8th grade Great Authors unit summary

1. Great Authors of the 19th & 20th Centuries Name:
Choose any 3 pairs of authors to read. Read both items for the pair and then complete the
assessment following. Each assessment is worth 15 pts, for a total of 45 points.The items
highlighted in black will be read aloud by Ms. Ites or as a class.
Dates due: choice 1: choice 2:
1
author, l-f Paulsen, Gary author, l-f
work "Glow in the Dark" work
pg 504 pg
lit. elmt. tone lit. elmt.
pg. 503 pg.
overall theme conflict overall theme
R/A ch. From GUTS R/A
ASSESSMENT FOR BOTH:
Make a Venn diagram comparing & contrasting Gary Paulsen & Jack London, with
4 similar's and differ's for each man. On the back write a 2 para. comparative analysis of
"Up the Slide" and "Glow in the Dark" using 5 examples from the text. (notes & text)
2
author, l-f Angelou, Maya author, l-f
work excerpt "…Caged Bird…" work
pg 24 pg
lit. elmt. memoir lit. elmt.
pg. 23 pg.
overall theme voice overall theme
R/A "On Pulse of Morning" R/A
ASSESSMENT FOR BOTH:
In three para., summarize Angelou's excerpt from I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Walker's tribute to Dr. King, and explain how two people who seem so similar can be such
different writers. (open notes & text)
3
author, l-f Hughes, Langston author, l-f
work "Thank You, Ma'am" work
pg 186 pg
lit. elmt. theme lit. elmt.
pg. 185 pg.
overall theme characterization overall theme
R/A all poems in Norton Antholo. R/A
ASSESSMENT FOR BOTH:
In 2 para. Explain how the writers' personal lives affected their stories "Than
Ma'am" & "A & P." In a 3rd para. Decided if you think the stories are believable & defend
your answer. (notes & text)
4
author, l-f Herriot, James author, l-f

2. work "Debbie" work
pg 670 pg
lit. elmt. narrative essay lit. elmt.
pg. 669 pg.
overall theme plot overall theme
R/A (none) R/A
ASSESSMENT FOR BOTH:
Categorize what events in Herriot's past led him to write "Debbie." Do you t
this could have been a true story? Explain your answer in 2 para. In your 3rd para. Decide
if you find the narrator in "Xmas Day …" believable and defend your answer. (notes & text)
5
author, l-f Twain, Mark author, l-f
work "Cub Pilot on the Mississippi" work
pg 109 pg
lit. elmt. conflict w/ character lit. elmt.
pg. 107 pg.
overall theme setting overall theme
R/A (none) R/A
ASSESSMENT FOR BOTH:
Develop 2 Venn diagrams, one comparing & contrasting Twain & Faulkner,
other comparing & contrasting "Cub Pilot…", "Brer Rabbit…", & "A Rose/Emily." (notes & text)
--- STOP HERE - - - NEXT IS THE HORROR MINI-UNIT COVERED AS A CLASS ---
HORROR MINI-UNIT
You will complete works by each of these authors. Everyone must complete t
Venn Quadgram.
author, l-f Jackson, Shirley author, l-f
work "Charles" work
pg 14 pg
lit. elmt. foreshadowing lit. elmt.
pg. 968 pg.
overall theme irony overall theme
R/A "The Lottery" R/A
ASSESSMENT FOR BOTH: n/a
author, l-f Poe, Edgar Allen author, l-f
work "The Raven" work
pg 542 pg
lit. elmt. suspense lit. elmt.
pg. 541 pg.
overall theme foreshadowing overall theme
R/A "Tell-tale Heart" R/A
ASSESSMENT FOR BOTH: Venn diagram for all 4 horror writers. (notes & t

3. hors to read. Read both items for the pair and then complete the
ach assessment is worth 15 pts, for a total of 45 points.The items
e read aloud by Ms. Ites or as a class.
choice 3:
London, Jack
"Up the Slide"
154
conflict w/ nature
153
conflict
(none)
comparing & contrasting Gary Paulsen & Jack London, with
each man. On the back write a 2 para. comparative analysis of
in the Dark" using 5 examples from the text. (notes & text)
Walker, Alice
"Choice: MLK"
370
epithet
365
voice
(none)
ize Angelou's excerpt from I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,
g, and explain how two people who seem so similar can be such
Updike, John
"A & P"
separate #ed pkts.
point of view (1st person)
203
characterization
(none)
Explain how the writers' personal lives affected their stories "Thank You
d para. Decided if you think the stories are believable & defend
page 1
page 2
Buck, Pearl

4. "Xmas Day in the Morning"
64
flashback
63
plot
(none)
e what events in Herriot's past led him to write "Debbie." Do you think
e story? Explain your answer in 2 para. In your 3rd para. Decide
Xmas Day …" believable and defend your answer. (notes & text)
Faulkner, William
"Brer Rabbit & Brer Cooter"
separate #ed pkts.
fable/ colloquialism v. dialect
967
setting
"A Rose for Emily"
Venn diagrams, one comparing & contrasting Twain & Faulkner, the
ing "Cub Pilot…", "Brer Rabbit…", & "A Rose/Emily." (notes & text)
T IS THE HORROR MINI-UNIT COVERED AS A CLASS ---
ks by each of these authors. Everyone must complete the final
Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan
"Speckled Band"
474
mystery story
473
irony
(none)
King, Stephen
"Head Down"
separate #ed pkts.
nonfiction
624 & 131
foreshadowing
"Breathing Method"
Venn diagram for all 4 horror writers. (notes & text)