English Language Arts Grade 7
Writing Standard 2 a.
English Language Arts Grade 7
Reading: Literature Standard 1
English Language Arts Grade 7
Speaking and Listening Standard 1 b.
English Language Arts Grade 7
Language Standard 2 b.
7 class periods of 45 minutes each
Large Groups
Employability
The lesson provides an opportunity for students to not only read and view the importance of choosing career choices now, but gives them an opportunity to write about their future career goals and think about the best way to achieve them starting now.
Various worksheets, websites, and pptxs are attached.
Be prepared to help students navigate through websites. I found that there were some legitimate jobs that didn't have a lot of information, so I researched them a bit myself to help the student if they really wanted that job. Brush up on your MLA format or any format that you like. 7th grade, according to the Utah Common Core, is the grade where they learn to cite sources and add a bibliography.
If you haven't already taught MLA format, then make sure that the students are well-versed in the workings of it. They should be taking a computer class in 7th grade, so Power Point presentations shouldn't be too big of a deal if this assignment is taught mid year or during third term.
I. Address to American Schoolchildren
A. Start out by having students read/view the "Address to American Schoolchildren".
And then students should complete the Address to American Schoolchildren worksheet found in the Materials section of this lesson. Questions include:
B. Whole Group Discussion: Discuss the importance of preparing for your future now and the process to get there.
II. Informative Career Essay
A. Explain the writing project where students will be examining their dream job and researching it. You will need to reserve a computer lab or allow students access to internet sites. Have them brainstorm and fill out the Research Career Essay worksheet found in the Materials section of this lesson.
Writing Assignment explained: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.
I picked this job: ______________________________ (3 cites at least.)
Goals RIGHT NOW that you need to do in order to get this job. | Specific schooling or training in order to get this job. (If it says no schooling necessary, then look for and write down the schooling that you CAN but don't have to do) | Knowledge and skills |
1. Author 2. Title 3. Web site
4. Date Published 1. Author 2. Title 3. Web site
4. Date Published 1. Author 2. Title 3. Web site
4. Date Published
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1. Author 2. Title 3. Web site
4. Date Published 1. Author 2. Title 3. Web site
4. Date Published 1. Author 2. Title 3. Web site
4. Date Published
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1. Author 2. Title 3. Web site
4. Date Published 1. Author 2. Title 3. Web site
4. Date Published 1. Author 2. Title 3. Web site
4. Date Published
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Extras: pay scale or any visual aids |
Extras: level of knowledge/skills |
Extras: pie chart of time/experience needed for that job, etc. |
III. MLA practice worksheet
A. It's up to you whether you want to go over the MLA format before they research or when they actually start writing their essays. It's put in the document that they need to fill out the MLA practice worksheet before they research, but that is a judgment call. Below is the information on the MLA practice worksheet. (You can find the MLA Practice Worksheet and the MLA Format PowerPoint on the Materials section of this lesson.)
MLA Practice Worksheet
Review the MLA Format PowerPoint presentation and practice. Check and revise your answers as needed. If you've been confused then this should help clarify. Follow what the questions ask for.
Did they do the following? | Yes | No |
Quotes sources that include and author and page number Write out one quote with page number and author:
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Paraphrased sources that include an author, page number, and saying it in their own words. Write out one paraphrased section with author and page number:
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Quotes sources that include and author and page number Write out one quote with page number and author:
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Works Cited: Author first Write out one author:
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Works Cited: Title second Write out one title:
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Works Cited: Publishing month and year Write out one publish month and year:
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Works Cited: Page numbers used Write out one set of page numbers use:
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Works Cited: Website listed Write out one website:
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Works Cited: Separated with one space and a period Write out one complete book source:
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Works Cited: Articles quotation marks and books underlines Write one complete article source:
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Research Paper final draft example
Have you ever wanted to be an actress? An actress is someone that entertains a group of people through acting. I picked this topic because I have always wanted to be a movie star. I will be talking need in order about goals, schooling, and skills that I will to become an actress.
