Welcome!

• English 9
• English 11 (American Literature)
• AP English Language and Composition
• Mystery (a senior English elective)

• Monday: available (except for faculty/department meetings two Mondays per month)
• Tuesday: available until 2:45
• Thursday: available until 2:45
• Friday: available 

(A1) English 9 L3:

1. For our first unit, we are reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. During the unit, we will focus on themes, author’s craft, and designing discussion questions. The final assessment will be an argumentative essay.
2. Students have begun independent vocabulary study on Membean.com, a site that features individualized training. Students must complete 40 minutes of practice per week (Monday to Sunday), including 10 or more minutes in class. They should expect quizzes every two weeks.
3. In the second half of the quarter, I expect we will begin our study of ancient Greek mythology, including exploration of the “hero’s journey” concept and our reading of Homer’s The Odyssey (translated by Emily Wilson in 2017). This translation has been described as “fresh, unpretentious and lean… effortlessly easy to read and so rigorously considered.”

(A2, B2) English 11: 

1. Our first unit is based on reading The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. In addition to reading, students conduct and present research on relevant topics, as well as complete an argumentative essay.
2. In the second half of the quarter, we will be studying rhetoric, or the art of persuasive speaking and writing. As we read and view speeches, students will learn rhetorical terminology and apply this to their analysis. Ultimately, they will deliver their own speech (2-3 minutes each) on a subject of their choosing.
3. As we near PSATs in October, students will begin to practice for the SAT. As the year goes on, they will complete sets of practice questions, as well as identify the patterns and types of questions in order to set goals for future practice. 

(A4, B3) English 11 L3: 

1. For summer reading, students read the first half of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. To open our year together, we will study the second half of the novel, focusing on both close reading practice and student-led Socratic seminars.
2. In the second half of the quarter, we will study rhetoric, or the art of persuasive speaking and writing. As we read and view speeches, students will learn rhetorical terminology and apply this to their analysis. Ultimately, they will deliver their own speech (3-4 minutes each) on a subject of their choosing.
3. As we near PSATs in October, students will begin to practice for the SAT. Later this year, they will complete sets of practice questions, as well as identify patterns and question types in order to set goals for future practice.