Common Curriculum Map
Discipline: Liberal Arts
Course: AP Prep Composition 9
August/September:
Standards:
1.B.5a Relate reading to prior knowledge and experience and make connections to related information.
1.B.4c Read age-appropriate material with fluency and accuracy
1.C.5a Use questions and predictions to guide reading across complex materials.
1.C.5d Summarize and make generalizations from content and relate them to the purpose of the material.
2.A.4a Analyze and evaluate the effective use of literary techniques (e.g., figurative language, allusion,
dialogue, description, symbolism, word choice, dialect) in classic and contemporary literature
representing a variety of forms and media.
2.A.5b Evaluate relationships between and among character, plot, setting, theme, conflict and resolution
and their influence on the effectiveness of a literary piece.
2.A.4d Describe the influence of the author’s language structure and word choice to convey the author’s
viewpoint.
2.B.5a Analyze and express an interpretation of a literary work.
2.B.4c Discuss and evaluate motive, resulting behavior and consequences demonstrated in literature.
3.A.4 Use standard English to edit documents for clarity, subject/verb agreement, adverb and adjective
agreement and verb tense; proofread for spelling, capitalization and punctuation; and ensure that
documents are formatted in final form for submission and/or publication.
3.B.4a Produce documents that exhibit a range of writing techniques appropriate to purpose and audience,
with clarity of focus, logic of organization, appropriate elaboration and support and overall coherence.
3.B.4c Evaluate written work for its effectiveness and make recommendations for its improvement.
3.C.5a Communicate information and ideas in narrative, informative and persuasive writing with clarity
and effectiveness in a variety of written forms using appropriate traditional and/or electronic formats;
adapt content, vocabulary, voice and tone to the audience, purpose and situation.
Essential Questions:
How do I read an essay?
How do I write an essay?
How does a writer use literary techniques to convey theme?
Content:
Selected readings from The Prentice Hall Reader
Active Reading: prereading, reading, rereading
Essay Writing: purpose, audience, information, thesis, revision
Six Write Traits
Narrative writing
Compare/Contrast Writing
A Lesson Before Dying
Literary Terms: setting, allusion, characterization, conflict, symbol, theme, allegory
Themes: race relations, courage, capital punishment
Skills:
Read a piece of literature for detail and analysis
Write in an organized manner including introduction, support, and conclusion
Compose a thesis statement
Participate in literary discussion
Support responses with citations from text
Identify symbol in A Lesson Before Dying
Relate literature selections to self and the world
Synthesize key points
Ask and respond to questions about readings
Evaluate a character's behavior
Understand historical context of a piece of writing
Assessment:
Who Am I essay
quizzes
journal responses
reader response questions
quotation identification and significance
A Lesson Before Dying Test
Compare/Contrast Essay
October:
Standards:
1.B.4a Preview reading materials, clarify meaning, analyze overall themes and coherence, and relate
reading with information from other sources.
1.B.5a Relate reading to prior knowledge and experience and make connections to related information.
1.C.4a Use questions and predictions to guide reading.
3.A.4 Use standard English to edit documents for clarity, subject/verb agreement, adverb and adjective
agreement and verb tense; proofread for spelling, capitalization and punctuation; and ensure that
documents are formatted in final form for submission and/or publication.
3.B.4a Produce documents that exhibit a range of writing techniques appropriate to purpose and audience,
with clarity of focus, logic of organization, appropriate elaboration and support and overall coherence.
3.B.4c Evaluate written work for its effectiveness and make recommendations for its improvement.
3.C.5a Communicate information and ideas in narrative, informative and persuasive writing with clarity
and effectiveness in a variety of written forms using appropriate traditional and/or electronic formats;
adapt content, vocabulary, voice and tone to the audience, purpose and situation.
5.A.4a Demonstrate a knowledge of strategies needed to prepare a credible research report (e.g., notes,
planning sheets).
5.B.4b Use multiple sources and multiple formats; cite according to standard style manuals.
Essential Questions:
What is research?
How do I gather and use specific information?
