ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS RESOURCES
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS RESOURCESCREATION OF A LITERARY MAGAZINE FOCUSING ON ONE BRITISH LITERARY PERIOD
Description
This unit was inspired by a 2002 issue of Literary Cavalcade which featured the British Romantics.
By the end of the semester, seniors should be at the level of academic independence required by this unit. My seniors who completed this unit in Spring 2002 became frustrated at the one third mark but regained their confidence by the finish. Not knowing as much as they needed about the computer word processing programs or carelessness with data "caught up with them" at that point. The placement of the original story writing and pair teaching into the timeline can help relieve stress before it becomes a problem. By the end, the students were extremely pleased with their products and the products will be useful teaching tools for future classes.
This unit includes opportunities for synthesis of information for a specific audience and diverse genre within a magazine setting, small group sessions, independent research, pair teaching and learning, literary study, several types of writing, and computer skills applications.
During class time, the students are researching, conferencing with each other about their original stories and poems, teaching each other about their specific time periods, revising, and proofreading. Everyone is essentially at a different stage, and students make appointments with each other to stop at such and such a time to do a specific task. I function as the managing editor, and when students have specific questions, I am available. I also monitor progress and give feedback. The classroom has a very professional writing atmosphere, much like the office must be at Literary Cavalcade.
When necessary, we have a group meeting, usually at the beginning or the end of class. We use that time to zero in on potential problems and ways classmates have solved these problems, something new we have discovered about the flexibility of the word processing program, or research concerns that are interfering with progress.
The unit can be stretched or shrunk based upon the number of pages the teacher requires in the magazine. The more computers are available after school, the less time the unit will require in class.
Deanie Harris Dunbar, Hyde County Schools
| Activity Description | Approx. Time | Strands | Exp | Info | Arg |
Crit | Lit | G/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introductory | ||||||||
Students read and study a wide variety of engaging British literature throughout the semester. They develop a basic understanding of the major periods. |
On-going | O M/T |
5.01 5.02 |
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Students select one period they wish to focus on as they create a literary magazine of 25-40 pages. Students examine samples of Literary Cavalcade and analyze the structure of the magazine. The students also discuss the way literature, literary analysis, historical perspectives, contemporary connections, and other information are incorporated into the publication. Students consider audience and purpose of the publication as well as audience and purpose of each article. Students note the use of original texts, documentation of sources, creation of table of contents, use of graphics, and layout and design. Review
how to avoid plagiarism and document in a magazine setting |
1-2 hours | O W M/T |
1.02 | 2.01 2.02 2.03 |
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| During | ||||||||
Students and teacher develop a table of contents for the assignment considering the time and resources available to the class. Students and teacher set three deadlines for each contents of each major third of the magazine. |
30 min. | O | 2.01 2.02 |
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The magazine will include research-based articles:
|
3-5 days | W O M
|
1.01 1.02 |
2.01 2.02 2.03 |
3.01 3.02 |
5.01 5.02 |
6.01 6.02 |
|
The magazine will include original works: Original play with writers from the period as characters in appropriate plot Original short story reflecting the values and themes of the time period Poem written by a classmate who has been taught about the period by the student editor Appropriate ads as necessary to prevent blank spaces/page These will be created during a week-long writers' workshop. |
5 days | W | 1.01 1.02 |
5.01 | 6.01 6.02 |
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The magazine will include literary analysis:
|
2 days | W | 4.01 4.02 |
5.01 5.02 |
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| Culminating | ||||||||
Students share their products for oral and silent read-arounds. Publications are placed in the school library for other students to read. Students write in their journal about challenges they faced and discoveries they made about themselves which will help them as they move on to jobs, community colleges, or four-year colleges. Magazines are scored according to a pre-established rubric. (see attached) |
3-4 hours (some may be done out of class) | O W |
1.02 | 2.01 2.02 2.03 |
4.01 | 5.01 5.02 |
6.01 6.02 |
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