ADVANCED CURRICULUM DESIGN

UNIT PLAN
Category Description
Grade/Subject Level 8th Grade
Unit Title Plot Analysis in The Hitchhiker by Lucille Fletcher

Unit Topic Plot Development and Analysis: Parallel Episodes and Unreliable Narrator

Overview:
Students will begin the unit by defining and identifying the elements of plot. The level of rigor will be raised as students
are instructed to look deeper into the text The Hitchhiker by Lucille Fletcher and analyze more complex elements of
plot. The first complex element they will examine will be parallel episodes. Students will write and provide textual
evidence to support opinions on the authors use of parallel episodes. Students will continue their analysis of the text by
examining the narrator. Students will need to determine if the narrator can be trusted/considered reliable. This task
requires students to examine and analyze point of view as well as the authors use of character development all the
while finding textual evidence to back up any opinions made.

Standards:
STANDARD 6 BENCHMARK 3: Understands complex elements of plot development.
STANDARD 6 BENCHMARK 4: Understands elements of character development.
CCSS RL8.3: Analyze how particualr lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal
aspects of a character, or provoke a decision.
CCSS RL.8.6: Analyze how differences in the points of view of the characters and the audience or reader create
such effects as suspense or humor.
CCSS W.8.4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate
to task, purpose, and audience.
CCSS RL.8.1: Cite textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what text says explicitly as well as
inferences drawn from the text.

Outcomes:
Students will be able to understand complex elemets of plot and character development.
Students will be able to analyze how dialogue or incidents in a story propel the plot and reveal elements of
characterization.
Students will be able to analyze how differences in point of view of characters and the audience or reader creates
effects such as suspense.
Students will produce a clear and coherent writing sample in which the development, organization, and style are
appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

Essential Questions:
What are the stages of plot?
o What events take place during each stage of plot? (As it applies to the assigned text: The Hitchhiker by
Lucille Fletcher)
 What are parallel episodes?
o How do the use of parallel episodes effect the plot and character development in this text?
What is an unreliable narrator?
o How does an unreliable narrator effect the point of view and plot of this text?
o How does this technique build suspense in the text?

Rubric for Culminating Essay over Parallel Episodes in The Hitchhiker by Lucille Fletcher

UNIT OUTCOMES 4 - Mastery 3 Good 2 - Satisfactory 1 Needs Improvement

The student will Essay contained at Essay contained at Essay contained at Essay contains zero text-
demonstrate least three text- least two text- least one text- evidence examples and
understanding of evidence examples and evidence examples and evidence example and explanations regarding the
complex elements of plot explanations regarding explanations regarding explanation regarding use of parallel episodes.
and character the use of parallel the use of parallel the use of parallel
development. episodes. episodes. episodes.
The student will analyze Essay clearly states Essay mentions and Essay mentions but Essay makes no mention
how incidents in a story and explains with text explains how the use of doesnt explain how or explanation of how
propel the plot and evidence how the use parallel episodes the use of parallel parallel episodes change
reveal elements of of parallel episodes changes the narrator. episodes changes the the narrator.
characterization. changes the narrator. narrator.
The student will analyze Essay explained with Essay explained with Essay explained how Essay did not mention how
how different points of two examples of text at least one example the use of parallel parallel episodes can build
view create suspense. evidence how the use of text evidence how episodes builds suspense within a text.
of parallel episodes the use of parallel suspense but did not
builds suspense within episodes builds use text evidence.
the text. suspense within the
text.
The student will produce Essay was free of Essay contained no Essay contained Essay contained more
a clear and coherent grammatical errors, more than 5 between 5-10 than 10 grammatical
writing sample in which organized, and easy to grammatical errors, grammatical errors, errors and was off topic,
development, read and comprehend. was organized and and was slightly unorganized and difficult to
organization and style easy to read and disorganized making it read and comprehend.
are appropriate to task, comprehend. more difficult to read
purpose and audience. and comprehend.

Daily Lessons: (Day = 50-minute class period)

DAY 1
Objective: Students will be able to define and categorize the stages of plot.
Students will take notes over the stages of plot using a graphic organizer foldable. Which will be glued into their
interactive notebook. (Appendix A)
As a closing activity students, will participate in a quiz using the program KAHOOT. Students will use their
personal cell phone or an IPAD to take the quiz. (Appendix B)
DAY 2
Objective: Students will be able to understand complex elemets of plot and character development. Students will be
able to analyze how dialogue or incidents in a story propel the plot and reveal elements of characterization.
 Students will listen to the original Orson Wells recording of the radio play The Hitchhiker as they follow along in
their text books.
Students will complete a graphic organizer focusing on the stages of plot, which they will complete as they listen
to the text. (Appendix C)
DAY 3
Objective: Students will be able to define and analyze parallel episodes.
Students will take Cornell Notes over a presentation on parallel episodes. Students will interact with these
notes by writing a summary and adding questions to their notes.
Students will take a quiz over the use of parallel episodes in literature. (Appendix D)
DAY 4 - 8
Objective: Students will analyze the authors use of parallel episodes in the radio play The Hitchhiker by Lucille Fletcher.
Students will work with a partner to re-read the text.
During the reading students, will work together to analyze the use of parallel episodes in the play and how it
drives the plot and effects the narrator. Analysis and evidence will be recorded. (Appendix E)
Students will use the site Popplet to create a visual tool to evaluate the authors use of parallel episodes in the
text. Rubric will be provided. (Appendix F)
Students will present their Popplet to the class. Presentation rubric provided. (Appendix G)
DAY 9
Objective: Students will be able to analyze how differences in point of view of characters and the audience or reader
creates effects such as suspense.
Students will work in groups of four and return to the text for a third time to determine if the narrator is
reliable or unreliable. Students will need to find three pieces of evidence to evaluate the narrator. (Appendix H)
DAY 10-12
Objective: Students will produce a clear and coherent writing sample in which the development, organization, and style
are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
Students will write an essay for the following prompt: How does the authors use of parallel episodes effect the
point of view and reliability of the narrator as well as build a suspenseful plot?
o (Essay structure is familiar to the students and its format has been explicitly taught in prior units. A writing
graphic organizer is given if a student is struggling. Anchor charts around the room provide possible sentences
starters.)
o The writing process will be used (prewrite, draft, revise, edit, & publish).
o Rubric for paragraph is above.
 Appendix A
Source: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Reading-Interactive-Notebook-Literature-745824
 Appendix B
Source: Created at https://getkahoot.com
 Appendix C
Source: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-
R8HVSGmStXQ/TWf69wXVFTI/AAAAAAAAAB0/ZHfopETZs8Y/s1600/plot+diagram.png
 Appendix D

Name ___________________________________________ Period _______ Date____________

Parallel Episode Quiz

Directions: Answer the following questions to the best of your ability. Please restate all
questions in your answer and use complete sentences.

1. Define parallel episode.

____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

2. Provide one text example given from todays presentation that utilizes the technique
of parallel episodes.

a. Name of text: ________________________________________________________________

b. Explanation of how parallel episode technique is used:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
c. What impact does this technique have on the plot of this text?:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
 Appendix E
Source: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Hitchhiker-by-Lucille-Fletcher-CCSS-Resources-AND-
Twilight-Zone-Materials-1879370
 Appendix F
Source: http://mrsmccullysclass.weebly.com/uploads/1/8/4/2/18426695/popplet_rubric.pdf
 Appendix G
Source: http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson416/OralRubric.pdf
 Appendix H
Source: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Hitchhiker-by-Lucille-Fletcher-CCSS-Resources-AND-
Twilight-Zone-Materials-1879370