11th grade syllabus
Month/week Goals and Focus
August
(week 5)
September
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Introductions,
paperwork and
foundations for
argumentation
and logic.
Assessments, essays
and activities
Parent information
forms, Diagnostic
essay, Fallacies and
Syllogisms 101 sheet.
5 essential questions
and 5 class answers
(Group work)
Readings
In class:
Essay to analyze using
Logic Primer
Summer reading essay
reminder.
http://www.scholardari
ty.com/
?page_id=679
Reinforce
Groups will draft
http://ksuweb.kennesa
understanding of
their own formal
w.edu/
Logic and
arguments on a given ~shagin/logicalfallacies
argumentation
topic. They will
.htm
present them to the
class using Prezi.
Rhetorical
Read and analyze
Chief Joseph’s
Triangle Parallel
chief Joseph’s
Surrender Speech
structure
Surrender speech, I
(Research its history
Elements of
Will Fight no more
online)
persuasion
Forever.
http://www.nezperce.c
Review annotation Independent
om/npedu11.html
format
analysis of Sitting
Sitting Bull’s Speech at
Review SAT rubric Bull’s speech.
the Powder River
SAT ESSAY:
Council
Freedom and
www.opencourtresourc
Security
es.com/.../Trail%20of%
20tears%20prima.doc
Review elements
Select a speech and Declaration of
of persuasion and apply
Independence
introduce
understanding of
Select one: The Crisis,
Rhetorical
rhetoric and logic
Thomas Paine
devices:
to analyze the
Speech to the Virginia
Polysndeton
speech
Convention, Patrick
Alliteration
As a class we will
Henry
Metaphor
analyze the
The Emancipation
Metonymy
Declaration of
Proclamation,
Independence and
Gettysburg Address,
apply that to another Abraham Lincoln
speech/essay
Pronoun usage
Introduction to
The Narrative of the Life
Responsibilities of Frederick Douglass
of Frederick Douglass an
the reader/
listener/speaker
/writer
Evaluating the use
Week 4 con’t of diction in
Chapters 1 and 2
in Douglass
by analyzing excerpts
of What to the Slave
is the fourth of July?
SAT test taking
strategies and review
October
Week 1
Summer reading
essay (in class)
Historical timeline
for Abolitionist
movement
Analysis,
interpretation and
comparison Essay
of the language of
Cornerstone and First
Inaugural Address
Week 2
Author’s purpose.
Reviewing the
history, context
and purpose of
Narrative
Reader’s
responsibility
Why readers must
be aware at all
times.
PSATS
Week 3
Prepare for an in
class discussion
about Narrative
and examine the
elements of
Rhetoric and
appeals in the
work.
Historical
background on
1692 Salem
Comma usage
Week 4
Outside reading
essay
Use of the semi
Written summary
that addresses the
discussion in class
and draws
conclusions about
Douglass’ techniques
and purpose.
Webquest for The
Crucible
http://www.immacu
lateheartacademy.or
g/Outside2/English/
Mathews/Crucible_W
ebQuest.htm
Sinners in the Hands
of an Angry G-d
Rhetorical chart and
review.
American Slave
(chapters 1-3)
Outside reading
assigned: The
Autobiography of
Benjamin Franklin (to
purchase, to borrow ,or
online:
http://etext.virginia.ed
u/toc/modeng/public/
Fra2Aut.html
Ain’t I a Woman,
Sojourner Truth
Narrative (chapters 4-7)
Franklin (at your own
pace)
Cornerstone Speech by
Alexander Stephens
(http://teachingameric
anhistory.org/library/i
ndex.asp?documentprin
t=76)
Lincoln’s First inaugural
address.
Narrative 8-11
Franklin (at your own
pace)
Franklin (at your own
pace, due Next Week)
The Crucible by Arthur
Miller is assigned We
begin the in class
reading with Act I.
Sinners in the Hands of
an Angry G-d, Jonathan
Edwards
colon and review
of sentence
structure as it
pertains to
previous speeches
and essays. We
will review the
connections
between structure
and punctuation
and its impact on
the intended
message.
Week 5
November
Week 1
Week 2
Characterization
and the language
that supports it
Understand the
motivations and
various factors of
the play that
developed the
theme through a
well-planned
discussion
Basic research on
American
Romanticism and
Mohicans
Pronoun case
agreement
Week 3
Research methods
discussed and
topics assigned
Library time
Library time
TPCASTT strategy
for analyzing a
poem. Review
Sinners Analysis
Essay
Outside reading
Essay
The Crucible Act I and II
Outside reading due by
the end of the week.
Character Analysis
of a character from
The Crucible
The Crucible Syncon
Crucible Act III
A summary of the
Syncon and the
themes that were
revealed.
Outside reading
assigned The Last of the
Mohicans James
Fennimore Cooper
http://www.onlineliterature.com/cooperj/
mohicans/ (for
purchase as well)
Literary Analysis
introduction
http://readingart.i
nfo/archetype%20
handout.pdf
Basic research idea
and proposal
The Crucible Act IV
Outside reading (LotM)
The role of sources in
research.
How to take notes for
a research project
Thesis drafting and
outlining techniques
Poetic analysis of
Thanatopsis
Outside reading (LotM)
Thanatopsis by William
Cullen Bryant
http://www.bartleby.co
Week 4
Week 5
December
Week 1
Week 2
literary devices.
Apply Last week’s
findings on
Romanticism to
poem
Pronoun number
agreement
Begin drafting
rough draft for
research project,
being sure to
include
understandings of
argumentation.
