Bespoke ELA is an activity in which students will read famous love letters and make observations about how the writers use language, literary and rhetorical devices, and imagery to convey messages about love. In this lesson, students are to: 1. Research the relationship of the famous person who wrote the letter, read each love letter, and then answer the three close reading questions for each one. Consider splitting the class into groups to read and discuss each letter. There are a total of TEN love letters included in this lesson, but you may pick and choose which ones you would like to use with your students. 2. Synthesize their findings by debating which love letter is the most effective in communicating its message about love. Students will fill out the "Famous Love Letters" Debate Guide for their selected love letter and discuss their selections with the class. 3. Use the "Love Letter Task Cards" to write their own love letters and write an explication paragraph in which they explain how they use devices to communicate a thematic message about love. After writing their own original love letters, students can give them to a friend, or you may opt to have students do a "blind swap" in class. As an extension activity, students can analyze the language, literary devices, and imagery of their classmates' love letters. Consider providing craft supplies for your students to decorate their love letters, and they can hang them around the room or display them on a bulletin board to celebrate Valentine's Day during the month of February.

This question set was RECENTLY UPDATED in 2018! This discussion activity contains level one (plot), level two (interpretation), and level three (universal) questions and also asks students to create their own questions for each level. There are 20 questions total that will take students to a deeper level analysis of Chaucer's story. This is an excellent way to get students involved with the "Pardoner's Tale" in an interactive way that makes the story relevant to today's world.

Product Description This product contains TEN brainstorming guides for students to brainstorm new movie ideas and concepts. You can find these brainstorming guides as part of the Bespoke ELA Screenplay Unit, sold separately HERE. These brainstorming guides will put movie writing at your students' fingertips. Screenplay writing is a high-interest type of writing because all students love movies. It's a great way to target COMMON CORE skills while tapping into student interests. In this product packet, you will find the following "lenses" through which to brainstorm new movie ideas: 1. Traditional Plot Generator 2. When Two Worlds Collide 3. The BLANK from Hell 4. Odd Couples 5. Fish out of Water 6. Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Myths, Legends, and Updated Stories 7. Lesser-Known Facts 8. "True" Stories 9. Unintended Consequences 10. Extreme Measures Even if you don't have your students complete the entire screenplay unit, these brainstorming exercises will help students think outside the box to create something new! Pair this activity with a literary analysis activity, and students can go forwards and backwards through the writing process-- construct art and take art apart. The Screenplay Unit by Bespoke ELA is a great project for second semester-- especially after standardized testing. Students can put into action all they have learned about story!

This handout gives students lists of words to edit out of their essays-- a great tool for the Writer's Toolbox! Positive feedback is always appreciated :)

This packet is designed to support the writing process for a Macbeth literary analysis essay. INCLUDED: Macbeth Topics & Themes List Brainstorm Guide Commentary Brainstorming Outline Form Sample Outline Sample Essay Rubric Task To write an essay analyzing how literary elements and techniques create thematic meaning in a text Objectives • To use the writing process in order to produce a publishable essay draft • To construct a logical argument supported by textual evidence and sound reasoning • To edit/revise essay writing for academic vocabulary and style • To select textual evidence that effectively supports and demonstrates the argumentative claim • To analyze how a theme is developed across a text through literary elements and techniques

This listing is for a characterization activity entitled "Mind Jump" in which students analyze how point of view affects characterization. This mini-lesson is part of the Mega Characterization Bundle of over 15 characterization mini-lessons that get your students working with all literary devices and techniques. You can find it listed separately in our store. Bundle and save over $15.00! For this mini-lesson: "Mind Jump" Task To write from the point of view of characters from a piece of literature in order to assess how point of view shapes characterization Objectives To understand what motivates characters to take action To develop criteria for analyzing character To assess comprehension of character development across a text Common Core Standards R1, 3, 6, 11/ W1-4, 10/ L1-3 Instructions Understanding a character’s point of view is necessary in determining a character’s motivation to take action. In this activity, students will explore the point of view of a specific character and attempt to write from that character’s perspective. After completing the “Mind Jump” Activity, students can complete the following post activities that are also included: the “Mind Jump” Pair Discussion, the “Mind Jump” Character Chart, and/or the “Mind Jump” Post Write-up in order to analyze the traits of the character from the initial “Mind Jump” Lead Activity.

