Week of March 20th, 2017

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats

The goal of this English class is to produce critical thinkers. Students are not only reading for comprehension but for meaning and relevancy of the work as a whole. Literature is also an example of good writing. The writing improves when a student reads. Vocabulary also improves because the student is learning to read in context. We want successful students who can think critically and communicate effectively. 

English 12:  When do we need a new vision?

Students will identify and apply the structure of poems (rhyme scheme and form).  They will analyze author's point of view, identify and apply poetic devices.  Students will analyze devices used in a satire.  Satire is used to force people to agree with the author and act.  Students will be required to write a critical evaluation of a current day satire.  They will be required to demonstrate the use of hyperbole, understatement, and verbal irony.

Practical English 11:  What is the meaning of freedom? Does the American Dream exist?

Students will need to complete the newscast on a current event (political or social).  They will be using the handouts on The Constitution and The Bill of Rights to complete their projects. Students will need to include several of the ideas found in these documents when producing the newscast. They will need to create a backdrop and a script.  Students will be given a handout on the requirements which will include a Rubric.  They will be required to use their sources in the script of the newscast.   Students will make sure to use valid sources and differentiate between real news and fake news.  The project will be due at the end of next week, March 10th, 2017.  Students will also be asked to read, analyze, and respond to the novella, Of Mice and Men.  They will be required to complete worksheets and study guides.  Students will be asked to work on this unit while students will be filming their newscasts.  The students should be prepared to participate in discussions on the novel and to respond to the critical thinking questions.

Keystone Literature Remediation:  Why is reflection and self-assessment necessary?

Students will continue work on Key 7 in their Keystone Literature Workbooks.  They will identify a goal and chart their progress in Answering the Constructed-Response.  Students will be required to read a prompt and respond to it using an assertion and evidence.  Students will use each key to focus their work on the online apps.  They will complete assignments and chart their progress.

Public Speaking:  Why should the use of valid and reliable sources be necessary?

There will  be one-to-one conferencing at the end of the week to review speech delivery and content. They will be required to read and respond to Chapter 10 and 12 due on Tuesday, March 21st and Chapters 11, 13, & 14 due on Friday, March 24th in their texts.  Students will be asked to compare/contrast Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.  They will be required to analyze these speeches and will need to identify good rhetoric skills.  Students will begin the Informative Speech process.  Informative Speech Presentations will begin on April 2nd.