Weeks of 11 December 2017 and 18 December 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 do people come to have different views of society?

Students have begun reading their assigned characters from "The Prologue" to Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.  They will be required to identify the direct and indirect characterization for each assigned pilgrim(s). Students will create a character wall as they share the characterizations of their pilgrim on a character walk.  They will then each need to create a satirical poem using the direct and indirect characterizations of their assigned pilgrim(s) which identify criticisms of substance and a need for reform.  Students will be given a packet that contains Rubric requirements, examples of a poem, and a list of requirements for the satirical poem.


English 11:  Does the American Dream exist?

Students will be asked to read, analyze, and respond to the novella, Of Mice and Men as a work of Modernism and Realism.  They will be required to complete worksheets and study guides. Students will apply literary devices (characters, settings, and symbols) towards themes of justice, vision, power, and friendship.  The students should be prepared to participate in discussions on the novel and to respond to the critical thinking questions.

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

Students will complete worksheets to help them prepare for the Persuasive Speech.  Logic and reason are necessary tools for the success of this speech.  Students will need to find 6-8 valid resources.  They will need to organize their information in an outline.  Students will be required to write a hard copy of their speech.  Podium cards are necessary.  A PowerPoint is the required visual aid.  Students will be required to watch and critique JFK's Inaugural address.  They will identify key rhetoric devices used in his speech.  Hopefully, students will seize upon the opportunity to utilize several of these skills in their last researched speech.

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 be working on advanced root word development.  Over the next semester, they will work on a variety of ways to improve skills to improve reading, interpreting, and analyzing texts.  Students need to 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.