English III

Selecting evidence to support an argument

This is a strategy lesson to teach students how to select evidence from a text to support an argument for an essay. It was designed to take two class periods and is comprised of three mini-lessons; these lessons include teacher modeling strategy to large group, student practice with strategy in small groups, and student practice with strategy individually on what will ultimately be the essay that they write.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts)

By Caroline Sain.

Resources on the web

The year I was born: An autobiographical research project

Students write autobiographies in this lesson that challenges them to research the events that occured in the world the year they were born. After discussing the research strategies that will be used, the teacher engages students in a brainstorming activity... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Webquest: The journeys and journals of John Lederer

In this eleventh grade language arts lesson, students study maps in relation to primary source texts to glean insights into the discovery of Western North Carolina. Students explore map features and how they increase understanding of the documents. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 11 English Language Arts)

Provided by: UNC Libraries

That's not fair! Examining civil liberties with the U.S. Supreme Court

In this lesson, high school students work in collaborative groups to explore the issue of civil liberties by conducting Internet research on related court cases of their choosing. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 11 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Pygmies: Getting right to the point

In this Xpeditions lesson, students explore the Pygmies of Africa in order to get a better sense of their culture. Students develop the skill of synthesizing and organizing information from many sources to identify, in a single paragraph, the important... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–11 English Language Arts)

Provided by: Xpeditions

Persuading an audience: Writing effective letters to the editor

In this lesson designed to develop persuasive writing skills, students evaluate letters to the editor from a variety of newspapers. Student identify common characteristics found in these letters and discuss the importance of purpose and audience in persuasive... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Perspectives on the slave narrative

This lesson plan introduces students to one of the most widely-read genres of 19th-century American literature and an important influence within the African American literary tradition even today. The lesson focuses on The Narrative of William W.... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Provided by: EDSITEment

Paying attention to technology: Reviewing a technology

In this lesson, students review a particular technology–anything from a cell phone to a webcam, or an ink pen to a satellite dish and write a review of the technology. After sharing a technology review with students, the teacher models how to analyze... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–11 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Naming in a digital world: Creating a safe persona on the internet

This ReadWriteThink lesson explores the issues involved in building digital personas through e-mail addresses, screen names, and online profiles. Students analyze the underlying connotations of names in digital and non-digital settings and synthesize their... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Computer/Technology Skills and English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Magazine redux: An exercise in critical literacy

This lesson prompts students to act as critical readers as they consider how and why their approach and experiences differ when reading an online version versus a print version of a magazine. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–11 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Literary scrapbooks online: An electronic reader-response project

Students are challenged to create an online scrapbook in this lesson that focuses on literature and research. Students will: critically read a piece of literature. select a topic or theme from the piece of literature and construct... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts and Information Skills)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

I've got the literacy blues

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students read “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry and explore the story's themes using blues music, creative writing, and media study. Students research the history of the blues and create a graphic organizer... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts and Music Education)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Freedom of speech and automatic language: Examining the Pledge of Allegiance

This ReadWriteThink lesson is based on a study of the Pledge of Allegiance. This lesson plan asks students to explore rote learning and their own right to freedom of speech by examining the Pledge of Allegiance from a historical and personal perspective... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Exploring literacy in cyberspace

Whether they realize it or not, students are already immersed in a world full of multiple literacies. This ReadWriteThink lesson invites students to transfer the analytical skills that they commonly use when reading traditional print texts, along with some... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Exploring cross-age tutoring activities with Lewis and Clark

In this ReadWriteThink lesson, cross-age tutoring gives high school students the opportunity to guide elementary students (in grades 3-5) to a deeper understanding of the adventures of Lewis and Clark. Students use the book How We Crossed the West... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 and 9–12 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Communicating on local issues: Exploring audience in persuasive letter writing

This lesson from ReadWriteThink presents students with the task of researching and taking a position on a local issue. Focusing on process writing, students brainstorm, plan and evaluate persuasive writing products with their peers. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

A biography study: Using role-play to explore authors' lives

In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students select American authors to research. They create timelines and biopoems about their authors and then collaborate in teams to design and present a panel presentation where they role-play their authors. The final project... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Behind the masks: Exploring culture and self through art and poetry

This ReadWriteThink unit engages high school students in a study of the relationship between masks and cultures. Students research mask making from various cultures, draw sketches of the masks, and take notes that highlight the connections between the masks... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Visual Arts Education, Computer/Technology Skills, English Language Arts, and Information Skills)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink