Prerequisite: English I

Level: 10 th grade

Credits: 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

The core of the sophomore English class is a focus on the different styles and elements of writing concise papers, combined with a study of British and American Literature.

Vocabulary is emphasized through weekly quizzes over root words and origins.

Students should have previously mastered basic skills in grammar and will utilize those skills writing persuasive, narrative, and research papers, cumulating with a literary analysis.

Technology will be integrated into this classroom in several different aspects. The students will learn to effectively research and present material from different resources.

Goals/Objectives

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

Analyze literature for theme, select themes and justify their choices
Interpret literary works
Respond to literature in a discussion and writing sample
Evaluate resources for validity
Communicate ideas through research projects and oral presentations
Write effectively in a variety of styles and structures
Apply knowledge of the writing process in a variety of written moods

Course Outline

1. Writing Workshop

Use writing process of pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing
Evaluate word choices, phrases, sentence structure, and transitions
Masterfully write an informative paper, persuasive, academic research thesis, and several literary analysis
Apply basic grammar concepts to their writing
Write literary analysis on several subjects, including themes, motifs, character traits, etc. through the study of short stories

2. Public Speaking

Organize and research a logical pattern of speech
Communicate thoughts effectively to classmates
Efficiently answer questions posed by peers

3. Poetry

Students will read variety of poems from Robert Frost, William Shakespeare and other poets
Identify and imitate the Shakespearean style of Sonnet prose
Identify and create haiku's, tankas and didactic poetry
Know and apply different poetic terms

4. Evaluating Choices through the short story—“Dandelion Wine” Ray Bradbury, “Third Floor Flat” Agatha Christie, “Thirty-seven who saw Murder did not call the Police”, “Test”, “To Build a Fire” by Jack London

Students will read a variety of short stories and discuss the importance of choices and with possible rewards and consequences
Read for comprehension
Identify foreshadowing events and predict outcomes
Critically analyze and express ideas related to characters, theme and environment in writing

5. Shakespeare

Explore Shakespeare’s background, including the Globe
Read and analyze several Sonnets
Understand Shakespeare’s language and how it translates today
Understand the development of a plot, particularly in a tragedy

6. The Novel— Night by Eli Wiesel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Explore and discuss important humane issues, including war, racism, censorship, government control, and personal relationships
Implement projects from writing process
Discuss importance of theme, symbolism, and motifs
Identify themes, symbolism, motifs, and foreshadowing
Understand character traits and their importance to plot development

Teaching Methods

English II is part lecture and part class discussion. A workshop approach is utilized for teaching composition. A successful writing process comes only from students taking an active part in their writing. They will be asked to write, edit, peer edit, and write some more. They will be responsible for the changes made in their writing material and for justifying why those changes were made.

The understanding of literature is only improved by interaction with the opinions of others, so during literature units, class time relies very heavily upon student’s interactions and opinions.

Assessment

Reading comprehension will be assessed through discussion and frequent quizzes
Students will be called upon in class randomly to offer their insight on subjects
Successful writing skills will be evaluated by the teacher as students adhere to the convention of written language as well as demonstrate the use of writing as a tool for communicating
Oral presentations to be evaluated by the teacher and peers through accuracy of information and effective public speaking practices

Selected Resources

Vocabulary Builder Merrian-Webster

School to Work Great Source Education Group

Painless Grammar Rebecca Elliot

Night Elie Wiesel

To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee

Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” William Shakespeare

In addition to the requirements of this class, students will choose two novels per semester from an Enrichment Reading List.



SHS Home	Standard Composition and Standard Survey of Literature	Courses Home
Prerequisite: English I Level: 10 th grade Credits: 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 The core of the sophomore English class is a focus on the different styles and elements of writing concise papers, combined with a study of British and American Literature. Vocabulary is emphasized through weekly quizzes over root words and origins. Students should have previously mastered basic skills in grammar and will utilize those skills writing persuasive, narrative, and research papers, cumulating with a literary analysis. Technology will be integrated into this classroom in several different aspects. The students will learn to effectively research and present material from different resources. Goals/Objectives After successful completion of this course, students will be able to: Analyze literature for theme, select themes and justify their choices Interpret literary works Respond to literature in a discussion and writing sample Evaluate resources for validity Communicate ideas through research projects and oral presentations Write effectively in a variety of styles and structures Apply knowledge of the writing process in a variety of written moods Course Outline 1. Writing Workshop Use writing process of pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing Evaluate word choices, phrases, sentence structure, and transitions Masterfully write an informative paper, persuasive, academic research thesis, and several literary analysis Apply basic grammar concepts to their writing Write literary analysis on several subjects, including themes, motifs, character traits, etc. through the study of short stories 2. Public Speaking Organize and research a logical pattern of speech Communicate thoughts effectively to classmates Efficiently answer questions posed by peers 3. Poetry Students will read variety of poems from Robert Frost, William Shakespeare and other poets Identify and imitate the Shakespearean style of Sonnet prose Identify and create haiku's, tankas and didactic poetry Know and apply different poetic terms 4. Evaluating Choices through the short story—“Dandelion Wine” Ray Bradbury, “Third Floor Flat” Agatha Christie, “Thirty-seven who saw Murder did not call the Police”, “Test”, “To Build a Fire” by Jack London Students will read a variety of short stories and discuss the importance of choices and with possible rewards and consequences Read for comprehension Identify foreshadowing events and predict outcomes Critically analyze and express ideas related to characters, theme and environment in writing 5. Shakespeare Explore Shakespeare’s background, including the Globe Read and analyze several Sonnets Understand Shakespeare’s language and how it translates today Understand the development of a plot, particularly in a tragedy 6. The Novel— Night by Eli Wiesel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury Explore and discuss important humane issues, including war, racism, censorship, government control, and personal relationships Implement projects from writing process Discuss importance of theme, symbolism, and motifs Identify themes, symbolism, motifs, and foreshadowing Understand character traits and their importance to plot development Teaching Methods English II is part lecture and part class discussion. A workshop approach is utilized for teaching composition. A successful writing process comes only from students taking an active part in their writing. They will be asked to write, edit, peer edit, and write some more. They will be responsible for the changes made in their writing material and for justifying why those changes were made. The understanding of literature is only improved by interaction with the opinions of others, so during literature units, class time relies very heavily upon student’s interactions and opinions. Assessment Reading comprehension will be assessed through discussion and frequent quizzes Students will be called upon in class randomly to offer their insight on subjects Successful writing skills will be evaluated by the teacher as students adhere to the convention of written language as well as demonstrate the use of writing as a tool for communicating Oral presentations to be evaluated by the teacher and peers through accuracy of information and effective public speaking practices Selected Resources Vocabulary Builder Merrian-Webster School to Work Great Source Education Group Painless Grammar Rebecca Elliot Night Elie Wiesel To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” William Shakespeare In addition to the requirements of this class, students will choose two novels per semester from an Enrichment Reading List.