BJ Novak Stories & Writing Instruction — Full Unit

Turn reading and writing into something your teen actually looks forward to.

This unit uses BJ Novak’s witty, satirical short stories (One More Thing) to hook middle and high schoolers, while guiding them step by step through structured writing instruction. Parents don’t need to be “English experts” — the lessons walk you and your learner through everything from first impressions to polished analytical paragraphs.

What’s Inside:

• 4 lesson sets covering 6 different stories:
  • The Rematch → Characterization, diction, & paragraph structure
  • The Girl Who Gave Great Advice → Irony, sarcasm, & tone
  • All You Have to Do & The Most Beautiful Girl in the Bookstore → Symbolism, irony, & voice/style
  • The Impatient Billionaire… & Missed Connection → Mood, allegory, theme, satire (putting it all together)
• Optional “activator” lesson with an episode of The Office
• 2 different pre-assessment options to measure progress
• Extra practice lesson (I Never Want to Walk on the Moon) for confidence before the final assessment
• Scaffolded reading questions (with “required” vs “optional” versions)
• Mentor texts, notes, sentence starters, and graphic organizers to support struggling writers
• Final analytical paragraph assessment with choice & step-by-step scaffolds

Why Homeschool Families Love It

✅ Lessons keep kids engaged with short, funny, accessible stories
✅ Clear parent notes & student handouts make it easy to facilitate, even if you’re not an English teacher
✅ Flexible pacing — spread it across 2–3 weeks or slow down to match your child’s needs
✅ Printable + digital versions so you can adapt for co-ops, travel, or home use

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the unit, your teen will be able to:

• Analyze irony, symbolism, mood, and theme in contemporary stories
• Write strong analytical paragraphs with clear claims, evidence, reasoning, and integrated quotations
• Reflect on writing choices and revise with confidence

⚠️ Please note: This resource includes all scaffolding, lesson materials, and writing supports, but you’ll need access to selected short stories from the collection, One More Thing by BJ Novak (the stories are not included). A copy can be purchased, previewed, or borrowed from your library.

Think your student will LOVE BJ Novak short stories?

Get the full unit bundle to access additional short story lessons and even more analytical writing practice!