What is the difference between quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing?
How do I take and use notes?
How do I organize a research paper?
How do I include and cite sources in a research paper?
Content:
Gathering and using examples in writing
Note taking
Quotating, paraphrasing, and summarizing
Outlining
Creating a research paper
Selected readings from The Prentice Hall Reader
Gathering and Using Examples
The Writing Process
Selected research materials
Skills:
Identify specific details and examples in a given piece of writing
Include specific details and examples in own writing
Take notes on notecards
Use notecards to write a rough draft of a research paper
Include in-text citations in a research paper
Create a works cited page
Write a final copy of a research paper
Assessment:
Class handouts
Free writing (CRISS)
Quizzes
Discussion questions
Notecards
Rough draft of research paper
Conferences with students
Final draft of research paper
November:
Standards:
1.B.5a Relate reading to prior knowledge and experience and make connections to related information.
1.B.4c Read age-appropriate material with fluency and accuracy
1.C.5a Use questions and predictions to guide reading across complex materials.
1.C.5d Summarize and make generalizations from content and relate them to the purpose of the material.
2.A.4a Analyze and evaluate the effective use of literary techniques (e.g., figurative language, allusion,
dialogue, description, symbolism, word choice, dialect) in classic and contemporary literature
representing a variety of forms and media.
2.A.5b Evaluate relationships between and among character, plot, setting, theme, conflict and resolution
and their influence on the effectiveness of a literary piece.
2.A.4d Describe the influence of the author’s language structure and word choice to convey the author’s
viewpoint.
2.B.5a Analyze and express an interpretation of a literary work.
2.B.4c Discuss and evaluate motive, resulting behavior and consequences demonstrated in literature.
3.A.4 Use standard English to edit documents for clarity, subject/verb agreement, adverb and adjective
agreement and verb tense; proofread for spelling, capitalization and punctuation; and ensure that
documents are formatted in final form for submission and/or publication.
3.B.4a Produce documents that exhibit a range of writing techniques appropriate to purpose and audience,
with clarity of focus, logic of organization, appropriate elaboration and support and overall coherence.
3.B.4c Evaluate written work for its effectiveness and make recommendations for its improvement.
3.C.5a Communicate information and ideas in narrative, informative and persuasive writing with clarity
and effectiveness in a variety of written forms using appropriate traditional and/or electronic formats;
adapt content, vocabulary, voice and tone to the audience, purpose and situation.
Essential Questions:
How do I gather examples as support for my arguments?
What is justice? What is involved in receiving a fair trial?
What is courage?
Content:
Inherit the Wind: theme of injustice
Historical information on the Scopes Trial
Text: Inherit the Wind
literary conventions such as symbol, character analysis, theme
Skills:
Compose an organized essay including introduction, body, and conclusion
Develop a thesis statement
Support arguments with examples from text and personal experience
Write an essay in timed conditions
Read parts of a play with fluency and emotion
Participate in class discussion
Read a piece of literature for detail and analysis
Relate literature selections to self and the world
Synthesize key points
Ask and respond to questions about readings
Evaluate a character's behavior
Act a scene from the play
Assessment:
Quizzes on Inherit the Wind
Discussion questions
Journal responses
Timed essay on Inherit the Wind
Dramatic scenes
December:
Standards:
1.B.5a Relate reading to prior knowledge and experience and make connections to related information.
1.B.4c Read age-appropriate material with fluency and accuracy
1.C.5a Use questions and predictions to guide reading across complex materials.
1.C.5d Summarize and make generalizations from content and relate them to the purpose of the material.
2.A.4a Analyze and evaluate the effective use of literary techniques (e.g., figurative language, allusion,
dialogue, description, symbolism, word choice, dialect) in classic and contemporary literature
representing a variety of forms and media.
2.A.5b Evaluate relationships between and among character, plot, setting, theme, conflict and resolution
and their influence on the effectiveness of a literary piece.
2.A.4d Describe the influence of the author’s language structure and word choice to convey the author’s
viewpoint.
