"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.
Academic English 9: Students worked on Vocabulary Unit 3 and Sentence Structure last week. They will begin reading William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. The realization of classic literature as being relevant demonstrates how human nature has not changed. The students will be responsible for reading, comprehending, analyzing, and applying the literary elements and devices used by Shakespeare to show the flaws of human nature and how society influences individuals.
Practical English 10: Students presented documentaries and analyzed Vocabulary last week. Students will create a movie review. They will be responsible for identifying, analyzing, and applying the elements of the movie review through the viewing, evaluating, and critiquing of a movie. Their use of persuasion and opinion will be necessary for completion of the written review. Students will be required to use active voice.
English 11: Students completed persuasive writing projects. They were responsible for picking 1 of 3 options (Political Cartoon, Editorial, or Print Advertisement) of Persuasive Writing found in the Newspaper. Students will begin reading Arthur Miller's The Crucible. They will be responsible for completing an accompanying study guide to help with their comprehension. Discussion will be necessary for application of relevant issues found in the play. Their study of the Salem Witch Trials, Puritanism, and McCarthyism will aid in understanding themes of individualism, conformity, and the abuse of power. Vocabulary 6 Squares Worksheet is due on Wednesday.
Public Speaking: Informative Speeches were presented last week. Thank you for the excellent work! Students will be responsible for reading and taking notes on the Persuasive Speech from their textbook in preparation for the third speech. They will need to complete the process of speech preparation necessary for the utilization of good public speaking skills. Research will aid in the process of picking a topic. Students will need to pick a topic and convince the audience to "do something".
