The major works we will be reading this year are:

First Semester     Second Semester

Short Story Unit   Poetry Unit

Antigone                Something Wicked

A Tale of Two Cities    This Way Comes

The Miracle Worker   Nectar in a Sieve      

Two to three major writing projects will be assigned each quarter. They will cover various topics that have been discussed in class and read in assignments. In the fourth quarter, a MLA research paper will be required. Writing papers is an important part of this class and it will not be possible to pass if essays are not completed and turned in on time.

WRITING: Students will: Write strategies for coherent and focused essays that incorporate organization, focus, research, technology, evaluation, and revision.  Write biographical, autobiographical, or narrative accounts. Compile responses to literature that include analytical essays, research reports and persuasive compositions. Demonstrate an understanding of grammar and the mechanics of writing in their papers.

GRAMMAR: Students will: Identify and correctly use clauses, phrases, the mechanics of punctuation, understand sentence construction, and proper English usage. Indicate proper English usage and control of grammar, paragraph and sentence structure, diction, and syntax.

READING: Students will: Identify and use the literal and figurative meanings of words, distinguish between the denotative and connotative meanings of words and interpret the connotative power of words. Read and understand grade-level appropriate material and analyze the organizational patterns, arguments, and positions advanced. Prepare works cited page(s) for reports. Extend ideas presented in primary or secondary sources through original analysis, evaluation, and elaboration. Evaluate the credibility of an author’s work

SPEAKING AND LISTENING: Students will: Deliver focused and coherent presentations that convey clear and distinct perspectives, solid-reasoning using gestures, tone, and vocabulary tailored to the audience and situation.