Week of September 5th, 2016

"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:  Are heroes made or are they born?  We will continue working on the hero unit.  Students will begin reading, analyzing, and responding to information on the Anglo-Saxon Period and the epic poem Beowulf.  Students will be responsible for summarizing a section of the epic poem and identifying cultural hero traits. Demonstrating knowledge of vocabulary in context will also be necessary for comprehension.  Students should be prepared to discuss their section by Friday, September 9th.

Public Speaking:  How do basic speaking and listening skills help speech writing and delivery? Students will be reading and responding to information found in the text to help them learn the importance of both listening and speaking skills when writing a speech.  The application of information will aid with the writing of their Introductory Speech.  The first Chapter will be due on Friday, September 9th.

Keystone Literature Remediation:  Students will continue to work in their Keystone Resource book.  They will complete sections geared towards their strength in Fiction or Non-Fiction passages.  We will continue to emphasize their responsibility to understand specific questions that are a weakness in their strong content area.  This class will only be successful with a consistent diligence towards self-improvement.