 Lesson
6: Lesson Plan
Revising the Mystery with a Purpose
Book:
Rage in Harlem or other mystery/detective
fiction by Chester Himes.
Grade Level:
11/12
Essential Question:
What improvements will make this story a winning
performance?
Connection to Standards: Writing: Short Story Writing
(9/10 2.1), Narrative
Writing (11/12 2.1)
Technology:
The computer is used as a
word-processing tool for revision and publishing.
Lesson Plan Content:
1) Revision may touch on any of the elements but should
also concentrate on the following issues:
a.
The main characters must be consistently portrayed
b.
Dialogue must be crisp and meaningful
c.
The plot elements must be consistent and fit tightly
together
d.
The crime must be compelling and important
e. The
reveal should be dramatic or humorous
2) Concentrate on element revisions and
leave the typo’s, spelling and grammatical improvements
for a Peer Editing session.
3) I have used
the revision phase as an extra credit assignment. The prize money is usually enough to encourage
the students ALWAYS choose the best, or have groups
of readers choose the best, to submit and ALWAYS tell
these writers “I think this is a winner!”
4) Use read-around group of 4 or 5 to read EACH of the
2nd drafts you have duplicated. Have the writer get suggestions and reactions
from the groups that can be included in the final draft.
Assessment:
1). Teacher or student assessment of 2nd draft.
2). Observe 2nd
read-around groups and see that the Final Draft incorporates
at least some of the reader’s
suggestions.
3). Teacher and/or
student assess the finished rough draft according to the
following rubric.a
4). A winning paper is an A+ in my book.
|
|
Weak |
Strong |
Excellent |
|
Characters |
Characters are stock, weak or unbelieveable. |
Characters are engaging particularly the detective. |
At least two characters are unforgettable, engaging
or fun. |
|
Plot |
The plot, though present, is unrealistic or hard
to follow. Or
it does not “work.” |
The plot has twists but remains possible, believable
and compelling. |
The plot is ingenious, employing ruses and surprises.
|
|
Ingenuity
|
The story is mundane or lacks compelling detail
of action, situation or character. |
The writer shows ingenuity in crafting the plot,
characters and situation.
Surprises are included. |
The writer has thought about the problems of creation
and clearly shows some mastery. |
|
Situation
|
The crime is either too brutal, too usual or the
situation is unrealistic. |
The situation is not only possible but likely
though surprising. |
The situation is plausible, engaging, well researched
and authentic. |
|
