About This Unit

SUBJECT
Research Skills, Compare and Contrast, Writing Process, Expository Writing

GRADE
6-8

DURATION
8 Class Periods

COLLECTION
Women's History Collection

Women in History: Research for Expository Writing

By Jennifer Chandler

Students will read an excerpt from Amelia Earhart’s autobiography, The Fun of It, and explore various nonfiction resources about her life. Then each student will write a short newspaper article on a specific event from Earhart’s life and develop a longer piece of expository writing on the life of a different notable woman in history.

OBJECTIVE
Students will:

  1. Identify the author’s purpose in an autobiography.
  2. Identify character traits that fulfill personal goals.
  3. Use technology to research the life and accomplishments of an important American figure.
  4. Compare and contrast the accomplishments of two notable women.
  5. Write an anecdotal news account of an American hero based on biographical information.
  6. Write an expository essay based on online research.
  7. Complete the writing process: prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, publishing.

LESSONS FOR THIS UNIT
Lesson 1: For the Fun of It
Lesson 2: In the News

REPRODUCIBLES
Organizer Patterns: Idea Web (PDF)
News Story Rubric (PDF)

CULMINATING ACTIVITY

Students will apply the learning from Lesson Two to a longer piece of research writing. Using the supplied list from the Honor Roll of Notable Women Online Activity, students will choose another notable woman and write about her life in an expository essay. You may use a rubric similar to the one used in Lesson Two to evaluate this essay. I also recommend that you give students an audience to share these women's stories, whether in class or on a school bulletin board.

SUPPORTING BOOKS

Resources for Exploring Women's History and the Writing Process

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