First Quarter Unit Plan
English I Pre-AP – Mrs. Buhman
Overarching Questions: What defines a family? What is worth fighting for? How do writers use the “hero’s
journey” to enhance plot, character development, and theme? Where do I see archetypes in literature, as
well in modern culture? How do I use text evidence to support a claim?
Major Readings: Summer selection - A Long Way Gone (or alternative novel)
The Odyssey by Homer
Thematically linked short stories, non-fiction texts, and poetry
Writing Focus: Short answer (single & crossover)
Grammar/Vocabulary:  Vocabulary Power Plus Activities & Quizzes
 Parts of speech, subject-verb agreement, dependent/independent
clauses, prepositional phrases (mini-lessons through warm-ups)
Summative Grades:
Week
8/25
Welcome
Class of
2018!
9/1
Pep Rally
Friday
9/8
9/15
 Summer Reading Test
 Odyssey Test
 Odyssey Webquest
 Grammar Test
Weekly Agenda
Objectives
Monday – Summer reading questions due; Course
introduction; Assign 6 Word Memoir (Due Tuesday,
9/2)
Tuesday – Literary devices handout; discuss music’s
influence in ALWG
Block Day – Loss of innocence in ALWG; Compare
the loss of innocence found in ALWG and the poem,
“The Flowers”
Friday – Grammar diagnostic;  HW: Read “The
Sniper”
Monday – No School (Labor Day)
Tuesday – Supplies due; 6 Word Memoir due;
Reading check and “Sniper” analysis; discussion of
the memoir’s conclusion
Block Day –  Summer Reading Test
Friday –Test analysis and corrections
 Pep Rally on Friday, 9/5 during Advisory –
MUST wear spirit shirt to attend
Monday – Elements of a story booklet; Begin “The
Most Dangerous Game”-  HW: Complete reading
“MDG”
Tuesday – “The Most Dangerous Game” analysis;
short answer practice
Block Day – Short answer practice continued; “The
Most Dangerous Game” wrap up
Friday – Introduction to mythology;  HW:
Gods/Goddesses Playing Cards (Due Monday,
9/15)
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 Library orientation this week
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Monday – Gods & Goddesses Playing Cards due;
Assemble family tree of gods & goddesses
 Open House 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday – Mythology / short answer practice
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Theme analysis (6)
Textual support (Fig.
19B)
Cross-genre
connections (2A)
Parts of speech (17)
Author’s purpose (6)
Cross-cultural
connections (8)
Point-of-view (5C)
Parts of speech (17)
Plot development
(5A)
Conflict (5)
Characterization
(5B)
Vocabulary
development (1A)
Subject/verb
agreement (17)
Literary devices (3A)
Thesis statement
(13A)
Plot development
Subject/verb
Assessments
Summer reading
questions
Grammar diagnostic
“Sniper” reading check
6 Word Memoir
Summer Reading Test
Short answer practice
“Most Dangerous
Game” booklet
Gods/Goddesses
Playing Cards
9/15
(cont’d)
9/22
Picture
Week
Day TBD
9/29
10/6
Homecoming
Week
10/13
Block Day – Mythology / short answer practice
Friday - Begin Hero’s Journey notes; Connection to
modern storytelling and A Long Way Gone
 Pep Rally – Wear your spirit shirt
Monday – Assign Unit 1 Vocab; Continue Hero’s
Journey notes
Tuesday – Research review and assignment of
Odyssey webquest (Due Monday, 9/29); Plagiarism
Contract
Block Day – Library for webquest
Friday – Vocab due; Library for webquest
Monday –  Webquest due by 4:00 p.m. to
Turnitin.com; Read “Invocation to the Muses” and
“Calypso”
Tuesday – Odyssey Part I (Cicones, Cyclops  Finish
for homework if neccesary)
Block Day – Odyssey Part I (discussion of Odysseus’
heroism and hubris, Circe, Underworld, Sirens
 Finish for homework if necessary)
Friday – Vocab Quiz; Assign Unit 2 Vocab; Odyssey
Part I ( Finish reading Odyssey Part I)
 Pep Rally – Wear your spirit shirt
Monday – Review Part I; possible reading check;
Odyssey Part II (Reunion with son & Argos)
Tuesday – Odyssey Part II (Test of the Great Bow)
Block Day – Odyssey Part II (Battle in the Great
Hall and Penelope reunion) + analysis
Friday – Vocab due; Crossover practice with
Odyssey and “Ithaca” poem
 Pep Rally – Wear your spirit shirt
Monday – No school (Columbus Day)
Tuesday – Test and short answer review
Block Day –  Odyssey MC & Short Answer Test
Friday – Vocab Quiz; Assign Unit 3 Vocab
 Pep Rally – Wear your spirit shirt
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10/20
Short answer practice
Identifying quality
research sources
(22)
Documentation (23)
Multimedia use
(15D)
Grammar (17)
Non-linear plot (5A)
Narration (5B)
Character
motivation (5B)
Theme (5)
Grammar (17)
Hero’s Journey quick
write
Character change
(5B)
Literary devices (3A)
Grammar (17)
Research daily grade(s)
Vocab Activities
Odyssey Webquest
Vocab Quiz
Odyssey daily grade
Reading check
Vocab Activities
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Monday – Review Odyssey test scores; View
Odyssey video clips & why is this story still relevant
today? What does this have to do with me?
Tuesday – Grammar review
Block Day –  Grammar Test
Friday – Vocab due; Grammar test corrections and
analysis
 Pep Rally – Wear your spirit shirt
agreement (17)
Mythic influence
(2B)
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Cross-genre
connections (2A)
Thesis (13A)
Textual evidence
(Fig. 19B)
Support evidence
with analysis (Fig.
19B)
Parts of speech (17)
Subject/verb
agreement (17)
Grammar (17)
Odyssey Test
Vocab Quiz
Grammar Test
Vocab Activities
Unit plan is subject to change due to unforeseen events or a
variance in pacing. Students will be informed well in advance when
there is a change in test dates or deadlines.
Beware the Lotus!!