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Section 5: Overview

Culminating Task

We will rewrite a vignette from The Book of Unknown Americans from the perspective of another character. In these new vignettes, we will need to consider plot, conflict, setting, character traits, themes, structure, and point of view. Having a firm understanding of how authors use literary elements and narratives to explore meaning and convey themes will help us understand how perspective shapes one’s understanding of events.

  • Lesson 1:

    We will review the knowledge requirements for the Culminating Task and work collaboratively to analyze two key personalities in The Book of Unknown Americans.

  • Lesson 2:

    We will review the plot, conflict, setting, and text structure of the four supporting texts we studied in preparation for the Culminating Task.

  • Lesson 3:

    We will finalize our Culminating Task writing topics.

  • Lesson 4:

    We will write a rough draft of our Culminating Task.

  • Lesson 5:

    We will edit and revise our writing.

  • Lesson 6:

    We will finish the unit by engaging in a whole-class discussion about how perspective shapes our understanding of events. We will also discuss how the topics on the Culminating Task related to the unit and identify possible pathways to explore for the Application Unit.

  • Lesson 7:

    In a culminating activity, we share the knowledge we have gained and the connections we have made by reading our independent reading texts.