2.B.5a Analyze and express an interpretation of a literary work.
2.B.4c Discuss and evaluate motive, resulting behavior and consequences demonstrated in literature.
3.A.4 Use standard English to edit documents for clarity, subject/verb agreement, adverb and adjective
agreement and verb tense; proofread for spelling, capitalization and punctuation; and ensure that
documents are formatted in final form for submission and/or publication.
3.B.4a Produce documents that exhibit a range of writing techniques appropriate to purpose and audience,
with clarity of focus, logic of organization, appropriate elaboration and support and overall coherence.
3.B.4c Evaluate written work for its effectiveness and make recommendations for its improvement.
3.C.5a Communicate information and ideas in narrative, informative and persuasive writing with clarity
and effectiveness in a variety of written forms using appropriate traditional and/or electronic formats;
adapt content, vocabulary, voice and tone to the audience, purpose and situation.
Essential Questions:
What is the First Amendment?
How is it relevant in today's society?
What are the dangers of over-conformity?
Content:
Works: Fahrenheit 451, Pleasantville
Terms: McCarthyism, symbol, theme, conflict, setting
Themes: censorship, freedom of speech and thought
Elements of persuasive writing
Skills:
Read novel for understanding and analysis
Interpret significance of quotations as important to the plot
Discuss Bradbury's motives to writing the novel and connect to issues and events of
today.
Place literature in historical context
Analyze a character in terms of his/her personality traits
Analyze and trace character development over course of the novel.
Support writing with evidence from the text
Engage in class discussions
Compare/contrast movie Pleasantville to novel 451
Use the writing process to produce an essay
Assessment:
quizzes on Fahrenheit 451
position paper on censorship
Discussion questions
Free writing (CRISS)
January:
Standards:
1.B.5a Relate reading to prior knowledge and experience and make connections to related information.
1.B.4c Read age-appropriate material with fluency and accuracy
1.C.5a Use questions and predictions to guide reading across complex materials.
1.C.5d Summarize and make generalizations from content and relate them to the purpose of the material.
2.A.4a Analyze and evaluate the effective use of literary techniques (e.g., figurative language, allusion,
dialogue, description, symbolism, word choice, dialect) in classic and contemporary literature
representing a variety of forms and media.
2.A.5b Evaluate relationships between and among character, plot, setting, theme, conflict and resolution
and their influence on the effectiveness of a literary piece.
2.A.4d Describe the influence of the author’s language structure and word choice to convey the author’s
viewpoint.
2.B.5a Analyze and express an interpretation of a literary work.
2.B.4c Discuss and evaluate motive, resulting behavior and consequences demonstrated in literature.
3.A.4 Use standard English to edit documents for clarity, subject/verb agreement, adverb and adjective
agreement and verb tense; proofread for spelling, capitalization and punctuation; and ensure that
documents are formatted in final form for submission and/or publication.
3.B.4a Produce documents that exhibit a range of writing techniques appropriate to purpose and audience,
with clarity of focus, logic of organization, appropriate elaboration and support and overall coherence.
3.B.4c Evaluate written work for its effectiveness and make recommendations for its improvement.
3.C.5a Communicate information and ideas in narrative, informative and persuasive writing with clarity
and effectiveness in a variety of written forms using appropriate traditional and/or electronic formats;
adapt content, vocabulary, voice and tone to the audience, purpose and situation.
Essential Questions:
What strategies can I use to do well on a semester exam?
How did the lifestyle of the Anglo Saxons shape early British literature?
How does poetry create meaning?
Content:
Exam Preparation
EXAM FORMAT:
Multiple choice section
Composition section
Grading procedures
EXAM STRATEGIES:
Prompt analysis
Close reading
Thesis analysis
Organization
Stylistic issues
Anglo Saxon life
Text: Beowulf
Sonnets: form and meaning
Skills:
Support writing with evidence from the text
Engage in class discussions
Analyze a piece of writing in terms of audience, organization, and thesis
Read for clarity and understanding
Analyze a sonnet for meaning
Assessment:
review questions
Practice exercises for the semester exam
Discussion questions
Free writing (CRISS)
Journal responses and quizzes related to Beowulf and sonnets
Timed essay on Beowulf
February:
Standards:
1.B.5a Relate reading to prior knowledge and experience and make connections to related information.