This lesson contains a step-by-step guide for how to write a thesis statement for the literary analysis essay. It is a part of our Mega Lit. Analysis Essay Bundle, sold separately. The most important part of the writing process is crafting the thesis statement because it is the "road map" or "blueprint" for the entire essay. Because this one, single sentence is so important, I have crafted six mini-lessons to insure that your students will have focused, argumentative thesis statements specifically for the literary analysis essay. While the literary analysis essay is a type of persuasive or argumentative essay, it is important that students craft a thesis statement that is specific to the purpose of literary analysis. In this regard, lessons on persuasive or argumentative thesis statements may not be appropriate to teaching students how to write this kind of essay that is a cornerstone of the ELA classroom. This mini-lesson pack takes students through the process of learning the parts of a literary analysis thesis statement and how to craft them by creating thematic claims. By following this guide, students will be well on their way to creating effective "road maps" to write the literary analysis essay.

In these 5 debate activities, students consider key, debatable questions regarding the Beowulf text such as whether or not Beowulf is a success or failure as an epic hero. Students are to compile evidence for BOTH sides of the argument in preparation for a class debate and then write an analytical/ argumentative paragraph after each debate. Included in this packet you will find: 1. Teacher Page with instructions 2. Debate Rubric to use for grading the debate 3. 5 reproducible debate sheets, each containing a separate debate question about Beowulf This is an excellent way to target both speaking and writing skills while practicing argumentation and rhetoric.

This product contains a self-revision and peer-revision activity for the literary analysis essay followed by FIVE mini-lessons for editing the essay for "Academese" language. These editing mini-lessons include editing for powerful verbs, varying sentence structure, and adding rhetorical devices for persuasive power, among others. Each mini-lesson includes specific editing tasks followed by reflection questions to encourage students to make conscientious revisions and edits to their writing. This is a MUST HAVE for the writer's toolbox and the writing process! Purchase the entire Literary Analysis Bundle and SAVE! Sold separately.

Find this mini-lesson as part of our Literary Analysis MEGA BUNDLE, sold separately! Bundle and save! This mini-lesson introduces students to blending quotations using the TCS method. This method asks students to integrate quotations into their own sentences with a transition that smoothly moves the reader into the evidence and then also includes the context/ speaker for the quotation to help the reader recall the quotation from the original text. I use this method with my students throughout the year to guide their revisions. My students bring their drafts to class, and they take turns labeling the "TCS" for each quotation. This method is very approachable and an essential tool for the Writer's Toolbox.

This listing is for Mini-lesson #1 of my Literary Analysis Essay book-- sold separately. For this activity, students read and analyze three sample student literary analysis essays using a ratiocination guide. They ratiocinate for the parts of the essay along with higher level vocabulary. They then answer reflection questions aimed at introducing students to the literary analysis essay. This is an excellent activity for introducing students to the literary analysis essay. Students need to be exposed to a variety of sample essays before they begin writing one. These essays can serve as models for students throughout the writing process. Answer keys included!

This is a series of four challenge activities for a F451 book club. These activities engage students in active discussion and debate within the group and with the entire class. I used these with my freshmen classes and set up the book club groups as teams. Each group formed a team name, and we turned each challenge into a competition that I would score. The winning team or teams would earn points, and at the end of the novel study, the winning team received bonus points on the test. This is a great way to get students involved with literature in a fun, competitive atmosphere. My students ask me all the time when "our next challenge is going to be."