1 English language arts

These lessons will help students understand how classroom lessons about expressive writing, grammar and language use, editing written communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills are applicable to future careers.

The lessons address the following questions:

• Lesson 1: How can you use various perspectives in order to analyze text in a group setting?
• Lesson 2: How can the application of grammar and language usage help you attain a desired job?
• Lesson 3: How can critical thinking and analysis help you come to an understanding of what jobs are right for you?
• Lesson 4: How can critical thinking skills help you draw conclusions about various careers based on evidence, reasoning, and relevant information?
• Lesson 5: How can careful reading help you to form an opinion about a work-related topic?
• Lesson 6: How can your knowledge of the conventions of grammar and language usage help you understand new career vocabulary?
• Lesson 7: Why is the ability to communicate properly an important component of career success?
• Lesson 8: How can reasoning and analysis skills help you to solve problems in the workplace?
• Lesson 9: How can awareness of the different methods of argument make you a more informed consumer?
• Lesson 10: How can critical thinking skills help you understand an author’s purpose in communication?

Lessons and relevant careers

Concept/Lesson	Career	Activity
1. Supporting opinions with evidence	General skill: resumé analysis	Group discussion
2. Editing to produce a final draft	General skill: resumé writing	Resumé writing
3. Expressive writing	General skill: job hunting	Expressive writing response
4. Evaluative reading	General concept: understanding first jobs	Interview, reciprocal questioning
5. Persuasive writing	General concept: child labor laws	Persuasive writing exercise
6. Grammar and language usage	General concept: understanding career vocabulary	Defining words, peer presentations
7. Effective communication	General skill: career-related writing	Informative/persuasive writing exercise
8. Refining the use of argument	General skill: solving workplace problems	Problem-solving writing exercise
9. Evaluating arguments	Careers in advertising	Advertisement analysis and creation, optional writing exercise
10. Determining author’s purpose	TV-, film-, and video-making; military careers	Discussion, optional writing exercise