Lesson 1 | Twisting Expectations: Horror Short Stories | 8th Grade English

Lesson Overview

Objective

Explain the science behind why many people enjoy scary stories, experiences, and movies.

Readings and Materials

Video: “Why is Being Scared so Fun?” by Margee Kerr

Lesson Notes

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Article: “How Horror Stories Help Us Cope with Real Life” by Melinda Wenner Moyer — Stop after "Happy Halloween!"

Lesson Notes

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Lesson Map

Lesson

Explain the science behind why many people enjoy scary stories, experiences, and movies.

Materials

“Why is Being Scared so Fun?”
“How Horror Stories Help Us Cope with Real Life” — Stop after "Happy Halloween!"

Standards

RI.8.2

Lesson

Analyze the development and impact of the twist ending in "Click-Clack the Rattlebag."

Materials

“Click-Clack the Rattlebag”

Standards

RL.8.2RL.8.3

Lesson

Explain how author Neil Gaiman develops suspense in "Click-Clack the Rattlebag."

Materials

“Click-Clack the Rattlebag”

Standards

RL.8.3RL.8.4RL.8.6

Lesson

Analyze the impact of the lottery tradition on the mood and actions of townspeople in Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery."

Materials

“The Lottery” — paragraphs 1–42

Standards

RL.8.3RL.8.4

Lesson

Identify examples of foreshadowing and analyze the message Shirley Jackson is trying to convey about human nature in her short story, "The Lottery."

Materials

“The Lottery”

Standards

RL.8.2RL.8.3

Lesson

Explain how characters' perspectives differ in "The Monkey's Paw."

Materials

“The Monkey's Paw”

Standards

RL.8.2RL.8.3

Lesson

Writing

Unpack a prompt, study a Mentor Text, and gather evidence in preparation for writing a paragraph response.

Materials

“The Monkey's Paw”
“The Lottery”

Standards

W.8.1W.8.5

Lesson

Writing

Outline and draft a paragraph response, including a strong claim statement, quoted textual evidence, and a concluding statement.

Materials

“The Monkey's Paw”

Standards

W.8.1W.8.1.aW.8.1.cW.8.1.e

Lesson

Writing

Draft and revise a paragraph response, focusing on writing strong analysis.

Materials

“The Monkey's Paw”

Standards

W.8.1W.8.1.aW.8.1.b

Lesson

Analyze Ursula K. Le Guin's use of foreshadowing, perspective, and situational irony to create meaning in "The Wife's Story."

Materials

“The Wife's Story”

Standards

RL.8.3RL.8.6

Lesson

Explain how Shane Hawk develops suspense in "Behind Colin's Eyes."

Materials

“Behind Colin's Eyes” — paragraphs 1–72 (end after "Sergeant Rock is nearby. I know it.")

Standards

RL.8.4RL.8.6

Lesson

Analyze the impact of Shane Hawk's resolution in "Behind Colin's Eyes".

Materials

“Behind Colin's Eyes” — paragraph 72–end

Standards

RL.8.2RL.8.3

Lesson

Analyze how Poe develops the character of the narrator in "The Tell-Tale Heart" and determine whether the narrator is reliable or unreliable.

Materials

“The Tell-Tale Heart”

Standards

RL.8.3RL.8.6

Lesson

Socratic Seminar

Engage in a Socratic Seminar with peers, responding directly to others by rephrasing and delineating arguments, determining the strength of evidence, and posing clarifying questions.

Materials