Week of March 18th, 2013

 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.

9th Grade English:  Students will complete Vocabulary Unit 8.  They will be required to understand the meaning in context.  They will also need to dissect sentences, identifying subject and verb, as well as phrases and clauses.  The Vocabulary test will be on Wednesday, March 20th.  We will begin the novel, Great Expectations, on Thursday, March 21st.  They will be required to read, comprehend, and apply literary elements and devices.  They will be reading for meaning.

9th Grade Academic English: Students will review the meanings and application of the words for Vocabulary Unit 8.  They will be required to analyze sentence structure by identifying phrases and subordinate clauses.  They will differentiate between interpretation and inference through the discussion of the novel.  The discussion will focus on the author's purpose and meaning through the use of literary devices (characterization, symbols, allusion, foreshadowing, figurative language).

11th Grade Practical: Students will begin the process of research.  They will differentiate between analytical and argumentative papers.  Students will be required to pick a specific topic, locate valid sources, and create a thesis.  There will be a vocabulary review on Thursday, March 21 in preparation for the test on Friday, March 22nd.
 
12th Grade Practical:  Students will continue work on their research paper.  The  note taking, citations, and tentative outline are due no later than Monday, March 18th.  Final outlines will be due by Wednesday, March 20th.  There will be a Vocabulary test on Unit 2B on Friday, March 22nd.

Week of March 11, 2013

 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.
9th Grade English & 9th Grade Academic:  Students will be completing the Infomercial/Persuasive Project.  Vocabulary Unit 8 definitions, dissections, and sentences due on 3/15.  Academic only--Notes and Study Guides for the novel due on 3/15

11th Grade Practical: Students will be completing their Documentary Projects.  There will be a quiz on Vocabulary Unit 2A on Thursday, 3/14.  Students will begin work on Vocabulary 2B.

12th Grade Practical:  Students will be working on the Research Paper.  They will be tested on Vocabulary Unit 2A on Thursday, 3/14.

Week of March 4, 2013

 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.
9th Grade English & 9th Grade Academic: Students will be working on the infomercial.  They will be responsible for applying persuasive techniques, demonstrating knowledge of their audience, and utilizing their product.  The projects will be due no later than 3/10.

11th Grade Practical: Students will be working on the documentary.  They will be responsible for creating a documentary which demonstrates: knowledge of topic, application of theme, logical order, and citations.  Vocabulary Unit 2A Words will be distributed.  They will be responsible for definitions, synonyms and antonyms, and application through the creation of a sentence where the word must be used according to its part of speech.

12th Grade Practical:  Students will continue work on the research paper.  They will be responsible for creating a thesis.  They will ask questions and look for answers.  They will continue to read and take notes from their sources.  Their first 5 citations and notes will be due on Thursday, 3/7.  Vocabulary 2A Worksheet is due on 3/6.  Vocabulary Quiz 2A will be on Friday, 3/8. 

Week of February 25, 2013

 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.

9th Grade English & 9th Grade Academic English: Students will begin work on the Persuasive Writing Assignment.  They will apply persuasive techniques to create an Infomercial.  They will begin by researching a product and a company during the British Industrial Revolution.  They will need to find valid sources and research culture.  They will compile notes, apply persuasive techniques, knowledge of audience, product, and company, work cooperatively, and utilize technology to produce the modern-day format of the Infomercial.  The knowledge gained will help them to apply meaning to the novel by Charles Dickens, Great Expectations.

11th Grade Practical: Students will continue work on the Documentary.  They will research their topic/person to create the informational format of the Documentary.  They will need to find valid sources, compile notes, apply information to the documentary format, credit their sources, work cooperatively, and utilize technology to produce the Documentary.  The themes found in The Crucible from their Literature class will need to be applied, understanding the relevancy of meaning throughout history, and in current times. 

12th Grade Practical:  Students will be engaged in the process of research.  They will locate valid/reliable sources, compile notes, make a claim, create a thesis, argue a claim, credit their sources, make a connection, apply relevancy, and utilize technology. 

Week of February 18, 2013

 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.

