Unit Plan
Texas Education Agency

Texas Gateway: Reading Comprehension Across Genres: Annotate for Meaning

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This lesson focuses on Annotation, a "writing-to-learn" strategy. It consists of writing explanatory notes and critical (analytical) commentary to yourself. Annotating text consists of two steps: (1) underlining, highlighting, circling,...
Handout
Online Writing Lab at Purdue University

Purdue University Owl: Fiction Writing Basics

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This resource discusses some terms and techniques that are useful to the beginning and intermediate fiction writer, and to instructors who are teaching fiction at these levels. W.11-12.3a Narratives
eBook
Blackdog Media

Classic Reader: "The Story of an Hour" by Katherine Chopin

For Students 9th - 10th
The full text of the short story "The Story of An Hour" by Katherine Chopin. Register for a free account to unlock annotation tools, printing, and more.
Primary
CommonLit

Common Lit: "Manifest Destiny, I Do Believe" by Bird Brain History

For Students 5th - 7th
In this letter, Cordelia writes to her friend about her plans to become a pioneer, a common ambition during the "Manifest Destiny" era of western settlement in the 19th century. This site offers links to paired texts, questions and...
eBook
Blackdog Media

Classic Reader: Louisa May Alcott

For Students 9th - 10th
The complete text of many of Alcott's famous works, a brief biography and a portrait are offered here. The most unusual feature is the ability to annotate the works as you read. Great for notetaking, adding marginalia, raising questions,...
Lesson Plan
Better Lesson

Better Lesson: Finding the Author's Purpose

For Teachers 1st - 2nd Standards
What is autism? How does it affect behavior? Students will find evidence of the author's tone or purpose for writing the article, as well as hints that show evidence of opinion. Includes a video clip from the movie "Rainman", and an...