1.B.4c Read age-appropriate material with fluency and accuracy
1.C.5a Use questions and predictions to guide reading across complex materials.
1.C.5d Summarize and make generalizations from content and relate them to the purpose of the material.
2.A.4a Analyze and evaluate the effective use of literary techniques (e.g., figurative language, allusion,
dialogue, description, symbolism, word choice, dialect) in classic and contemporary literature
representing a variety of forms and media.
2.A.5b Evaluate relationships between and among character, plot, setting, theme, conflict and resolution
and their influence on the effectiveness of a literary piece.
2.A.4d Describe the influence of the author’s language structure and word choice to convey the author’s
viewpoint.
2.B.5a Analyze and express an interpretation of a literary work.
2.B.4c Discuss and evaluate motive, resulting behavior and consequences demonstrated in literature.
3.A.4 Use standard English to edit documents for clarity, subject/verb agreement, adverb and adjective
agreement and verb tense; proofread for spelling, capitalization and punctuation; and ensure that
documents are formatted in final form for submission and/or publication.
3.B.4a Produce documents that exhibit a range of writing techniques appropriate to purpose and audience,
with clarity of focus, logic of organization, appropriate elaboration and support and overall coherence.
3.B.4c Evaluate written work for its effectiveness and make recommendations for its improvement.
3.C.5a Communicate information and ideas in narrative, informative and persuasive writing with clarity
and effectiveness in a variety of written forms using appropriate traditional and/or electronic formats;
adapt content, vocabulary, voice and tone to the audience, purpose and situation.
Essential Questions:
What is love?
How does membership in a group influence decisions?
What is the role of fate in our lives?
How do misunderstandings contribute to tragedy?
How does Shakespeare's language enhance characterization, conflict, and themes?
Content:
WORKS:
Romeo and Juliet
Shakespearean sonnet
TERMS: sonnet, tragedy, monologue, soliloquy, act, scene, line
simile, metaphor, personification, pun, foreshadowing
CONCEPTS: plot sequence. cause-effect relationships, character motivation
language decoding
THE WRITING PROCESS
ESSAY DEVELOPMENT: LITERARY ANALYSIS
Skills:
Define terms
Identify examples of the terms from the play
List sequence of events in the play
Describe how motivations influence the action of the play
Relate how a sequence of events leads to a result
Decode Shakespeare's language
Relate literature selections to self and the world
Paraphrase and/or summarize information with appropriate editorial comment
Use verbal and nonverbal clues to engage the audience
Use the writing process to produce an essay
Assessment:
Study questions
Transcription of a passage from the play
Written reflections
Dramatic performance
Quizzes
Essay
March:
Standards:
B.4c 1.C.4a Use questions and predictions to guide reading.
1.C.4b Explain and justify an interpretation of a text.
1.C.4c Interpret, evaluate and apply information from a variety of sources to other situations (e.g.,
academic, vocational, technical, personal).
1.C.4d Summarize and make generalizations from content and relate them to the purpose of the material.
2.A.4a Analyze and evaluate the effective use of literary techniques (e.g., figurative language, allusion,
dialogue, description, symbolism, word choice, dialect) in classic and contemporary literature
representing a variety of forms and media.
2.A.4b Explain relationships between and among literary elements including character, plot, setting,
theme, conflict and resolution and their influence on the effectiveness of the literary piece.
2.A.4c Describe relationships between the author's style, literary form (e.g., short stories, novels, drama,
fables, biographies, documentaries, poetry, essays) and intended effect on the reader.
2.A.4d Describe the influence of the author's language structure and word choice to convey the author's
viewpoint.
2.B.4c Discuss and evaluate motive, resulting behavior and consequences demonstrated in literature.
