Unit Plan 35 (Grade 3 ELA): Author Study – Exploring Style and Craft

Focus: Comparing works, tone, and craft moves

Grade Level: 3

Subject Area: English Language Arts (Reading Literature, Writing, Speaking & Listening)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 45–60 minutes per session

I. Introduction

This week, students explore how an author’s style shows up across multiple texts. They compare themes, settings, and plots (RL.3.9), identify the author’s tone (playful, reflective, suspenseful), and notice craft moves (repetition, word choice, imagery, dialogue, sentence length). Writers then try a short imitation paragraph using the author’s moves (W.3.4) and share insights in clear, complete sentences (SL.3.6). By Friday, students will compare two works by the same author with text evidence, present a 60-second “style talk,” and publish a brief paragraph that sounds like the mentor’s craft (not copying).

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to…

1. Compare how themes, settings, and plots are similar/different across two works by the same author; cite lines or examples to support ideas.
2. Identify the author’s tone and at least two craft moves that help create it.
3. Produce a short piece of writing that fits the task and purpose, intentionally using two craft moves from the author’s style.
4. Present ideas in complete sentences, appropriate to the task and audience.

Standards Alignment — CCSS Grade 3

• Reading Literature: RL.3.9 (compare/contrast themes, settings, and plots by the same author)
• Writing: W.3.4 (produce writing appropriate to task/purpose with guidance)
• Speaking & Listening: SL.3.6 (speak in complete sentences appropriate to task/situation)

Success Criteria — student language

• I can name one theme or idea both texts share and one difference with evidence.
• I can identify the tone and point to words or lines that create it.
• I can write a 6–8 sentence paragraph that uses two craft moves (e.g., repetition + sensory word choice).
• I can give a short presentation in complete sentences that explains the author’s style.