Planning Commentary Ela Middle School Exemplar

Planning Commentary: An ELA Middle School Exemplar

Planning is crucial for effective teaching, particularly in a dynamic subject like English Language Arts (ELA). A well-crafted lesson plan ensures that students receive a focused and engaging learning experience. This article provides an in-depth exemplar of ELA middle school lesson planning, focusing on commentary – a skill vital for critical analysis and academic success. We’ll explore the planning process, incorporating best practices for differentiation, assessment, and alignment with Common Core State Standards (CCSS).

Understanding the Commentary Skill in ELA

Commentary, in the context of ELA, goes beyond mere summarizing or paraphrasing. It involves insightful analysis, interpretation, and evaluation of literary texts, articles, or other forms of communication. Students need to move beyond simply stating what the author wrote to explaining how and why the author crafted the text in a specific way and the implications of those choices. Strong commentary demonstrates a deep understanding of the text and its context, supported by textual evidence.

Key Components of Effective Commentary:

• Claim: A clear, concise statement of the student's interpretation or argument about the text.
• Evidence: Specific textual examples (quotes, paraphrases, references to plot points, etc.) supporting the claim.
• Analysis/Explanation: A detailed explanation of how the evidence supports the claim. This is where students demonstrate their critical thinking skills, going beyond simply identifying evidence to unpacking its significance.
• Sophistication: Moving beyond surface-level interpretations to explore deeper themes, authorial intent, and connections to broader contexts.

The Exemplar Lesson Plan: Analyzing Character Development Through Commentary

This lesson focuses on analyzing character development in a short story, using commentary to unpack the author's choices and their impact on the narrative. We’ll use a hypothetical short story titled "The Silent Symphony" for this example.

Learning Objectives (Aligned with CCSS):

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.1: Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.2: Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.3: Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1: Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.

Lesson Duration: Five 45-minute class periods

Materials:

• Copies of "The Silent Symphony" (short story)
• Graphic organizers (for note-taking and outlining)
• Whiteboard or projector
• Markers or pens

Detailed Lesson Plan Breakdown:

Day 1: Introduction to Character Development and Commentary

• Activity 1 (15 minutes): Begin with a brief review of character development concepts (direct vs. indirect characterization, character arcs). Engage students in a quick think-pair-share activity discussing how authors reveal character traits.
• Activity 2 (20 minutes): Introduce the concept of commentary. Provide clear examples of strong and weak commentary, highlighting the importance of evidence and analysis. Model the process using a sample paragraph from another text.
• Activity 3 (10 minutes): Distribute "The Silent Symphony." Students read the story individually, focusing on identifying the main character and noting key events.

Day 2: Identifying Key Events and Character Traits

• Activity 1 (20 minutes): Students work in small groups, discussing key events in the story and how these events reveal aspects of the main character's personality. They use a graphic organizer to chart key events and corresponding character traits.
• Activity 2 (25 minutes): Class discussion focusing on identifying common observations and differing interpretations. Teacher facilitates the discussion, guiding students to support their claims with textual evidence.

Day 3: Crafting Commentary Statements

• Activity 1 (25 minutes): Introduce a structured approach to writing commentary statements: Claim, Evidence, Analysis (CEA). Provide examples and walk students through the process of formulating a CEA statement based on a specific character trait and a relevant event from the story.
• Activity 2 (20 minutes): Students independently practice crafting CEA statements. The teacher provides individualized support and feedback.

Day 4: Developing Extended Commentary Paragraphs

• Activity 1 (30 minutes): Students use their CEA statements as a foundation to develop more extended paragraphs of commentary. Encourage students to explore deeper levels of analysis, connecting character development to themes or broader ideas.
• Activity 2 (15 minutes): Peer review – students exchange paragraphs and provide feedback on clarity, evidence, and analysis.

Day 5: Sharing and Assessment

• Activity 1 (25 minutes): Students volunteer to share their paragraphs with the class. Encourage constructive feedback and discussion.
• Activity 2 (20 minutes): Assessment – students submit their final commentary paragraphs, which are assessed based on the clarity of their claims, the quality of their evidence, the strength of their analysis, and the overall sophistication of their interpretations.

Differentiation Strategies:

This lesson plan can be differentiated to meet the diverse needs of middle school students. Consider these strategies:

• For students who need more support: Provide sentence starters, simplified graphic organizers, or one-on-one assistance during writing activities.
• For students who are ready for a challenge: Encourage them to explore more complex themes, connect the story to other texts or historical contexts, and develop more nuanced arguments.

Assessment:

Assessment should be ongoing and multifaceted. Use a combination of:

• Formative Assessment: Observe student participation in discussions, monitor their progress on graphic organizers, and provide feedback on drafts.
• Summative Assessment: Evaluate the final commentary paragraphs using a rubric that clearly outlines the criteria for success. The rubric should assess the clarity of the claim, the quality and relevance of evidence, the depth of analysis, and the overall sophistication of the writing.

Conclusion:

This exemplar lesson plan demonstrates a structured approach to teaching commentary in ELA at the middle school level. By breaking down the skill into manageable steps, providing ample opportunities for practice and feedback, and employing effective differentiation strategies, teachers can empower their students to become confident and critical readers and writers. Remember to continuously adapt and refine your lesson plans based on student feedback and your own observations. By focusing on clear learning objectives, engaging activities, and thoughtful assessment, you can create rich and rewarding learning experiences that foster a deep appreciation for the power of language and critical analysis. Remember to always align your teaching with the Common Core State Standards and adjust the difficulty level based on the specific needs of your students. The key is to make the learning process engaging and relevant to their lives.