Welcome
English Language Arts
Sara Meskin
Alyssa Jenkins
Terra Nova English: Excellence
 Diverse course offerings (Collegeprep English, Enriched/Honors,
Advanced Placement, Film as
Literature)
 Rigorous (Demanding writing
program, high-quality literature,
Common-Core aligned)
 Superior (AP pass rates 20+% higher
than national average)
8th grade Enriched English
testing
 Students wishing to get into 9th grade
Enriched English must take an
entrance test. Failure to take this
test will result in no entrance.
 If your student doesn’t pass the test,
he or she can still enter the honors
program at 10th grade, as long as he
or she meets the requirements.
Testing Dates for Enriched English
May 3 at 9:00am
OR
May 17 at 9:00am
Students should arrive between 8:30 and 8:45.
Testing will be in the English wing (3rd floor)
They need to bring: blue or black pens, college-ruled
paper, and a #2 pencil. No materials will be
available.
Placement notification will be mailed by June 13.
Test for Enriched English
Two parts to the test:
 Reading Comprehension
Students must read a text and then answer a
series of multiple choice questions testing their
comprehension of the material.
 In-class Essay
Students read a short passage and then
respond to an essay prompt.
(Want to prepare for the essay? Look up
“Schaffer paragraph” on Wikipedia.)
Summer reading for 9th
graders
 English 9: Buddha Boy by Kathe Koja
Assignment: Read the novel. Take careful notes to help you study
for the test and essay you will write in August.
 English 9E: Buddha Boy and A Tree
Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Assignment: Read both novels. For Buddha Boy, write a
dialectical journal; this will help you with the test in August.
Instructions will be handed out when the counselors come to your
school for scheduling. For A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, take careful
notes to help you with the test and essay you will write in August.
Freshmen Year options
 Enriched English: English 9E
Students gain admission by passing the Enriched English test
in May. Students must earn a grade of B- or higher both
semesters of their freshmen year in order to be recommended
for sophomore enriched English.
 College Preparatory: English 9
Students not in English 9E will be in this class. Students
must receive an A- or higher both semesters of their freshmen
English class and get a teacher recommendation in order for
them to transition into sophomore enriched English.
 Academic Literacy
A support class for struggling freshmen students. Placement
determined by counselors. Concurrent enrollment with
English 9.
Freshman Novels
Of Mice and Men*
Romeo and Juliet *
Ender’s Game*
House on Mango Street*
The Odyssey/Mythology*
Absolutely True Autobiography of a PartTime Indian
 Les Miserables**
 Oliver Twist**
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* Core Novels
** Enriched English
English Curriculum Map Grade 9
Weeks 1- 6
Weeks 6-12
Weeks 12 - 18
Focus: Essay Writing
Types of Essays:
1. Narrative
2. Expository
3. Persuasive
4. Literary Analysis
Essay Basics:
1. Thesis
2. Topic Sentence
3. C.D. / Evidence
4. C.M. / Analysis
5. Body Paragraph
6. Conclusion
Focus: Plot Structure
Literary Elements
1. Exposition / Basic
Situation
2. Rising Actions/
Complications
3. Climax
4. Falling Actions
5. Resolution
6. Conflicts
7. Personification
8. Mood
9. Imagery
10. Flashback
Focus: Characterization
Literary Elements
1. Characterization
2. Motivation
3. Round
4. Flat
5. Dynamic
6. Static
7. Main Character
8. Subordinate
Characters
9. Protagonist
10. Antagonist
Common Assessment:
Common Assessment:
Common Assessment:
Writing Assessment:
Writing Assessment:
Writing Assessment:
Weeks 18 - 24
Weeks 24 - 30
Weeks 30 – 36
Focus: Literary
Analysis
Essay Basics:
1. Direct Quote
2. Paraphrase
3. Summary
4. Citation
5. Thesis Statement
6. Integrating Quotes
7. Transitions
8. Lead-Ins
9. Quo, Par, Punc.
“(13).
Focus: Theme &
Narration
Literary Elements:
1. Theme
2. Tone
3. Diction
4. Voice
5. Narration
Focus: Research
Writing
Essay Basic Abilities:
1. Evidence
2. Primary Source
3. Secondary
source
4. MLA Citation
5. Work Cited
6. Credible
7. Plagiarism
8. Methods
Common Assessment:
Common Assessment: Common Assessment:
Writing Assessment:
Writing Assessment:
Writing Assessment:
Sophomore Year choices
 Enriched English: English 10E
In addition to the coursework in English 10, students in 10E
read A Tale of Two Cities and two additional novels. Students are
expected to read independently over vacations, as well.
 College Preparatory: English 10
This class is aligned with the World History, Cultures, and
Geography class that all sophomores take; literature focuses
on Western civilization and includes literature like All Quiet on
the Western Front, Macbeth, Catcher in the Rye, and Night.
Junior Year choices
 AP Language and Composition
 Honors English (English 11H)
 College Preparatory (English 11)
Electives
 Journalism 1 (newspaper)
Priority goes to seniors, but juniors are encouraged to
apply for class.
 Yearbook
 Film as Literature (may not be taken both
junior and senior year)
Senior Year choices
 AP Literature and Composition
 Honors English (English 12H)
 Expository Reading and Writing (ERWC) –
College Preparatory
 Film as Literature
Electives
 Journalism 1 and 2
 Yearbook
Questions?