Welcome to Unit 2!

Unit 2 Overview: Weeks 5-9

Please watch this 3-minute video to get acquainted with Unit 2.

Unit 2 Outcomes:

After completing this second unit, you will be able to identify various reasons for why people end up on different paths in life. You will finish reading our novel and write about how the two Moore's diverge in their lives and how mindset, the justice system, upbringing, and environment can all influence a young person's success.

What to Expect in Unit 2:

This unit will be divided into 5 modules. As we progress through the unit, we will cover:

  • Module 5: Introduction to Unit 2: Divergent Paths
    • The Other Wes Moore Chapters 5-6
    • Essay 2 Prompt Explanation, Outline, Sample Student Essay
    • Colin Powell's "Kids Need Structure"
    • Assignment: Discussion 
  • Module 6: Mindset
    • The Other Wes Moore Chapters 7-8
    • Dweck's "Brainology"
    • Assignment: Discussion
  • Module 7: Science, Grit, and Justice
    • Dobbs's "The Science of Success"
    • Duckworth's TedTalk on grit
    • Alexander's "The New Jim Crow"
    • Humans of New York: Inmates website
    • Assignment: Discussion and Page Contribution
  • Module 8: Peer Review Time!
    • Submit your draft of Essay 2 for peer feedback (students will submit their initial draft and then read 2 student essays, answering specific questions for each paragraph--sample peer reviews will be provided)
    • Complete Essay 2 Self-Assessment
  • Module 9: Concluding Unit 2
    • Apostrophes
    • Submit Final Draft of Essay 2

Unit Connection to Course Learning Outcomes:

This unit will be our second of five essays that we will produce. Students will

  • Use active/critical reading strategies to produce accurate, concise summaries of college level/academic texts.
  • Synthesize researched material from multiple texts to create and support an argument in response to a prompt. Draw direct evidence from texts in support of claims and analyze how that evidence supports the claim.
  • Utilize the various phases in the writing process—prewriting, writing revision, and proofreading—to produce clear, articulate, well-supported, well-organized essays.
  • Avoid plagiarism by properly citing quoted, summarized, and paraphrased material using MLA format.