9th Grade English & 9th Academic English:  Students will continue applying vocabulary, reading in context, and dissecting sentences.  There will be a Vocabulary Unit 7 Test on Thursday, February 21st.  The students will be introduced to the next written project.  The project will focus on purpose and audience.  They will be creating commercials and advertisements for a product that was produced during the 19th century.  They will be utilizing technology in order to complete the project.

11th Practical:  Students will be working on the documentary.  They will be responsible for utilizing technology, applying information and techniques.  The focus of the documentary is the comprehension of power and individualism.  They will have the opportunity to apply these themes to the informational medium that they have chosen. 

12th Grade Practical: Students will be working on a response to the writing prompt on the Archetypal Hero.  They will be responsible for applying writing skills,  grammar usage skills, and  incorporating grammar.  There will be an introduction to the Research Paper. On Thursday and Friday, they will be given the necessary requirements for the paper.  

Week of February 4, 2013

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.

9th Grade English & 9th Grade Academic:  Students will demonstrate their knowledge of literature, vocabulary, and usage by responding to a prompt.  They will need to apply the literature for support of their thesis, write in active voice and apply vocabulary.  There will be a test on Vocabulary Unit 6 on Wednesday, February 6th.  They will be assessed on word knowledge and application and will need to identify all  phrases and clauses.

11th Grade Practical:  In order to establish the importance of the literature, many writing prompts will be based on the readings, time periods, and themes.  Students will be required to respond to a writing prompt on "McCarthyism" as a parallel to The Crucible.  They will be responsible for applying critical thinking skills to support their answer to the writing prompt.  They will  also need to include a strong thesis, demonstrate correct subject/verb agreement, and incorporate vocabulary.  There will be a Vocabulary Unit 1 Test on Wednesday, February 6th.  On Thursday, students will be required to answer a writing prompt relating to the Harlem Renaissance in celebration of Black History Month.  They will be need to include a strong thesis, supporting details, and correct subject/verb agreement.

12th Grade Practical:  Strong paragraph structure will be the focus so that we can work towards the creation of the essay.  The students will be responding to writing prompts on Anglo-Saxon poetry, Beowulf, and the Archetypal Hero, all subjects that are being taught in their Literature class.  The students will be required to have strong paragraph structure, use active voice and correct subject/verb agreement, support their thesis, and apply vocabulary from 1B. On Friday, students will be required to answer a writing prompt about African-American Heroes in celebration of Black History Month.

Week of January 28, 2013

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.


9th Grade English & 9th Grade Academic: Students will be reading and analyzing the Short Story. They will be responsible for applying the elements of the short story and identifying the author's use of literary devices.  At the conclusion of the story, students will be required to identify and support the author's message and its relevancy today.  The students will also be working on Vocabulary.  The vocabulary unit incorporates knowledge of the word from its origin to its definition and application.  The creation of sentences demonstrates knowledge and effective communication.  The review through sentence completion applies reading in context.  The application incorporates knowledge and utilization of grammar through sentence dissection. The students will also be required to respond to a writing prompt, demonstrating analysis of the relevancy of the literature, grammar usage, and vocabulary application.  There willbe a vocabulary test on Monday, February 4th.

11th Grade Practical:  The students will be working on Vocabulary which will also be incorporated in their writing.  Students will be required to respond to a writing prompt on "McCarthyism" as a parallel to The Crucible.  They will be responsible for applying critical thinking skills to support their answer to the writing prompt.  They will  also need to include a strong thesis, demonstrate correct subject/verb agreement, and incorporate vocabulary.  There will be a Vocabulary Test on Friday, February 1st.

12th Grade Practical:  Strong paragraph structure will be the focus so that we can work towards the creation of the essay.  The students will be responding to writing prompts on Anglo-Saxon poetry, Beowulf, and the Archetypal Hero, all subjects that are being taught in their Literature class.  The students will be required to have strong paragraph structure, use active voice and correct subject/verb agreement, support their thesis, and apply vocabulary from 1A. A quiz on Vocabulary 1A will be on Friday, February 1st.