Week of 22 January 2018

"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 our attitudes towards the past and future shape our actions?

Students will respond to informational literature on the Renaissance and the Reformation, Elizabethan England, Shakespeare, and his works.  Perspectives on culture, attitude, the playwright, and the audience are necessary for the enjoyment of Shakespeare's plays.  Video clips with summaries will be played before each Act.  Study guides for the play will be distributed. Students will be asked to analyze philosophies on fate/chance, ambition/power, and gender roles.


English 11:  How do we respond when challenged by fear?

Students will view The Crucible and then be required to create a soundtrack for the play.  Students will write paragraphs analyzing the connections between song choices and the chosen scene.  They should be able to identify messages of abuse of power, censorship, revenge, forgiveness, sacrifice, and other themes found in the play.  The Soundtrack Project, including lyrics, images and a cover, will demonstrate knowledge and analysis of the play.

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

Students have been introduced to the course requirements.  This class creates confidence, improves critical thinking and writing skills, and produces students with an increased awareness of self.  A positive, respectful environment that welcomes constructive criticism to strengthen speech skills is necessary for each student's success.  Students will begin reading and discussing the basics of beneficial speech habits.

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.