Lesson Plan

Writing Interdisciplinary Essay

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

The Grapes of Wrath. The Jungle. Native Son. The Things They Carried. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian. To address a current social, political, economic, or environmental issue, class groups pair the reading of a classic work of literature with chapters from Tyson Miller's Dream of a Nation: Inspiring Ideas for a Better America. In student-led reading groups, members discuss the text and the issues before individuals develop an interdisciplinary essay about the topic.

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CCSS: Designed
Instructional Ideas
  • Conduct two peer review sessions: the first within a reading group where editors are familiar with the topic, and the second with editors unfamiliar with the topic
Classroom Considerations
  • The five to seven-week unit requires access to Tyson Miller's Dream of a Nation: Inspiring Ideas for a Better America
Pros
  • The six-page packet includes a rationale for the project, a detailed plan, a list of suggested works of literature and the corresponding chapter from Dream of a Nation, directions for developing an interdisciplinary thesis, as well as information on the writing process
  • The book list includes suggestions for slower and less-skilled readers
Cons
  • None