Prerequisite: Open to all high school students

Level: 9th grade

Credit: 1.0 - English

Additional: This course meets the state mandated h.s. writing intensive requirement

This course is accepted as an English credit for college admission

This course is accepted as an English credit by the NCAA

Course Description

Freshmen English is about giving students exposure to a variety of literature types; Shakespeare, Greek Mythology, short stories and novels. Students learn to read critically, recognizing allusions in life to the classics, which help to make up the knowledge base of most people, in turn paving a foundation for communication.

Writing instruction will introduce and focus on the writing process; personal experience writing, persuasive essays, journal writing, and a group research paper will offer students an opportunity to express different voices through writing. Basic grammar skills will be taught and applied directly to students’ writings.

Vocabulary is emphasized through weekly quizzes over words and roots.

Goals/Objectives

After successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Increase level of vocabulary and widen ability to use it
Recognize the use of literary elements and techniques used to convey meaning
Recognize and define elements of a novel
Recognize and define elements of a short story
Interpret and respond to literature in writing and through discussion
Understand Shakespearean language and comprehend its meaning
Apply knowledge of the writing process

Communicate ideas in writing to accomplish a variety of purposes to a variety of audiences
Design and present a research project with information acquired from various sources

Course Outline

1. Writing Workshop

Personal Experience Paper
Use writing process (pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing and publishing)
Use prior experience to convey life lesson to audience
Focus on elaboration of episodes
Persuasive Argument Paper
Create thesis statement
Effectively voice an argument
Successfully support argument through a variety of sources
Appropriately cite sources and produce works cited page

2. The Novel—Anthem and Whirligig

Explore difference and similarities in themes
Apply universal thematic concepts
Analyze literary techniques
Describe relationships between author’s style and intended effect on the reader

3. Short Stories

Explore differences and similarities in themes
Explain relationships between and among literary elements including character, plot, setting, theme, conflict and resolution and their influence on a literary piece
Discuss plot development
Discuss characterization methods and the author’s intent

4. Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”

Explore Shakespeare’s background
Explore and understand Shakespearean language
Discuss use of literary techniques
Write character diaries
Write response journal entries
Identify and apply universal themes

5. Greek Mythology

Research major Greek characters as well as “The Odyssey”
Explore allusions to Greek mythology
Explore characteristics of myths
Explore life of Ancient Greece

Teaching Methods

Freshmen English is taught through lecture, class discussion, individual conferences, projects, videos and oral readings. Students are asked to work together on selected assignments. They are also given notes and handouts for each unit.

Assessment

Reading comprehension may be evaluated through discussion, pop and announced quizzes
Cooperative group presentation to be evaluated by teacher and/or peers according to rubric detailed with various desirable behaviors that contribute to a quality product
Successful writing skills will be evaluated by the teacher as students adhere to the conventions of written language as well as demonstrate the use of writing as a tool for communicating universal concepts
Successful group discussion behavior will be evaluated by the teacher according to demonstration of skillful paraphrasing and intelligent questioning

Selected Resources

Writer’s Inc. School to Work Great Source Education Group

The Giver Louis Lowry

Whirligig Paul Fleischmen

“Romeo and Juliet” William Shakespeare

Mythology Edith Hamilton

“The Necklace” Guy de Maupassant

“The Monkey’s Paw” W. W. Jacobs

“The Lottery” Shirley Jackson

“The Most Dangerous Game” Richard Connell

“The Gift of the Magi” O’Henry

Painless Grammar Rebecca Elliot

Vocabulary Builder Merriam Webster

In addition to these resources, an Enrichment Reading List has been compiled for the students to choose four additional books for reading enjoyment.



SHS Home	Introduction to Standard Composition and to Standard Survey of Literature	Courses Home
Prerequisite: Open to all high school students Level: 9th grade Credit: 1.0 - English Additional: This course meets the state mandated h.s. writing intensive requirement This course is accepted as an English credit for college admission This course is accepted as an English credit by the NCAA Course Description Freshmen English is about giving students exposure to a variety of literature types; Shakespeare, Greek Mythology, short stories and novels. Students learn to read critically, recognizing allusions in life to the classics, which help to make up the knowledge base of most people, in turn paving a foundation for communication. Writing instruction will introduce and focus on the writing process; personal experience writing, persuasive essays, journal writing, and a group research paper will offer students an opportunity to express different voices through writing. Basic grammar skills will be taught and applied directly to students’ writings. Vocabulary is emphasized through weekly quizzes over words and roots. Goals/Objectives After successful completion of this course, students will be able to: Increase level of vocabulary and widen ability to use it Recognize the use of literary elements and techniques used to convey meaning Recognize and define elements of a novel Recognize and define elements of a short story Interpret and respond to literature in writing and through discussion Understand Shakespearean language and comprehend its meaning Apply knowledge of the writing process Communicate ideas in writing to accomplish a variety of purposes to a variety of audiences Design and present a research project with information acquired from various sources Course Outline 1. Writing Workshop Personal Experience Paper Use writing process (pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing and publishing) Use prior experience to convey life lesson to audience Focus on elaboration of episodes Persuasive Argument Paper Create thesis statement Effectively voice an argument Successfully support argument through a variety of sources Appropriately cite sources and produce works cited page 2. The Novel—Anthem and Whirligig Explore difference and similarities in themes Apply universal thematic concepts Analyze literary techniques Describe relationships between author’s style and intended effect on the reader 3. Short Stories Explore differences and similarities in themes Explain relationships between and among literary elements including character, plot, setting, theme, conflict and resolution and their influence on a literary piece Discuss plot development Discuss characterization methods and the author’s intent 4. Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” Explore Shakespeare’s background Explore and understand Shakespearean language Discuss use of literary techniques Write character diaries Write response journal entries Identify and apply universal themes 5. Greek Mythology Research major Greek characters as well as “The Odyssey” Explore allusions to Greek mythology Explore characteristics of myths Explore life of Ancient Greece Teaching Methods Freshmen English is taught through lecture, class discussion, individual conferences, projects, videos and oral readings. Students are asked to work together on selected assignments. They are also given notes and handouts for each unit. Assessment Reading comprehension may be evaluated through discussion, pop and announced quizzes Cooperative group presentation to be evaluated by teacher and/or peers according to rubric detailed with various desirable behaviors that contribute to a quality product Successful writing skills will be evaluated by the teacher as students adhere to the conventions of written language as well as demonstrate the use of writing as a tool for communicating universal concepts Successful group discussion behavior will be evaluated by the teacher according to demonstration of skillful paraphrasing and intelligent questioning Selected Resources Writer’s Inc. School to Work Great Source Education Group The Giver Louis Lowry Whirligig Paul Fleischmen “Romeo and Juliet” William Shakespeare Mythology Edith Hamilton “The Necklace” Guy de Maupassant “The Monkey’s Paw” W. W. Jacobs “The Lottery” Shirley Jackson “The Most Dangerous Game” Richard Connell “The Gift of the Magi” O’Henry Painless Grammar Rebecca Elliot Vocabulary Builder Merriam Webster In addition to these resources, an Enrichment Reading List has been compiled for the students to choose four additional books for reading enjoyment.