MYP Unit Two: “How I Impact the World”

MYP Unit Two:“How I Impact the World” Unit Question: “How do challenges shape us?” Areas of Interaction (AOI): Health & Social Education

Significant Concepts #1 & #2 There are different forms of nonfiction writing Everyone has a story to tell

Genre: Nonfiction • Writing that tells us about real people, places, and events. • Written to convey factual information • Nonfiction is real and can be verified by other sources • Examples of Nonfiction writing: • Newspaper articles • Letters • Essays • Biographies • Movie reviews • Speeches • Advertising

Autobiographies:A story about a person’s life, written by themselves.A person can write about their life in different ways/ forms: 1. Diary: • Appeals to the reader in a more personalized way- rather than factual or technical 2. Memoir: • Writer describes important events in his or her life • Focus on conflict and meaningful experiences 3. Personal Narrative • Focuses on a single, meaningful event

Example: Anne Frank’s StoryThe Diary of a Young Girl • Born June 12, 1929 in Germany • Jewish • Diary covers approximately 2 years in hiding • Diary reveals the trials and tribulations Jewish people suffered through the time period.

BiographyA true account of a person’s life, written by someone else • Written in 3rd person POV • Requires outside research • Organized around main ideas • Writers develop main ideas through: • Facts- statements that can be proven • Anecdotes- brief stories that reveal important points • Quotations- direct statements from relevant people

Informational Texts News Articles & Magazine Articles- Report on recent events Intended to inform or entertain Use headlines, subheadings, graphic aids, and pictures to support/ present information Strive to be objective and fair

Significant Concept:There are different points-of-view from which a story is told.

Point of View: The vantage point from which a story is told. Third-Person Limited The narrator: Is not a characters in the story, but an outside observer This narrator knows the thoughts/ feelings of one character in the story. First- Person • The narrator: • Is a main or minor character in the story • Uses the pronouns “I” and “me” • Shares his/her subjective, or personal, view of other characters and events. • Doesn’t know the thoughts/ feelings of other characters

Point of View 2 Third- Person Omniscient • The narrator: • Is not a character in the story, but an outside observer, whose observations can be objective, or unbiased. • Is “all knowing”- he or she has access to all thoughts/ feelings and opinions to ALL other characters.

Practice:What P.O.V is the following excerpt written? Answer: Third- Person Limited How do you know? The narrator is NOT a character in the story, but an outside observer The narrator zooms in on the thoughts of ONE character “Devin had trouble wiping the smile off his face as he listened to Gwen fumble through her speech. For a brief moment, he felt a wave of sympathy for Gwen. Then Devin forgot about his opponent and started planning his acceptance speech in his head.”

Practice:From what P.O.V is the following excerpt written? Answer: Third-Person Omniscient How can you tell? The narrator is NOT a character in the story, but an outside observer Is “all knowing” because he or she has access to the thoughts/ feelings of ALL characters “Feeling confident and superior, Devin gave his opponent, Gwen, a genuine smile as she walked past him. Though Gwen returned Devin’s smile, she was suspicious of his kindness. He’s probably gloating over my mistakes, Gwen thought angrily.”

“We Do”- Practice & ApplyReading a Biographical Narrative “A Life-Changing Decision” Handout Post-Reading Questions: • Is using dialogue in the beginning of the story a good approach? Why or why not? • Describe the organization of the piece. • What details help you visualize what you are reading? • What words or phrases engage the reader’s interest? Which ones show how character’s felt? • “pacing nervously”; Maria sighed; Maria’s heart started pounding; She closed her eyes and took a death breath;

“You Do”- Task: Compose a Biographical Narrative that tells a classmate’s story. • Subject- An experience of a classmate • Examples: • Summer Vacations, Family events, Moving to another city/ school, Birth/death of a family member/ friend, ect.. • Purpose- To tell a true story • Form: Biographical Narrative (3-5 paragraphs)

Task: Compose a biographical narrative Step 4. Draft & Revise Did you follow your timeline? Do you remain focused on the main idea throughout the story? Have you used imagery and sensory language? Are your sentences clear, smooth, and concise? Step 3. Organize Details Most biographies are organized chronologically. Create a time-line to organize your details. Pre- Write Step 1. Discuss & Select Topics with your Partner Step 2. Ask questions & gather details • 5 W’s • Who was involved? • What happened? • When did the event happen? • Where di d the event happen? • Why did it happen? • How did he or she feel about the event?

MYP Unit Two: “How I Impact the World”