English I
Scope and Sequence
Course Overview
English I is a full-year course that serves as the introductory high school English course for all ninth-grade students at Mt. Ararat High School. Students are heterogeneously grouped, reflecting a desire to respond to the individual learner with multi-level explorations of English in this often difficult transition period between middle level and high school.
The English I curriculum focuses on two fundamental concepts: story structure and essay structure. Units are designed to guide students to an understanding of narrative and argumentative writing using a wide variety of texts: short stories, novels, films, poetry, and plays.
Throughout the year, students read, discuss, explore and write, culminating in four common assessments: (1) oral presentation and culture notebook, (2) historical fiction paper, (3) thematic essay, and (4) literary analysis of a Shakespearean passage. Students must complete these assessments in order to earn credit for the course.
Students will become familiar with the writing process as they prepare multiple draft revisions of major assignments. Grammar, usage and punctuation will be addressed in class-wide lessons and during individual writing conferences; students tend to become more invested in grammar when it affects their own writing.
Course Components
1. Oral Presentation: Culture Notebook*
Students compile a notebook of material that demonstrates their understanding of how a particular literature (African-American literature, Greek mythology, Native American poetry, etc.) reflects its culture. They will use evidence from this notebook to support their ideas in an oral presentation — either a small-group discussion, a report to the class, or a one-on-one conversation with their teacher.
* See attached scoring rubric for the Culture Notebook here.
2. Thematic Essay: Demonstrating Understanding of Literature
After reading Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, students will write an essay in response to a prompt addressing a topic of thematic significance in the novel. This is an on-demand writing assignment that students will complete in class.
* See attached scoring rubric for the Thematic Essay here.
3. Historical Fiction: Researched Narrative*
The research component of the English I program is the Historical Fiction Unit, during which students explore a particular historical period and compose a story set within that time period and integrating their research. Throughout this unit, students follow a calendar of specific steps and due dates as they collect their notes, plot their stories, and revise their drafts.
* See attached scoring rubric for Historical Fiction here.
4. Shakespeare's Language*
After reading and studying Romeo and Juliet, students will be asked to explain how Shakespeare uses language to create meaning in a passage from one of his plays. This is an on-demand writing assignment that students will complete in class.
* See attached scoring rubric for Shakespeare here.
