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=English 9 Essential Questions= FICTION UNIT ESSENTIAL QUESTION
 * How do authors use conflict to reveal truths about life and human nature?**

LESSON ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS 1.How does understanding the literary elements affect your ability to comprehend short stories? 2.How do you use context clues to determine the meaning of unknown words? 5. Can literature reveal truths about life and about human nature? 6.How does descriptive language add to the interest of the story? 7.How do we make inferences using evidence from the text? 8.How does discussion enhance our ability to think and understand? 9.How does effective listening impact a person's ability to understand and communicate? 10.How do we use reading strategies to help us understand and appreciate literature? 11.How does connecting to the text enhance our understanding of a text, the world, and ourselves? 12.How does literature teach us about responsibilities and consequences?

How do writers create short stories that engage the reader? How does a writer develop a theme in a short story? How does a writer use language devices (diction, imagery, symbolism, figurative language) for specific effects in short stories? How does a writer develop a character in a short story? How can setting impact the meaning of a story? How does an author create mood? How does point of view affect the meaning of a story? How does a writer’s use of foreshadowing and irony impact the meaning of a story?

STORY ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS "The Most Dangerous Game" Why is conflict essential to the plot? How does a character's traits and experiences affect the way he or she deals with conflict? How is the main idea used to help readers summarize?

"The Sound of Thunder" How does descriptive language add to the interest of the story? How do cause and effect impact the elements of a plot? What is the relationship between the conflict and the climax?

"The Birds" How do we use foreshadowing and our own life experiences to make predictions in a story? What techniques do authors use to create suspense?

"The Gift of the Magi" What lesson about life and love do you think the irony teaches in this story? What does irony teach us about expectations?

POETRY ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS What are the characteristics of poetry? How do you read a poem for meaning and understanding? How is reading poetry different from reading prose? Why do poets write using different forms and structures? How do poets use figurative language and imagery to appeal to our emotions?

Non-Fiction What are the characteristics of nonfiction? What is comprehension of nonfiction?

ROMEO AND JULIET How is reading a play different from reading fiction? Does fate control people's lives? How does Shakespeare still speak to a 21st century audience? How does Shakespeare use imagery to express characters' feelings? What are the themes and issues in //Romeo and Juliet// that are relevant to today? How does figurative language help to paint a picture of characters’ states of mind? What are the components of a tragedy and how are they used in "Romeo and Juliet"? In what ways do little decisions/choices affect our lives and our big achievements/responsibilities/tragedies? How does the cause-effect relationship work and how does it relate to the events leading up to the tragic end of the play? How is a Shakespearan tragedy similar to or different from modern tragedies? Why does Shakespeare use dramatic irony to hold the audience's attention?

Writing

In what ways do the elements of effective writing enhance a person's ability to communicate ideas?