Grade 8: Performance-Based Task Unit: Love and Friendship

Overview GRADE: Eighth NAME OF ASSESSMENT: Performance-Based Task for Love and Friendship DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSIGNMENT: The Performance -Based Task will consist of multiple tasks covering three days. Day one consists of the student closely analyzing a non-literary text, taking notes for comprehension, and answering 5 text- dependent questions. Day two will offer the students mixed media selections that reinforce the Love and Friendship Unit themes that are reflected in the article. Students will take notes on all mixed media offerings. In Part 3, students will write either an explanatory or argument essay (teacher discretion). This essay will allow students to apply their understanding of the THREE mixed media sources to the anchor source.

Standards Assessed Students will determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationships to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text. (RI.8.2) Students will read and comprehend literary nonfiction at the high end of the grade 8 complexity band independently and proficiently. (RI.8.10) Students will write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence. (W.8.1) Students will quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text. (RI.8.1) Students will integrate information from several texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably. (RI.8.9)

Materials Anchor Source: “Facebook Changing the Meaning of Friendship”“Facebook Changing the Meaning of Friendship” Select three of the following: Video: Friendship in the Age of Facebook: Rory Varrato at TEDxFriendship in the Age of Facebook: Rory Varrato at TEDx Poem: “Friendship” by Henry David Thoreau“Friendship” by Henry David Thoreau Article: “Power packs: Teens today prefer friendship in groups” “Power packs: Teens today prefer friendship in groups” Article: “Friendship Makes you More Successful”“Friendship Makes you More Successful” Article: “True Love Transcends Prejudice”“True Love Transcends Prejudice” Article: “Is True Friendship Dying Away” by Mark Vernon“Is True Friendship Dying Away” by Mark Vernon Article: “You’ve Got to Have (150) Friends”“You’ve Got to Have (150) Friends

Task Details Duration of administration: Three class periods. Time of year when administered: In accordance with the unit taught

Part 1: Anchor Source Suggested time frame for anchor source: approximately minutes Distribute copies of “Facebook Changing the Meaning of Friendship” Have students use Cornell Notes to summarize and synthesize the information. Students will then answer the five questions provided at the end of this document. Teachers should administer this portion with his or her discretion, but students should complete this task independently.

Close Reading Step 1: Making Observations The process of writing an essay usually begins with the close reading of a text. In most essays, especially academic essays, begin with a close reading of some kind of text—a painting, a movie, an event—and usually with that of a written text. When you close read, you observe facts and details about the text. You may focus on a particular passage, or on the text as a whole. Step 2: Interpreting Observations

Part 2: Additional Sources Suggested time frame for each source: approximately minutes to understanding and analyze.

Part 3: Essay Explanatory or Argument Choose one of the prompts to use in your class. It is recommended to introduce the prompt to the students before they begin reading and processing information from the additional sources.