Welcome to English I Accelerated. I am looking forward to a great year as we explore the English language. Ninth grade is a challenging year in many ways-a new school, new friends, new teachers. It is very important that all ninth grade students understand the importance of earning credits toward graduation. Even though your senior year seems a long way away, it will be here before you know it. You want to be sure that you have everything you need in order to graduate. You must have four credits of English in order to receive your diploma in the state of Mississippi. In addition, you must pass both the English II Writing Prompt and the English II Multiple Choice tests next year. This year we will be working on preparing all students to meet this challenge. English I Accelerated is also a feeder class for the AP English program here at PHS. Students who complete this program will take a test at the end of their senior year which can earn them college credit. Students enrolled in accelerated classes are expected to do more and harder work, act in a mature and responsible manner, and place a high value on their education.
SUMMER READING
ALL ENG I ACCELERATED STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO READ TWO BOOKS DURING THE SUMMER AND LEARN THE DEFINITIONS OF A LIST OF SELECTED LITERARY TERMS. THE SUMMER READING TEST WILL CONSIST OF BOTH BOOKS AND ALL TERMS.
If you click on the book titles below, you will be taken to reading guides for the books. It is not required that students complete the reading guides, but they are helpful in reviewing and focusing students in preparation for the summer reading test which they will take the first week of school.
BOOKS:
TERMS:
1. character-person in a story, poem, or play
2. plot-series of related events that make up a story or drama
3. genre-type of literature (mysterh, fiction, play, romance, etc.)
4. antagonist-force or person which works against the protagonist
5. myth-story of forgotten or vague origin, basically religious or supernatural in nature, which seeks to explain or rationalize one or more aspects of the world or a society
6. protagonist-central or main character
7. fact-something which can be proven
8. opinion-someone's idea about something; cannot be proven
9. formal language-language which contains proper grammar/mechanics and elevated vocabulary
10. informal language-may contain slang and errors in grammar/mechanics
11. mood-atmosphere of a story
12. compare-shows how things are alike
13. contrast-shows how things are different
14. fiction-story made up by the author
15. nonfiction-story based on true events/characters
16. static character-a character in a story who does not change in any important way
17. dynamic character-a character in a story who changes in some important way because of his/her experiences
18. foreshadowing-clues or hints of future events
19. flashback-interrupts the present action to "flash" back to something which happened at an earlier time
20. setting-time and place a story occurs
UNITS OF STUDY
FIRST/THIRD NINE WEEKS: THEME-WHAT MAKES A HERO?
ENDER'S GAME-Students will learn the Hero's Journey Archetype with this important work of science fiction by Hugo and Nebula Award winner Orson Scott Card, which was read by students for summer reading.
HEROES, GODS, AND MONSTERS OF THE GREEK MYTHS- Students will study this book by Bernard Evslin which was read for summer reading. It gives students a good, easy to understand introduction to the characters/events of Greek mythology. This knowledge will aid them in their study of literature, understanding of vocabulary words, and appreciation of world cultures.
WRITING SKILLS UNIT-Students will refine their basic writing skills in preparation for the informative essay writing unit and the position paper, both of which students must write as part of the English II Subject Area tests next year. Students will focus on skills such as the following: using excellent vocabulary, varying sentence beginnings, varying sentence structure, developing details, eliminating redundancy.
THE ODYSSEY-Students will read and study excerpts from this enduring epic poem by Homer. In addition, students will identify the elements of the Hero's Journey in this literary classic. Students will also watch excerpts the video Troy, based on Homer's Iliad, starring Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom as an introduction to the events, setting, and characters of The Odyssey.
DAILY GRAMMAR FOCUS-Students will receive direct grammar instruction daily.
VOCABULARY-Each Wednesday students will receive a list of vocabulary words to study for a test the following Wednesday. Lists are cumulative.
SUSTAINED SILENT READING-Students will choose books to read independently during the nine weeks. Students will also complete a Critical Reading Log in conjunction with the reading they do. Students must complete a Book Borrowing Agreement in order to check books out from my classroom library. A major test grade will be given based on total number of pages read.
SKILL OF THE WEEK-Each week students will focus on a particular reading comprehension skill. On Friday, students will take a quiz which will include the current Skill of the Week as well as any previous skill.
SECOND/FOURTH NINE WEEKS: THEME-LOSS OF INNOCENCE
INFORMATIVE ESSAYS AND POSITION PAPERS-Students will write informative essays and position papers using the Jane Schaffer method of essay writing. All students will use the complete writing process.
ROMEO AND JULIET-Students will read and study this great play of young love by William Shakespeare. Students will also study the life and times of William Shakespeare. Students will view the video version of this play directed by Franco Zefferelli and starring Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting and the Baz Luhrmann version starring Claire Danes and Leonardo di Caprio.
DAILY GRAMMAR FOCUS-Students will continue their grammar study.
VOCABULARY-Each Wednesday students continue their vocabulary study.
SKILL OF THE WEEK -Students will continue their focus on a weekly reading comprehension skill .
