NSW Stage 3 Theme Unit: The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Unlock a deeper understanding of theme and argument and authority in literature with this comprehensive 5-week unit, based on the award-winning text The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate.

Tailored for Stage 3 NSW DET teachers, this resource guides students through exploring social, personal, and moral messages while developing critical skills in identifying authoritative styles in informative and persuasive writing.

With over 255 pages, this unit includes a range of engaging activities that foster analytical thinking, encourage creative writing, and enhance oral presentation skills.

Students will:

• Identify themes in literature and apply them to their own writing.
• Develop authoritative arguments using objective and subjective language.
• Create persuasive and informative texts with cohesive, organised research.
• Explore the relationship between theme, argument, and authority in various texts.

Learning Intentions:

• Recognise and analyse themes in literature.
• Understand and apply features of authoritative writing.
• Develop written texts that incorporate researched arguments and thematic elements.
• Present oral and written persuasive arguments with authority.

Success Criteria:

• Analyse authoritative text features and use cohesive language.
• Create and present persuasive texts using rhetorical devices.
• Draft informative and imaginative texts from characters' points of view.
• Conduct research and synthesise ideas from multiple texts for persuasive writing.

This resource comes complete with an editable PowerPoint, a PDF for easy printing, a Google Slides version, and detailed teaching notes to streamline planning and delivery.

Equip your students to not only understand the power of themes in literature but also to express and support their arguments confidently in both written and oral formats.

Attribution is given to: © State of New South Wales (Department of Education), 2023.