Unit Plan: Animal Farm

Major Standards CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.1

Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as
inferences drawn from the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.8.6
Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how the author acknowledges and
responds to conflicting evidence or viewpoints.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.8.8
Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is sound
and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; recognize when irrelevant evidence is introduced.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1
Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.9
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research

Major Learning By the end of this unit, students will be able to:
Goals ★ Write a persuasive essay which includes a strong claim supported by literary and informational text
evidence, clear reasoning, and a relevant counterargument and refutation.
★ Interpret, analyze, and evaluate Animal Farm.

Major Topics Rhetorical Analysis, Persuasion, and Propaganda

Charged Language/ Connotation + Denotation
Argumentative Writing

Materials ★ Text: Animal Farm

★ 1:1 Chromebooks
★ Projector/ Screen
★ Technology: Canvas, Google Docs, Google Slides, Kami, Padlet, CommonLit
★ Accompanying CommonLit Articles: “They’re Made Out of Meat”, “Censorship”, “Free Speech”, “Learning
to Read”

Major Squealer’s Speech Rhetorical Analysis (Day 8)

Assessments Persuasive Speech Analysis (Day 16)
Persuasive Speech (Day 24)
 Week 1
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5
Intro to Allegories: “Where Do You Stand?” Chapter 1 Discussion Chapter 2 Discussion Introduction to
Read “They’re Made Activity - KAMI Rhetorical Devices Create Class Propaganda
Out of Meat” Animal Farm Historical Notes Commandments - Students research
(CommonLit) Context Old Major’s Speech PADLET propaganda
AF Allegory Video Listenwise Activity Part 1 - KAMI techniques- group
HW: Read Chapter 1 + HW: Read Chapter 2+ project (Google Slides)
Reading Log Reading Log HW: Finish presentations
Week 2
Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10
Students give Writing Moves Review- Listen to Ch 3 in Class Create a propaganda Charged Language/
propaganda Google Docs Graphic Squealer’s Speech poster using at least Connotations
presentations Organizer Analysis - Assessment one propaganda Read two conflicting
Propaganda Quiz: Analyze Old Major’s HW: Complete Chapter 3 technique to persuade articles based on Battle
KAHOOT Speech Part 2 Reading Log an audience. Write of Cowshed- Ch 4 AF.
HW: CLASSKICK Reflection. Analyze how the
Paragraph Review HW: Read Chapter 4 + charged language in
Reading Log each article reveals the
author’s bias.
Week 3
Day 11 Day 12 Day 13 Day 14 Day 15
Fake News & Socratic Seminar - Poem: Learning to Read Listen to Chapter 7 in NO SCHOOL
Censorship CommonLit Should Fake News Be Practice Multiple Class- Answer
Article Censored? Choice Reading discussion questions as
How does this apply to Use evidence from AF Comprehension a class throughout
Animal Farm? CH 5 + CommonLit Strategies chapter
HW: Chapter 5 + Articles HW: Canvas Discussion Review reading log
Reading Log HW: Read Chapter 6+ Board: How does literacy expectations
Reading Log relate to power? Use HW: Complete Chapter 7
evidence from AF and Reading Log
LTR.
 Week 4
Day 16 Day 17 Day 18 Day 19 Day 20
Analyze Persuasive Write: Describing the Chapter 8: “Red Write: Proving Change Listen to Chapter 9:
Speeches- Students Situation Flag/Yellow Flag is Necessary Point of View Lesson -
choose persuasive Writing claims Activity” Fortifying claims with Students discuss
speech from menu and Proofreading and Students listen for red text evidence Boxer’s untimely death
analyze based on Editing and yellow flags HW: Edit and proofread from the point of view
persuasive speech HW: Finish and Edit throughout Ch 8 and paragraph 2 of different characters
outline Paragraph 1 then have structured in small group
HW: Find a credible discussion conversations
source to support claim HW: Chapter 8 Reading HW: Chapter 9 Reading
and analyze using Log Log
graphic organizer
Week 5
Day 21 Day 22 Day 23 Day 24 Day 25
Write: Creating Read Chapter 10 in Writing: Call to Action Peer Edits Animal Farm Wrap Up
Opportunities for class and Final Edits Edit speeches based on Projects: Menu of
Success / Negotiate Socratic Seminar: Finish speech - due next peer edits Options
(Counter arguments “Where Do You Stand” class. Record speech on
and refutations) Speed Round Debates Flipgrid for Extra Credit
Finish and edit
paragraph