Module 35: Discussing Information - Course Guide

Module Overview:

In this unit, students will learn how to analyze a speech. They will practice by analyzing the oral reports of fellow students. Students will learn how to respond as other students share information they learned during research. Students will learn which situations require the use of standard (formal) English and which are appropriate for an informal style of discourse. Students will learn how to determine if a sentence with a coordinating conjunction needs a comma.

Module Materials:

Lesson # Lesson Title Material(s)
1 Spelling 12: Practice 2 None
2 Analyzing a Speech independent reading book
pen or pencil
3 Discussing Speeches independent reading book
pen or pencil
4 Formal and Informal English independent reading book
pen or pencil
5 Commas in Compound Sentences independent reading book
pen or pencil

Module Objectives:

Lesson # Lesson Title Objective(s)
1 Spelling 12: Practice 2
2 Analyzing a Speech
  1. Identify the reasons and evidence a speaker provides to support his or her main ideas.
3 Discussing Speeches
  1. Participate in collaborative discussions based on specific topics.
  2. Respond appropriately to the spoken ideas of other students.
4 Formal and Informal English
  1. Distinguish between formal and informal styles of English discourse.
  2. Distinguish between contexts that call for formal English and situations where informal discourse is appropriate.
5 Commas in Compound Sentences
  1. Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction in a compound sentence.

Module Key Words:

Key Words Spelling Words
main ideas
reasons
evidence
discussion
compare
formal English
informal English
standard English
slang
compound sentence
coordinating conjunction
independent clause
 enunciation
pace
terminology
quadrilateral
polygon
symmetry
horizontal
vertical
ecosystem
biodiversity
herbivore
scavenger
extinct
information
discovery
improvement
apartheid
empire
inquire
continent

Module Assignments:

Lesson # Lesson Title Page # Assignment Title
2 Analyzing a Speech 4 Oral Report Analysis Assignment
5 Commas in Compound Sentences 3 Coordinating Conjunctions Assignment

Learning Coach Notes:

Lesson # Lesson Title Notes
1 Spelling 12: Practice 2 To prepare for the Spelling 12: Spelling Test, have your student practice their spelling words over the coming weeks.
2 Analyzing a Speech
3 Discussing Speeches
4 Formal and Informal English
5 Commas in Compound Sentences

Module Guiding Questions:

When a student starts a lesson ask them questions to check for prior knowledge and understanding and to review concepts being taught. At the end of the lesson ask the questions again to see if their answer changes.

Lesson Title Question
Analyzing a Speech
  1. What does it take to be a good listener?
Discussing Speeches
  1. How can you help other people understand the big ideas in speeches?
Formal and Informal English
  1. What is the difference between formal and informal English?
Commas in Compound Sentences
  1. How do you know when a sentence needs a comma?

Module Video Questions:

When a student watches a video take time to ask them questions about what they watched. Suggested questions for the videos in this module are listed here. Suggestion: Have the student watch the entire video first all the way through. Then have them watch the video a second time, as they watch it pause the video and ask the questions.

Lesson Title Video Question
Analyzing a Speech Listen Up
  1. What are main ideas?
  2. What are supporting details?
  3. Why are they important?
Discussing Speeches Guide Dogs
  1. What inferences can you make to help you understand the main idea of this video?
Commas in Compound Sentences Perfect Punctuation Rules
  1. What does a comma signal in a sentence?
  2. What is a coordinating conjunction?
  3. What is an independent clause?
  4. What is a compound sentence?

Module Suggested Read Aloud Books:

Take time to read to your student or have them read aloud to you. Read a different book each day. While reading the book point out concepts being taught. You may purchase these books or find them at your local library. Suggested things to discuss while reading the book:

  • What is the main idea?
  • What are three things new you learned?
  • How does this book relate to what you are learning about?

# Book Author Lexile Level

Module Outing:

Take some time to apply what your student is learning to the real world. Suggested outings are below.

# Outing