Word Choice and Voice Lesson Plan

Grade Level: Grade 8
Subject: Language Arts
Concept: Word Choice & Voice

Standard:

D.8.1: Develop their vocabulary and ability to use words, phrases, idioms, and various grammatical structures as a means of improving communication.

• Materials:
  Index cards (4 x 6)
  Overheads
  Notebook paper
  Colored pencils or markers
  
• 
  
• Outcomes/Objectives:
  1. The students will write a postcard about a favorite destination or a place they would like to visit.
  2. The students will include a pre-determined number of adjectives and verbs in the body of the postcard.
  3. The students will help their peers edit their postcards.
  4. The students will hand in a final draft/postcard at the end of the class period.
  
• 
  

Steps in Presentation:

• Motivation: (5 minutes)
  1. Hand out index cards to each student.
  2. Ask students to draw on one side of the index card (the side without the lines) a place that they would like to visit or a favorite place they have been.
  3. Tell the students that the place should be something that they feel they know well and can write a lot about.
  4. Ask them to be creative and use some color!
  
• 
  

Outline of Steps:
1. When the students finish drawing, ask them to list 10 adjectives that describe the picture they drew on the front of the card.
2. Go over the assignment:
o Students will write a postcard to a friend or family member of their choice.
o The postcard must be well written so that anyone reading it can imagine themselves being there.
o The post card should have some feeling and personality (voice), it is clear that the writer is excited about their destination.
o There must be a variety of word choice. At least 10 descriptive adjectives must be used and 5 strong verbs.
o Show an example of what their postcard could sound like. Ask the students to point out what makes the two examples different.
3. Give students 15 minutes to do a pre-write (using the adjectives they previously wrote) on a piece of notebook paper.
4. After the pre-write, instruct the students to pair up with a partner. The partner should help revise and edit their postcard. (5 minutes)
5. Students will then have 10 minutes to finish their final draft of the postcard. They can put finishing touches on the picture or the words.

Closure:
1. With the extra time in class, students will share their postcards as a large group.
2. As each student reads their postcard, ask students to try to imagine what it would be like to be where they described. When the student is finished reading, ask their fellow students to comment on effective use of word choice.
3. The students should hand in their rough draft and postcard at the end of class.

Assessment of Student Learning:
1. Observation: did students stay on task?
2. Did the student pair up with a partner to revise and edit?
3. Did the student turn in the postcard? Is there a difference between the rough draft and the final copy?
4. Did the student use the number of words assigned?