Different
“branches” of
Romanticism:
Gothic
Review of
transitions and
sentence structure
(clauses and
modifiers)
Review the
elements of
Narrative and
voice in order to
create a retelling
of Poe’s Black Cat.
Review
Transcendental
writers
Transition into
Realism and
Realist writers.
Civil War and
events that
changed attitudes
How a writer
develops themes
and the possible
elements that
contribute to its
development:
Character, diction,
m/102/16.html
Analysis of West’s
painting, The Death
of General Wolfe
Research paper
rough draft
Outside reading
O Captain, My Captain
The Black Cat
TPCASTT analysis of
O Captain…
Begin Black Cat
Narrative
Research Paper
Rough Draft
Self-reliance, Ralph
Waldo Emerson
Resistance/Civil
Disobedience… Henry
David Thoreau
http://thoreau.eserver.
org/civil1.html
Romanticism and
LotM essay
Outside reading due at
the end of this week
The Pendulum
swings activity
The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn by
Mark Twain assigned
Huck Finn
Research paper
Final draft
Themes in
“Chicamauga” essay
“Chicamauga” by
Ambrose Bierce
Outside reading
assigned The Catcher in
Week 3
Week 4
January
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
structure and
literary/rhetorical
elements
Literary analysis
with selecting one
of the 5 critical
approaches to
analyzing
literature..
Literary analysis
review (5 types of
analysis)
Vacation week
Review of writing
and
considerations for
revisions based on
grammar, style
and content
Mark Twain and
his use of Irony
and the
Vernacular
(language
develops the
message)
Mid-term exams
Week 4
Class Discussion
on racism and
Twain. Focus: is
Huck Finn a racist
novel
Week 5
Finish up
discussion and
reflections about
Huck Finn
The shifting of
movements and
the Rye (CitR) By J.D.
Salinger
Literary analysis of
“The Outcasts of
Poker Flat”
Segments of the
movie 9 as a means
of selecting an
approach to
understanding the
movie.
Huck Finn
“The Outcasts of Poker
Flat”, by Bret Harte
http://www.bartleby.co
m/310/4/2.html
Final papers due
Half-year Folder
review and
selection for
revision
Huck Finn
Catcher
Jim a character
study
Who are the good
guys and who are the
bad guys in Huck
Finn
Reader response
Half year revisions
and conference
reflections
Reflections on
Twain Discussion
Approaches to
literature What
approach best
befits Huck Finn
and why? Support
your opinion
Outside reading
essay comparing HF
and Catcher
Huck Finn
Catcher
Historical research
about the times,
Huck Finn
Catcher
Huck Finn
Outside reading due
next week (Catcher)
“To Build a Fire “ by
Jack London.
why. Moving on to
Naturalism and
why the shift.
February
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
March
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Transitions in
cause and effect
papers and how to
organize them.
Poetic style and
drafting your own
poem
Apply the ideas of
Naturalism to
excerpts of
Sinclair’s, The
Jungle
Moving onto the
Moderns through
a study of the
causes for the
“Modernists”
attidude and
beliefs
Analyze Edgar Lee
Masters Poems
and reflections on
voice and tone
Robert Frost as
the People’s poet.
Review poetic
conventions and
groups will
analyze and
compare 4 frost
poems.
Modernist Hero
and a changing
society. Watch
Science and Social.
How does “To Build a
Fire” fit into
Naturalism?
Cause and effect in
“To Build a Fire”
Analysis of George
Bellows’ painting,
Both Members of
this Club
Robinson imitation
poem
P.L. Dunbar poetic
comparison
Discussion and a
reflective essay that
focuses on whether
students agree with
the beliefs of
Naturalism
Webquest
http://teacherweb.
com/GA/Habersha
mCentralHighSchoo
l/AmerLiteraryPeri
ods/ap5.aspx
E.A. Robinson’s Miniver
Cheevy and Richard
Corey
P.L. Dunbar’s We Wear
the Mask and
Negro Love Song
Selections from The
Jungle by Upton Sinclair
http://www.onlineliterature.com/upton_si
nclair/jungle/
The Lovesong of J.A.
Proofrock. Students may
be asked to tackle
excerpts from The
Wasteland (T.S. Eliot)
Richard Bobe and
“Butch” Weldy, E.L.
Masters
Poem reflections
Design, Nothing Gold
Can Stay, Mending Wall,
Out, Out, by Robert
Frost
Guided notes for
the movie,
reflections and a
Introduction to
Steinbeck
The love song of J. Alfred
Week 4
April
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
May
Week 1
Grapes of Wrath
and analyze Tom
Joad as a Modern
Hero.
Read and analyze
William Faulkner’s
Nobel Prize
Acceptance speech
as an introduction
to Faulkner
Read “A Rose for
Emily” and use
inference to
generate an
understanding of
themes that run
through the story.
Introduction to
the Harlem
Renaissance
Spring break
(11th)
Read and watch
Act I s i and ii of
Fences
Act I s iii and iv
review of the
Prufrock, T.S. Eliot
Modern version of a (critical approach
hero.
selection as well)
Address the
elements of
persuasion and
language in
Faulkner’s speech.
Essay on
Agreeing/disagreei
ng with Faulkner’s
ideas in his speech
Inferences and
conclusions in
Faulkner’s “Rose”
1950 Nobel Prize
Acceptance Speech,
William Faulkner
Mini-baseball
research project
and presentation
Fences
Death of A Salesman
(outside reading) both
assigned
Fences
Death of a Salesman
Fences
Death of a Salesman
Storytelling and the
Blues handout
Developing themes
Possible
connections to
Archetypal
approach
“A Rose for Emily” by
William Faulkner
Fences
Death of a Salesman