Advanced Placement English Grade 12
• Engage in careful reading and critical analysis of
imaginative literature
WESTFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
• Examine a work’s structure, style, and themes as well
as smaller scale items such as the use of figurative
language, imagery, symbolism and tone
• Develop writing styles that allow them to explain
clearly, cogently, and elegantly what they understand
about literary works and why they interpret them as
they do
• Demonstrate written prose that is clear, coherent,
organized and persuasive
• Read works of substance drawn primarily from the
tragic and ironic modes
• Demonstrate a thorough and exact knowledge of
literary terms, including elements of style, rhetorical
devices and figurative language by applying then to
their literary analysis
• Demonstrate an understanding of literary criticism
including the following: Formal, Traditional,
Psychological, Mythological and Archetypal,
Sociological and Reader-Response Criticism
These objectives are drawn directly from the Advanced
Placement Program Guidelines For English Literature
and Composition
Curriculum
Benchmarks
Grades 11 and 12
English Language Arts
Westford Academy
Compiled by the English Language Arts
Curriculum Task Committee
under the direction of
Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Lorraine Tacconi-Moore
“Shaping the future one child at a time”
http://westford.mec.edu/schools
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English Fundamentals Grade 11
Acquire, understand, and use new vocabulary words
from Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes
Study American literature in historical and thematic
contexts using both the Reader’s Companion and
Adapted Readers to supplement the anthology
Write essays of literary analysis based on their reading
Participate in individual or group presentations
focusing on the American experience
Continue to work on issues in grammar and usage
with focus on clear written expression
English College Preparatory Grade 11
Acquire, understand, and use new vocabulary words
from Sadlier Oxford Level F
Study American literature in historical and thematic
contexts
Study the different interpretations of the American
identity
Write essays of literary analysis based on research of
the American dream/American dream myth
Participate in individual or group presentations
focusing on the American experience
Demonstrate proficiency in the grammatical areas of
coordination and subordination, clear reference,
placement of modifiers, parallel structure, and
sentence variety
English Honors Grade 11
Acquire, understand, and use new vocabulary words
from Sadlier Oxford Level F, including the study of
roots
Study American literature in historical and thematic
contexts to understand the philosophical and social
issues that shape American literature
Comprehend and analyze major thematic issues
examined through American literature
Write a research paper or develop a project based on
the analysis of some aspect of American myths
Advance poetry analysis skills by explicating works as
presented in Sound and Sense
Demonstrate an understanding of English grammar
and standard English conventions for punctuation,
capitalization, and spelling in all writing
Journalism Grade 11
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Demonstrate the ability to read and analyze the
news in print and other media
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Demonstrate an understanding of the differences
between and be able to write news stories, feature
stories, editorials, opinions, sport stories, and
satire
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Find sources for news and practice interviewing
techniques
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Understand the history of the free press and
discuss the ethical issues involved
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Understand and apply the rules of page layout and
be responsible for the production of the school
newspaper in a timely manner and with attention
to style detail
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English Fundamentals Grade 12
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Acquire, understand, and use new vocabulary words
using Words Are Important/Purple level
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Study world literature in historical and thematic
contexts using the Scope Level 6 anthology
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Write essays that identify their goals and plans for the
future
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Participate in individual and group projects that
demonstrate their understanding of the thematic issues
such as justice, ambition, and moments of decision
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Write an opinion paper on a social issue which
demonstrates a clear focus and an understanding of the
difference between fact and opinion
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Work on grammar and usage including units on
irregular verbs and correct agreement
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English College Preparatory Grade 12
Acquire, understand, and use new vocabulary
words from Sadlier Oxford Level G
Study world literature in historical and
thematic contexts with an emphasis on British
and western tradition
Study the personal essay as a literary form and
write sample college essays showing a
consideration for different audiences and
purposes
Research an area of social injustice and write
a research paper
Plan and organize a formal oral presentation.
Work on grammar and usage through their
individual writing
English Honors Grade 12
Acquire, understand, and use new vocabulary
words from Sadlier Oxford Level G, including the
study of roots
Study world literature in historical and thematic
contexts in order to understand the philosophical
and social issues that shape world literature
Demonstrate the ability to pose appropriate
questions, to listen to the ideas of others, and to
contribute information and ideas in large and small
discussion groups
Demonstrate the ability to distinguish between
facts, opinions, inferences, and unfounded
assertions when writing a research paper on an
area of social injustice
Translate abstract ideas into concrete perceptions
through writing, demonstrating fluency,
flexibility, and elaboration
Demonstrate the ability to write coherent essays
and compositions with clear controlling ideas and
adequate descriptive details
Write sample college essays showing a
consideration for different audiences and purposes
and including the usage of figurative language
Demonstrate an understanding of English grammar
and standard English conventions for sentence
structure, usage in all writing