I will become an actress through my goals. Miller has explain that in order to become an actress I will need to have good grades in English, drama, history, social studies, and math. I will participate in extracurricular activities such as debate and other acting classes. I will audition at places, so that I will get an idea of how an audition works and hopefully get a part. The cause of getting good grades and taking acting classes will make the effect of hopefully becoming an actress someday. (57)
I will become an actress through my schooling. Vanderbille explains that a formal education is not required for this job, but it helps you get roles in plays and movies if you have one. I will attend acting workshops to make my acting skills better. I will complete an acting degree at a university, probably a bachelor's. I will also attend a school of performing arts and receive a degree from there. If I am able to get into an acting company early on then, it will be the same as being part of an acting company later in my life. The difference is that the acting company later on will probably pay more and be more time consuming. (13)
I will become an actress through my skills. Fordsworth explains that I will need to audition on stages for film, television, and local plays to increase my skills in auditioning. I will practice memorizing scripts and other memorization techniques. I will study characters and try to act like them, so that I can be able to be any role. I will attend improve clubs and practice my improvisation skills. I just talked about the goals, schooling, and skills I need to become an actress. (3)
Becoming an actress would be really cool. Actresses entertain people by acting out a role using body movement and speech. I picked this topic because movies are where I belong. I just talked about goals, schooling, and skills that I will need in order to become an actress.
Works Cited
Fordsworth, Dexter. Status of our Children. 16 Sept. 2004.
http://www.usdepartmenteducation.edu: 1-3.
Miller, Rochelle. "Meeting AYP." 18 Aug. 2002.
http://www.davis.k12.ut.us: 55-60.
Vanderville, Frank. "Uniforms are expensive." 28 Jan. 2001.
http://www.urbaninstitute.com: 12-13.
IV. News Article Review
Newspaper article review
Example: Go to the following website. View and read the KSL newspaper article
Headline: Layton Residents Look to Reserve a Piece of History Subhead: None Byline (reporter): Mike Anderson Dateline (date/location): Oct. 6, 2011, Layton, UT Lead (1st sentence): A piece of Davis County history is now easy for people to miss. But local residents are trying to save it. Tone (mood of piece): Nostalgic, I feel like I should try and help preserve these special memories. Summary of the article: The Layton city train depot is over a hundred years old. It has seen wars and brought home fallen soldiers. It was turned into a restaurant for a while, but is now boarded up. Residents are hoping that someone will purchase and restore the depot into a local business. Most important information summed up: The city of Layton is looking to save the train depot. The train depot is a historical spot because it's been around for 100 years. It has even seen soldiers from both world wars. Important information summed up: The depot is iconic and special to many Layton families. The Cowley's are especially fond of it because they had relatives that were the first agents to live upstairs in the depot. Least important information summed up: Layton city architects are currently working to figure out the cost of a renovation. Their hope is that someone will purchase it and restore it into a business. |
Now it's your turn. Go to the following website: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=960&sid=18823790 and fill out the information below. |
Newspaper Article website: Headline: Subhead: Byline (reporter): Dateline (date/location): Lead (1st sentence): Tone (mood of piece): Summary of the article: Most important information summed up: Important information summed up: Least important information summed up: How this article helped your ideas about your essay:
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V. Outlining the essay
We will be creating an outline. Look at your evidence from your research. You will all have the same three general topics: goals, schooling/training, and skills/knowledge. Example outline below.
Example Outline for Research Essay
Introduction
How will you capture your reader's attention? Catchy phrase or hook: question, observation, or a story.
Have you ever wanted to be an actress?
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Explain the job that you want someday: An actress is someone that entertains a group of people through acting.
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One sentence about why picked this topic: I picked this topic because I have always wanted to be a movie star.
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Transition sentence (explain your three reasons): I will be talking about goals, schooling, and skills that I will need in order to become an actress.
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Body
What is your first reason?
Goals
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What is your second reason?
Schooling
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What is your third reason?
Skills
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What evidence supports this reason?
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What evidence supports this reason?
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What evidence supports this reason?
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Cause / Effect
The cause of getting good grades and taking acting classes will make the effect of hopefully becoming an actress someday.
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Compare / Contrast
If I am able to get into an acting company early on then, it will be the same as being part of an acting company later in my life. (same) The difference is that the acting company later on will probably pay more and be more time consuming.
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Transition Sentence
I just talked about the goals, schooling, and skills I need to become an actress.
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Conclusion
Restate your hook:
Becoming an actress would be really cool.
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Re-explain in different words the job that you want: Actresses entertain people by acting out a role using body movement and speech.
