Unit 2
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Jobs for American Graduates

reading and Writing Workshop

Resources

Unit Theme and Plan

Communicating With Confidence and Professionalism in School, Work, and Life
Students will complete the attached file for this unit 
​Unit 2 Workbook

Activities

Teaching with E.L.O.N.  (Enriched Learning Opportunity Nexus) that seamlessly integrates AI 

Unit Overview:
In this unit, students build core workplace-ready communication and professionalism skills. They practice appropriate verbal, nonverbal, written, and digital communication, learn about professional etiquette, and begin applying workplace expectations in real-world scenarios. Students participate in collaborative activities, role-plays, and writing tasks to strengthen speaking, listening, presenting, and interpersonal skills. Students will also expand their portfolios by adding communication evidence, email etiquette practice, and a professional thank-you or inquiry message.

Unit Learning Outcomes
By the end of Unit 2, students will:

1. Demonstrate effective verbal and nonverbal communication in academic and workplace settings.
2. Use professional tone and structure in digital and written workplace communication.
3. Identify common workplace communication challenges and respond appropriately.
4. Apply active listening strategies in group collaboration and peer feedback.
5. Produce professional written artifacts (email, thank-you letter, workplace message).
6. Add at least three communication-focused artifacts to their JAG portfolio.

Key Concepts & Vocabulary

• Professionalism
• Verbal & non-verbal communication
• Digital etiquette
• Active listening
• Tone & purpose
• Professional email format
• Workplace communication scenarios
• Constructive feedback

Learning Activities
Lesson 1: What Is Professional Communication?

• Class discussion: How is communication different in school, social settings, and the workplace?
• Mini-lesson: tone, clarity, professionalism, body language, listening skills
• Quick practice: student pairs practice “professional greetings”

Lesson 2: Verbal & Non-Verbal Skills Lab

• Students analyze short video clips showing strong vs. weak communication examples
• Group task: identify key strengths and mistakes
• Role-play: professional greeting, eye-contact, posture

Lesson 3: Digital Communication & Email Etiquette

• Model examples: professional vs. casual text/email messages
• Teacher mini-lesson: subject line, greeting, body, closing, signature
• Students draft a professional school/work email (i.e., asking for information, updating teacher on assignment, inquiring about a job shadow)

Lesson 4: Active Listening & Feedback

• Practice: partner interview w/ active listening checklist
• Peer feedback mini-lesson (two praises & one suggestion model)
• Students practice feedback on short student sample paragraphs (mock examples)

Lesson 5: Professional Response Scenarios

• Students receive workplace scenario cards
  Example: upset customer, miscommunication with supervisor, email misunderstanding
• In groups, students rewrite responses using professionalism and problem-solving
• Share-outs and class critique

Lesson 6: Communication Reflection & Production

• Students choose two of the following to complete as portfolio artifacts:
  Professional email (polished version)
  Thank-you letter or inquiry message
  Customer service/Teamwork response script
  Short video/audio introduction (30–60 seconds)
• Students write a reflection:
  “How will I use communication as a success skill in school and work?”
• Upload artifacts to portfolio

Assessment & Evidence of Learning

• Completed professional email
• Completed thank-you or inquiry message
• Group problem-solving communication scenario
• Active listening notes/checklist
• Reflection on communication growth
• Participation in role-plays and group tasks

Rubric Areas

• Professional tone and format
• Clarity and purpose
• Correct structure (opening, body, closing)
• Evidence of listening & feedback skills
• Reflection depth and growth mindset

Portfolio Components for Unit 2
Students will add:
Artifact
Professional Email
Thank-You or Inquiry Message
Scenario Response
Active Listening Notes
Reflection

Evidence Type
Writing / Workplace Skills
Communication / Etiquette
Problem-Solving / Professionalism
Collaboration & Listening
Growth + Planning Evidence
 
Teacher Notes & Tips

• Use real-world examples (school counselor emails, job recruiter messages, supervisor instructions).
• Model writing on a projector, revise in real-time.
• Encourage students to tailor emails/letters to real opportunities (tutoring help, club inquiry, volunteer request).
• Save student audio/video intros for mock interviews later in course.