3.A.4 Use standard English to edit documents for clarity, subject/verb agreement, adverb and adjective
agreement and verb tense; proofread for spelling, capitalization and punctuation; and ensure that
documents are formatted in final form for submission and/or publication.
3.B.4a Produce documents that exhibit a range of writing techniques appropriate to purpose and audience,
with clarity of focus, logic of organization, appropriate elaboration and support and overall coherence.
3.B.4c Evaluate written work for its effectiveness and make recommendations for its improvement.
3.C.4b Using available technology, produce compositions and multimedia works for specified audiences.
4.A.4a Apply listening skills as individuals and members of a group in a variety of settings (e.g., lectures,
discussions, conversations, team projects, presentations, interviews).
Essential Questions:
What is justice?
Why fight injustice?
How does one mature from child to adult?
Content:
WORK:
To Kill a Mockingbird
TERMS:
imagery, tone, diction, irony, sarcasm, allusion. allegory, symbol
1930's South--racism, Jim Crow Laws, Effects of the Great Depression
Quote analysis
RESOURCES:
Video - "To Kill a Mockingbird"
Skills:
Identify issues of justice and injustice during the 1930's
Identify basic human rights
Define listed terms
Apply terms to a discussion of the story
Describe how motivations influence the action of the story
Critically evaluate decisions made by characters in the works
Relate literature selections to self and the world
Demonstrate an understanding of effective verbal and nonverbal communication
Use the writing process to produce an essay
Assessment:
Class discussion
Written reflections/journal responses
Quizzes
Essay
Test
April:
Standards:
1.B.4c 1.C.4a Use questions and predictions to guide reading.
1.C.4b Explain and justify an interpretation of a text.
1.C.4c Interpret, evaluate and apply information from a variety of sources to other situations (e.g.,
academic, vocational, technical, personal).
1.C.4d Summarize and make generalizations from content and relate them to the purpose of the material.
2.A.4a Analyze and evaluate the effective use of literary techniques (e.g., figurative language, allusion,
dialogue, description, symbolism, word choice, dialect) in classic and contemporary literature
representing a variety of forms and media.
2.A.4b Explain relationships between and among literary elements including character, plot, setting,
theme, conflict and resolution and their influence on the effectiveness of the literary piece.
2.A.4c Describe relationships between the author's style, literary form (e.g., short stories, novels, drama,
fables, biographies, documentaries, poetry, essays) and intended effect on the reader.
2.A.4d Describe the influence of the author's language structure and word choice to convey the author's
viewpoint.
2.B.4c Discuss and evaluate motive, resulting behavior and consequences demonstrated in literature.
3.A.4 Use standard English to edit documents for clarity, subject/verb agreement, adverb and adjective
agreement and verb tense; proofread for spelling, capitalization and punctuation; and ensure that
documents are formatted in final form for submission and/or publication.
3.B.4a Produce documents that exhibit a range of writing techniques appropriate to purpose and audience,
with clarity of focus, logic of organization, appropriate elaboration and support and overall coherence.
3.B.4b Produce, edit, revise and format work for submission and/or publication (e.g., manuscript form,
appropriate citation of sources) using contemporary technology.
3.B.4c Evaluate written work for its effectiveness and make recommendations for its improvement.
3.C.4b Using available technology, produce compositions and multimedia works for specified audiences.
4.A.4a Apply listening skills as individuals and members of a group in a variety of settings (e.g., lectures,
discussions, conversations, team projects, presentations, interviews).
5.A.4a Demonstrate a knowledge of strategies needed to prepare a credible research report (e.g., notes,
planning sheets).
5.A.4b Design and present a project (e.g., research report, scientific study, career/higher education
opportunities) using various formats from multiple sources.
5.B.4b Use multiple sources and multiple formats; cite according to standard style manuals.
Essential Questions:
What is justice?
Why fight injustice?
How does one mature from child to adult?
How does one present information to an audience in a meaningful way?
