Language Arts (English)

grammar

11-12

To familiarize the students with the parts of speech.

Students will view a selected passage from Albert Camus' "The Stranger." Students will define and discuss the parts of speech. Students will re-examine the passage from the stranger, identifying the parts of speech. Students will then do short writing exercise in which they will label the parts of speech in their own writing. Students will then discuss the relationship between word choice, and action and detail.

1. Students complete short free-write in their journal discussing their initial reactions to "The Stranger" by Albert Camus.
2. Students are given handout defining and illustrating the Parts of Speech.
3. Teacher discusses handout while projecting it on overhead, giving short lecture on the parts of speech, and answering any questions the students may have (students should already have some understanding of the issues discussed).
4. Using overhead projector, students are shown a passage from "The Stranger."
5. Teacher examines passage with the class, labeling the Parts of Speech in the selection (adjectives, adverbs, verbs, and nouns).
6. Students are assigned a different passage from "The Stranger," which will be copied and passed out to them, in which they are to label the Parts of Speech, due at the end of the class period (students will only be expected to label adjectives, adverbs, nouns, and verbs).

1 class period. 1 Hr per class.

Homework/Follow Up: Students are to examine their journal writing for the day, labeling the Parts of Speech, tallying the number of verbs, adverbs, adjectives, and nouns. Students will then answer the question, How does word choice affect detail vs. the amount of action in a piece of writing? Students will share their journal entries, and their homework responses in groups of five the following class meeting.

Throughout the semester, I will adress other topics in grammar, including further study of unmentioned parts of speech. These exercises will be carried out based on need (after analysis of student writing), and scheduling.

1. Handout (see attachment).
2. Albert Camus' "The Stranger."
3. Overhead projector with projector facsimiles of selected passage from "The Stranger," and handout.
4. Copies of second selected passage from "The Stranger."

Assessment: Students will be assessed on credit/no-credit basis in regards to class work and homework. The assignment is designed to gauge what level of understanding the students have of the grammar topic covered, thus a letter grade will not be given.