Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

From Quantitative to Qualitative: Writing Descriptions of Data From Tables

Subject Area

English Language Arts

Grade(s)

9

Overview

Academic writing tasks often require students to use words to describe quantitative data found in tables, charts, or graphs. This lesson plan integrates quantitative reasoning and critical thinking with opportunities for writing as students examine a table with numerical data and then analyze the content, language, and organization of a verbal description of the same data.  Students then write and evaluate their own descriptions of data from tables. The lesson's discourse-based approach to language choices aims to raise students' awareness about verb tense selection and reasons for shifting tenses.

    English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 9

    ELA21.9.R4

    Use digital and electronic tools appropriately, safely, and ethically.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:ELA21.9.R4

    Vocabulary

    • Digital tools
    • Electronic tools
    • Appropriately
    • Safely
    • Ethically

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • Digital and electronic tools must be used appropriately, safely, and ethically.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • Engage in safe and ethical behavior when using digital and electronic tools.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • Safe behaviors, interactions that keep you out of harm's way, are necessary when using digital and electronic tools.
    • Ethical behavior, interactions that align to one's moral code, are necessary when using digital and electronic tools.
    English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 9

    ELA21.9.1

    Read, analyze, and evaluate complex literary and informational texts written from various cultural perspectives, with an emphasis on works originating outside the United States and the British Isles through 1599.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:ELA21.9.1

    Vocabulary

    • Analyze
    • Evaluate
    • Complex literary text
    • Complex informational texts
    • Cultural perspectives

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • Necessary skills to read, analyze, and evaluate complex literary and informational texts.
    • Historical texts that originated outside of the United States can provide valuable information about the past.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • Read complex texts.
    • Analyze elements within complex texts.
    • Evaluate text based on specific criteria provided by teacher.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • Historical texts written from various cultural perspectives, that originated from a location other than the United States, can provide them with valuable information about past events, current events, and potential future events.
    English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 9

    ELA21.9.9

    Compose both short and extended narrative, informative/explanatory, and argumentative writings that are clear and coherent, use an appropriate command of language, and demonstrate development, organization, style, and tone that are relevant to task, purpose, and audience.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:ELA21.9.9

    Vocabulary

    • Short writings
    • Extended writings
    • Narrative writing
    • Argumentative writing
    • Informative/explanatory writing
    • Writing development
    • Writing organization
    • Style
    • Tone
    • Task
    • Purpose
    • Audience
    • Command of language

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • Writing pieces can be short, such as a paragraph, or extended, such as constructed responses and essays.
    • A narrative is a piece of writing that tells a story.
    • The purpose of argumentative writing is to convince the reader to take action or adopt a particular position.
    • Informative or explanatory text is a piece of writing that provides factual information that was gathered from multiple research sources.
    • The development, organization, style, and tone of writing will change depending on the writing task, the purpose of the writing, and the intended audience.
    • Formal academic writing should demonstrate an appropriate command of language.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • Compose short and extended clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writings.
    • Identify the writing task, the purpose of writing, and the intended audience in order to appropriately adapt the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
    • Demonstrate command of the written language.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • There are different genres of writing that serve various purposes.
    • The writing task, purpose, and audience should be considered in the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
    • Formal academic writing should display their command of the English language.
    Link to Resource

    CR Resource Type

    Lesson/Unit Plan

    Resource Provider

    ReadWriteThink
    Accessibility
    License

    License Type

    Custom
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