Content:
Historical and Cultural topics related to novel: New Mexico, Folk Medicine, Folktales, Catholicism,
Mexican Historical Influences, Chicano Civil Rights Movement
Magical Realism
The Research Process
Technology: Power Point WORK: To Kill A Mockingbird
TERMS: imagery, tone, diction, irony, sarcasm, allusion. allegory, symbol
1930's South--racism, Jim Crow Laws, Effects of the Great Depression
Quote analysis
RESOURCES: Video - "To Kill a Mockingbird"
Skills:
Read novel for understanding and analysis
Interpret significance of quotations as important to the plot
Explain main events of the novel
Interpret dream sequences in relation to character development
Analyze a character in terms of his/her personality traits
Support writing with evidence from the text
Engage in class discussions
Assessment:
Class discussion
Written responses to text
Quizzes
Literary analysis essay
May/June:
Standards:
1.B.4c 1.C.4a Use questions and predictions to guide reading.
1.C.4b Explain and justify an interpretation of a text.
1.C.4c Interpret, evaluate and apply information from a variety of sources to other situations (e.g.,
academic, vocational, technical, personal).
1.C.4d Summarize and make generalizations from content and relate them to the purpose of the material.
2.A.4a Analyze and evaluate the effective use of literary techniques (e.g., figurative language, allusion,
dialogue, description, symbolism, word choice, dialect) in classic and contemporary literature
representing a variety of forms and media.
2.A.4b Explain relationships between and among literary elements including character, plot, setting,
theme, conflict and resolution and their influence on the effectiveness of the literary piece.
2.A.4c Describe relationships between the author's style, literary form (e.g., short stories, novels, drama,
fables, biographies, documentaries, poetry, essays) and intended effect on the reader.
2.A.4d Describe the influence of the author's language structure and word choice to convey the author's
viewpoint.
2.B.4c Discuss and evaluate motive, resulting behavior and consequences demonstrated in literature.
3.A.4 Use standard English to edit documents for clarity, subject/verb agreement, adverb and adjective
agreement and verb tense; proofread for spelling, capitalization and punctuation; and ensure that
documents are formatted in final form for submission and/or publication.
3.B.4a Produce documents that exhibit a range of writing techniques appropriate to purpose and audience,
with clarity of focus, logic of organization, appropriate elaboration and support and overall coherence.
3.B.4b Produce, edit, revise and format work for submission and/or publication (e.g., manuscript form,
appropriate citation of sources) using contemporary technology.
3.B.4c Evaluate written work for its effectiveness and make recommendations for its improvement.
3.C.4b Using available technology, produce compositions and multimedia works for specified audiences.
4.A.4a Apply listening skills as individuals and members of a group in a variety of settings (e.g., lectures,
discussions, conversations, team projects, presentations, interviews).
5.A.4a Demonstrate a knowledge of strategies needed to prepare a credible research report (e.g., notes,
planning sheets).
5.A.4b Design and present a project (e.g., research report, scientific study, career/higher education
opportunities) using various formats from multiple sources.
5.B.4b Use multiple sources and multiple formats; cite according to standard style manuals.
Essential Questions:
How do we recognize and choose between good and evil?
How does imagery enhance writing?
What is magic realism?
How and why is it used in literature?
Content:
Historical and Cultural topics related to novel: New Mexico, Folk Medicine, Folktales, Catholicism,
Mexican Historical Influences, Chicano Civil Rights Movement
Magical Realism
The Research Process
Technology: Power point
Works: Bless Me, Ultima
Terms: imagery, simile, metaphor, personification
Themes: coming of age, mortality, good vs. evil, coming of age, religious/faith choices
Skills:
Research a topic
Create a bibliography
Compose notes
Create a power point presentation
Deliver a speech
Listen for understanding
Read novel for understanding and analysis
Explain main events of the novel
Identify specific types of imagery in Anaya's writing
Explain how these images increase the reader's ability to visualize characters, places, events
Analyze a character in terms of his/her personality traits
Support writing with evidence from the text
Engage in class discussions
Assessment:
Power point presentation and speech
Class discussion
Written responses to text
Journal writing
Quizzes