Second Quarter Unit
Plan
English I Pre-AP – Ms. Spence
Major Readings: Of Mice and Men
Dust Bowl and Great Depression poetry / non-fiction
“The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas”
Sold excerpts
Assorted non-fiction and poetry (social action focus)
Grammar/Vocabulary: Vocabulary Workshop
Grammar (TBA)
Summative Grades: Of Mice and Men test (MC)
Volunteer Project (essay)
Grammar and Vocab Test (MC)
Social Action Cold Read Test (Final Exam)
Essential Questions:
 What strategies do writers use within expository texts to establish purpose and develop content?
 How does Steinbeck reinforce theme and characterization using literary devices in Of Mice and Men?
 How does Steinbeck address different social issues through the development of his characters?
 What strategies do authors use to develop empathy? What impact do visuals have on empathy?
 What do global tragedies (human trafficking, poverty, the water crisis, etc.) have to do with me?
 What can I do to make a difference in the world on both a local level and a global scale?
Extra Credit AP Novels: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini OR Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora
Neale Hurston (timed writing to be completed in tutoring prior to the end of the nine weeks)
Date
10/26
11/2
Weekly Agenda
Monday – Expository introduction; prompt analysis
and thesis statements; HW: Grammar handout
Tuesday – Body paragraph writing workshop (topic
sentence, evidence, analysis, concluding sentence)
Block Day – Practice essay timed writing
Friday – Grammar HW due; essay reflection and
critique, OMAM assigned (finish book by 11/9)
Monday – Sample essay scoring with STAAR rubric
Tuesday – Revising and editing practice
Block Day – “Checkpoint” assessment #2 (expository
essay)
Friday – – Vocabulary Unit 4 activities due and Vocab
4 Mini Quiz; Dust Bowl and Great Depression
expository and poetry rotations
Monday – Reading check quiz, plot and
characterization focus in Of Mice and Men
Objectives
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Organizational style
Main idea
Thesis development
Supporting details
Subtle Inferences
Grammar
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Organizational style
Main idea
Thesis development
Supporting details
Subtle Inferences
Grammar
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Author’s Purpose
Assessments
Practice Essay
Grammar Homework
Benchmark
(Checkpoint #2)
Vocab Unit 4 Mini Quiz
Dust Bowl / Great
Depression Rotations
Reading Check Quiz
11/9
11/16
11/23
Tuesday – Literary devices in Of Mice and Men
Block Day – Marginalization and social issues in Of
Mice and Men; test review
Friday – Of Mice and Men Test (MC)
**End of 1st Progress Report**
Monday – Social Action introduction, “What’s in a
Name?” “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas”
Tuesday – Kevin Carter photo analysis, “Omelas”
wrap up, assign Volunteer Project, HW: Room
appraisal handout
Block Day – Poverty silent conversation with
expository articles and graphics
Friday – Vocabulary Unit 5 activities due and Vocab 5
Quiz; wrap up poverty focus
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Characterization
Foreshadowing
Symbolism
Contemporary
connections
Author’s purpose
Tone
Mood
Organizational
patterns
Contemporary
connections
Vocabulary
development
Of Mice and Men Test
Poverty Silent
Conversation
Vocabulary Activities
Vocab Unit 5 Quiz
Enjoy your Thanksgiving
Holiday!
Count your blessings!
11/30
12/7
12/14
Monday – Factory Farming introduction and analysis
of media, HW: Grammar handout
Tuesday – Factory farming expository articles
Block Day – Human trafficking focus, Sold passages +
analysis
Friday – Volunteer Project due; human trafficking
debrief; grammar homework due
Monday – Refugees and victims of war (news articles
and poetry)
Tuesday – The water crisis, analysis of a graphic,
Model UN introduction
Block Day – Model UN prep and activity; grammar
review
Friday – –Vocabulary Unit 6 / Grammar Test
(Vocabulary Unit 6 activities due)
**End of Progress Report
Finals Week!!
Monday – Cold read practice
Tuesday – Social action test review
Block Day – Friday – Final Exams
**End of 9 Weeks – Report Card
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Bias
Rhetorical appeals
Author’s purpose
Tone
Mood
Characterization
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Organizational
patterns
Analysis of a graphic
Collaboration
Sentence types
Parts of speech
Vocabulary
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Author’s purpose
Organizational
patterns
Tone
Mood
Characterization
Literary devices
Factory farming articles
Grammar Homework
Volunteer Project
Model UN
Vocabulary Activities
Grammar and Vocab
Test
Cold read practice
Final Exam
*This syllabus is subject to change
due to a variance in pacing /
unexpected events. Students will be
informed well in advance if any due
dates or test days are moved.