Week of 30 October 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:  How does literature influence our lives? Does humanity exist?

Over the next 2 weeks, students will complete a unit on Romanticism with a focus on British Gothic Literature.   They will read, interpret, and analyze Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Students may use resources available to them to help complete the reading, however, resources should not be used in place of reading and responding to the novel.  Students will be asked to create a literary analysis.  They may use any form(essay, Google Slides, PowerPoint, Prezi, Powtoon, etc...) necessary to show their knowledge and application of the story and meaning of the  novel, Frankenstein.  Students will be required to show how Shelley's novel has influenced the 21st century.  They will identify and explain a minimum of 5 influences.

English 11:  Should we listen to the instinct of fear?  Who can we trust?

With respect to the macabre and horrific, students will complete a short unit on American Gothic Literature over the next two weeks.  They will define and identify elements of Gothic Literature through discussion.  Students will  read a variety of Gothic short stories and then be required to read, interpret, and analyze each short story as a piece of Gothic literature.  They will be asked to write a summary and analysis for each story.  Students will then be required to create a Gothic Movie Poster for the short story.  They will be given requirements and a Rubric.

Public Speaking:  How do basic speaking and listening skills help us to communicate?

Students will work on their Demonstrative Speeches which will begin the week of November 6th. They will be required to create an outline, a hard copy of the speech, and podium cards that will be collected on speech day.  Students should be practicing their speeches on Thursday and Friday, with changes/final edits over the weekend.  There will be peer critiquing and discussion on the Introductory Speeches.  Grades will not be posted until all conferencing is complete.  Students have recognized that necessary preparation and practice will tremendously improve speech substance and delivery.

Keystone Literature Workshop:  How does my interaction with the text provoke thinking and
                                                      response?

Students will continue to learn word dissection and analysis.  They will complete creating their board games using word parts.  Students will peer critique the board games.  They will learn through the experience of playing each Vocabulary Dissection game.  Students will identify strengths and weaknesses of each game, making comments and suggestions.  They will join the Opened classroom, create accounts for the College Board site, and download the Practice Question of the Day app.  These online sites and apps will help students work on reading comprehension, sentence structure, vocabulary in context, types of writing, writing organization, and interpretation.