Unit 1: Deep Study of Character - 

Students will learn how to approach literary texts, with a specific focus on characters - how they change over time and how they interact with other characters.

During this unit, students will learn to empathize with the characters that they study as they engage in book club discussions. 

Unit 2: Literary Essay - 

Students will build on their literary analysis skills in this unit by reading several short stories.

Students will be expected to compare and contrast two different texts within an essay that contains and introduction, a conclusion, and multiple body paragraphs.

Unit 3: Non-Fiction Reading - 

Students will examine non-fiction text structures and features in order to improve their non-fiction reading skills.

in addition to summarizing texts and identify central ideas, students will examine author's purpose and perspective. 

Unit 4: Information Based Writing -

Building on their non-fiction reading skills, students will learn about and conduct research. 

As they conduct their research, students will create written work that synthesizes a variety of information from several sources. 

Unit 5: Narrative Writing -

Students will analyze narrative writing techniques that authors use.

Then, students will use these techniques as the engage in writing a creative narrative of their own. 

Unit 6: Student Learning Review - 

Students will review many of the skills that they have learned throughout the school year in preparation for state testing.

Specifically, students will analyze how answering standardized test questions are both similar and different from assessments they may receive in class. 

Unit 7: Student Learning Review - 

Students will end the school year examining social issues through the lens of fiction.

Students will come full circle as they once again work in book clubs to discuss and dig deeper into what the characters in their stories reveal about social issues.

In each unit, students will also learn grammar and vocabulary.