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Restate why you picked this topic: I picked this topic because movies are where I belong.
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Restate three reasons: I just talked about goals, schooling, and skills that I will need in order to become an actress.
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VI. Creating an informative career essay
Have you ever wanted to be an actress? An actress is someone that entertains a group of people through acting. I picked this topic because I have always wanted to be a movie star. I will be talking need in order about goals, schooling, and skills that I will to become an actress.
I will become an actress through my goals. Miller has explain that in order to become an actress I will need to have good grades in English, drama, history, social studies, and math. I will participate in extracurricular activities such as debate and other acting classes. I will audition at places, so that I will get an idea of how an audition works and hopefully get a part. The cause of getting good grades and taking acting classes will make the effect of hopefully becoming an actress someday. (57)
I will become an actress through my schooling. Vanderville explains that a formal education is not required for this job, but it helps you get roles in plays and movies if you have one. I will attend acting workshops to make my acting skills better. I will complete an acting degree at a university, probably a bachelor's. I will also attend a school of performing arts and receive a degree from there. If I am able to get into an acting company early on then, it will be the same as being part of an acting company later in my life. The difference is that the acting company later on will probably pay more and be more time consuming. (13)
I will become an actress through my skills. Fordsworth explains that I will need to audition on stages for film, television, and local plays to increase my skills in auditioning. I will practice memorizing scripts and other memorization techniques. I will study characters and try to act like them, so that I can be able to be any role. I will attend improve clubs and practice my improvisation skills. I just talked about the goals, schooling, and skills I need to become an actress. (3)
Becoming an actress would be really cool. Actresses entertain people by acting out a role using body movement and speech. I picked this topic because movies are where I belong. I just talked about goals, schooling, and skills that I will need in order to become an actress.
Works Cited
Fordsworth, Dexter. Status of our Children. 16 Sept. 2004.
http://www.usdepartmenteducation.edu: 1-3.
Miller, Rochelle. "Meeting AYP." 18 Aug. 2002.
http://www.davis.k12.ut.us: 55-60.
Vanderville, Frank. "Uniforms are expensive." 28 Jan. 2001.
http://www.urbaninstitute.com: 12-13.
VII. Peer Review Essay
Students should have their essay completed and now should meet with one or more partners. Students should look over the peer review worksheet before trading with a partner to make sure that they have completed everything required. Students then need to get with a partner and peer review with the worksheet.
VIII. Edit and Revise with Multimedia
Checklist | Yes | No |
7 slides
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Title slide and name
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Goals slide with name
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Schooling / training with compare and contrast
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Years of experience graphic
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Pay scale graphic |
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Skills/knowledge slide |
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Graphic showing the percentage of life for goals, schooling/training, skills/knowledge, experience (optional) |
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Works Cited page |
IX. Student Presentation
Allow students the opportunity to present their multimedia and essays with the class. Students will enjoy learning about different careers. You can have them do some sort of a listening guide or just enjoy.
Attached is the complete instructions for the teacher and students.
Examples and visuals really help students. I have provided examples along the way with various articles and videos that talk about the importance of career choice, but feel free to come up with more examples. Put everything on the overhead, document cam, or lcd projector to help diverse learning see what you're doing. Always follow IEP accommodation.
The informative career project is a great way to get students to really learn about their dream job. Tell students that if they can find and interview or even bring in someone that has their dream job then, they can get extra credit if they write a reflection on it. Kids are not discouraged by this. I had a student that wanted to be a professional skater. He interviewed the guy on his blog and wrote a reflection.
I created rubrics for pretty much everything. Answer keys, where necessary, are already in place (MLA PowerPoint has the answers on the actual PowerPoint). The assessments are checklists in a way because we want to see that they getting it.
Anderson, Mike. "Layton residents look to preserve a piece of history." Layton: ksl.com, 2011. http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=17562275.
Farmer, Molly. "Middle school students given opportunity to visit high school, decide interests." Salt Lake City: ksl.com, 2012. http://www.ksl.com/?nid=960&sid=188237905.
Hacker, Diana. A Pocket Style Manual Third Edition. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2012.
Obama, Barack. "Address to American Schoolchildren." Arlington: WhiteHouse.gov, 2009. http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-in-a-National-Address-to-Americas-Schoolchildren/.