Myles Chater WU Lesson on Machiavelli 9th Grade

Writing for Understanding Instruction

Teacher Plan

Teacher_Myles Chater________Class _PSS_________Date __6/27/11____Writing genre_response to text____________

Topic / Subject / Text

CENTRAL IDEAS Content Characteristics of leadership in the 1500’s are influenced by the forms of government that exist, some characteristics universal, Machiavelli’s views as expressed in The Prince Reading: Reading a Primary Source Document, read and re-read several chapters from The Prince. Paraphrasing main ideas, Selecting Evidence to use in writing later Writing: Five-paragraph essay - expository/persuasive Reviewing outline process, Paragraph structure Introduce and practice LEAF format Source referencing - embedding quotes

Focusing Question	Focus (answer to focusing question)
What does Machiavelli say about leadership? - Are these ideas still relevant?	Flexibility, fear over love Deception, realist, prepared, militaristic, vice and virtue, adaptable, do what you need to stay in power, fear over love,

Building Content Knowledge, Understanding of Writer’s Craft

• vocabulary • guided reading • text mapping • paraphrasing • summarizing • visualizing/ • imaging • dramatizing • oral processing / guided conversation / think-pair- share • experience • debating • taking notes (graphic organizers, T-charts, 2 column notes, etc.) • craft lessons (intro, transitions, conclusions, etc)

Vocab list - Reading questions for Chapters XIV, XV, XVII - First Chapter(XIV) - read out loud and follow with guided questions- - Second Chapter(XV) - Read in small groups - Then guided questions in small groups - share or report out by group - Third Chapter(XVII) – read in new small groups - Paraphrasing of main ideas then find and - select text that supports the main ideas - Report out by groups - Fourth Chapter(XVIII) – option – small group, pair, individual – Think/pair/share - Additional chapters XIX,XXI) - on your own – some students will need additional support for these last chapters Intro LEAF format with description of each component of the paragraph. Craft of lead, evidence, analysis supporting focus statement Graphic organizer to build one main focus.

Structures How will students know how to organize their ideas and construct the piece of writing?
• graphic organizers • teacher-written models • teacher-and-student written models • various types of templates or frames (ex: Painted Essay)	Focus statement - Will provide three choices for studnets who are struggling with focus statment Three circles branch off of main idea – focus LEAF – boxed diagram for breakdown of written work

Writing / Revising How will students draft / revise so that their final writing is clearly focused, organized, and developed to show understanding of the central ideas?
• group write, fully or in part • write section at a time • write full piece independently • revise /share full group • revise /share partners • proofreading in partners • proofread w/tubaloos	Outline format - give structure to students, starting with graphic organizer of different parts of the essay Have thesis stated clearly, Topic Sentence, snippet of evidence Review the written piece checking for analysis with high lighters for each format – does it work, thesis linked to topic sentences, evidence supports TS, analysis applies thinking to evidence
Editing	Try Pen name technique with proof reading for grammar, usage, mechanics - use highlighters and have two readers – different colors - last day of revision, - Save draft Review revision with peer, what could be better about this section – give author first chance at it, then ask peer

Lesson Sequence What steps will I follow so that students are able to effectively show their understanding in writing?

Background information on the Middle Ages will already be provided Class brainstorm – What are some qualities of a leader? Discuss different dimensions of selected ones – honest, fair, be loved Vocab work before - look up some on their own, provide a glossary for other terms Intro lesson on Mach and his place in time and the Renaissance with background about Machiavellis reason for writing The Prince Read first chapter out loud to class – having them take notes of questions they have, and taking public notes for the class Collective debriefing of the 1st chapter – with reading guide(maybe public) What characteristics does he discuss in this chapter? Read 2nd Chapter read out loud Small group processing with reading guide What characteristics does he discuss in this chapter? – Find Evidence to support your characteristics Read 3rd Chapter alone for HW with reading Re-read in small group Small Group Summary collective – (Maybe public notes – with netbook or large poster board) Exit Card for level of understanding in order to determine if they should go on Read 4th Chapter read independently ( Center Support. Academic Support Study Hall, ELL teacher) With reading guide - Students may use support if needed Identify Main Characteristics of Machiavelli – Public Notes Short write about a leader. - Apply one or two characteristics to a leader you know or a world leader Read article on Tony Blair and his decision to go to Iraq Process Characteristics in a small group – Flexible, may be dishonest, adaptable to circumstance Pre Writing instruction on LEAF format, thesis, topic sentence Write the outline - Write the essay draft, revew and revise Complete revisions

Assessment: How are students doing? What are my next steps as a teacher?

Guided reading activities – that are done independly Graphic organizer to check for clarity and understanding of students structure of thinking. Outline final product Paraphrasing his key ideas Written Essay

Next Steps: Gradual Release of Responsibility

Continue to practice with LEAF format to maintain clarity of writing Offer multiple graphic organizers - so they can pick one that supports how they like to arrange it visually Continue to support paraphrasing especially of difficult primary source text