Optional Extensions

• Invite a guest speaker (counselor, HR rep, military recruiter, college advisor)
• Practice phone etiquette and leave a “professional voicemail”
• Students design a soft-skills poster for the classroom
• Connect with ELA teacher for cross-credit options

Unit Culminating Task
Communication & Professionalism Showcase
Students present one communication skill artifact and describe:

• The purpose and audience
• What they improved
• Why professionalism matters

This may be brief (1–2 minutes per student).

AI-Integrated Activities for Unit 2
AI-INTEGRATED INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITIES
1) Soft-Skills Strength Builder
AI Tool: ChatGPT OR Google Gemini
Student Directions

1. Open ChatGPT or Gemini
2. Paste:
3. I am learning about employability skills like teamwork, responsibility, and communication.
4. Ask me 6 questions to help me identify my strengths and areas to improve.
5. Do NOT give me answers — only ask questions.
6. Answer each question yourself in your journal
7. Highlight ONE strength + ONE growth goal

Student Output

• Screenshot of AI questions
• Student-written responses & goals

2) Professional Email Practice
AI Tools: Grammarly Tone Checker + ChatGPT
Student Directions

1. Write a professional email asking for help or clarification
2. Paste email into Grammarly → check tone
3. Ask ChatGPT:
4. Suggest more professional phrases for this email without rewriting it.
5. I will edit it myself.
6. Edit email in your own words

Student Output

• Original email + edited email
• Grammarly screenshot

3) Accountability & Reliability Reflection
AI Tool: ChatGPT (Journal Mode)
Prompt to paste
I am learning reliability and responsibility skills for work.
Ask me reflection questions about time management, responsibility, and attitude.
Do NOT write answers for me.
Student Output

• Written journal answers
• Personal “Reliability Pledge”

4) Workplace Vocabulary Flashcards
AI Tool: Quizlet AI Flashcard Tool
Student Directions

1. Open Quizlet AI
2. Upload or paste key employability terms (teacher provides list)
3. Study using flashcards & “learn mode”
4. Write your own sentences using each term

Student Output

• Screenshot of Quizlet set
• Student-written sentences (not AI text)

5) Soft Skills Quote Poster
AI Tool: Canva
Student Directions

1. Choose a Canva “Motivational Quote Poster” template
2. Use your own writing to add:
   • One soft-skills quote explaining professionalism
   • Example of how teens show it

No Canva Magic Write allowed for text
Student Output

• Poster printed or uploaded
• 3–4 sentence explanation

AI-INTEGRATED GROUP ACTIVITIES
1) Workplace Scenario Role-Play
AI Tool: ChatGPT
Group Prompt
Give us 6 workplace scenarios involving teamwork, communication, and problem-solving.
Do NOT include solutions — we will create them.
Group Task

• Assign roles
• Discuss and WRITE solutions
• Act one out for the class

Output

• Group script
• Performance

2) Soft-Skills Brainstorm Wall
AI Tool: Canva Whiteboard AI
Group Directions

1. Create a Canva whiteboard
2. Ask:
3. List soft skills employers look for in teens entering the workforce.
4. Ask us questions to help us think — do NOT explain each skill.
5. Students answer questions and fill board with their own examples

Output

• Group whiteboard
• Each student adds sticky answering:
  “One soft skill I use in real life”

3) “Fix the Tone” Challenge
AI Tool: Grammarly OR ChatGPT Tone Analyzer
Group Directions

1. Ask ChatGPT:
2. Provide 6 unprofessional workplace messages a teen might send.
3. Do NOT rewrite them.
4. Group rewrites messages professionally
5. Grammarly checks tone

Output

• Table: “Unprofessional → Professional” (student-written)

4) Teamwork Skills Case Study
AI Tool: Perplexity
Group Prompt
Find 2 real examples of teamwork at work (sports, business, community).
Cite sources.
Do NOT summarize — we will summarize as a group.
Group Task

• Students read sources (AI finds, students write)
• Group presentation: "Teamwork in Action"

5) Communication Strategy Poster
AI Tool: Canva Magic Whiteboard (AI-questions only)
Group Task

1. Open Canva Whiteboard
2. Ask AI:
3. Ask us questions to help us create guidelines for respectful workplace communication.
4. Do NOT create the guidelines — we will.
5. Students create poster rules themselves

Output

• Printed / shared workplace communication rules

Unit 2 Skills Developed

• Communication
• Teamwork
• Professional tone
• Reliability & responsibility
• Ethical AI use