English II Honors
Grade Level: 10
Department: English
Credit: 1
Length: 1 year
Statement of Course Purpose
Literature studies will concentrate on authors of prose, fiction, nonfiction, poetry
and drama. Students will be able to read, comprehend, interpret, evaluate and use
written material in coordination with the literature they have read. The objective is
to learn and review grammar, usage and punctuation skills as they apply to the
composition process. Through a focused study of ACT vocabulary, students will
determine the meaning of unknown words, choosing flexibly from a range of
strategies. In addition, students will become critical speakers and listeners,
understanding the importance and variety of speech communications.
Materials
Required:
Holt McDougal Literature Grade 10
Macbeth, Shakespeare
Antigone, Sophocles
The House on Mango Street, Cisneros
The Book Thief, Zusak
A Long Way Gone, Beah
Animal Farm, Orwell
Elements of Language
COURSE OUTLINE: The literature falls under the theme of examining
moral dilemmas.
First Nine Weeks
Poetry Unit 7: The Language of Poetry
The House on Mango Street, Cisneros
Antigone, Sophocles
Vocabulary based on ACT selections Vocabulary based on ACT selections, 6 times
per quarter, students effectively incorporate vocabulary words into work
o Maximum 2 words per assignment
Grammar, RAFT writing
Second Nine Weeks
Macbeth, Shakespeare
Animal Farm, Orwell
Vocabulary based on ACT selections Vocabulary based on ACT selections, 6 times
per quarter, students effectively incorporate vocabulary words into work
o Maximum 2 words per assignment
Grammar, RAFT writing
Third Nine Weeks
Rhetorical devices, reading nonfiction
“On Nuclear Disarmament,” Sagan; “Abolishing the Penny Makes Good Sense,” Blinder;
Political ads and visual rhetoric (738)
Research skills
Research paper
Debate
Vocabulary based on ACT selections, 6 times per quarter, students effectively
incorporate vocabulary words into work
o Maximum 2 words per assignment
Grammar, RAFT writing
Fourth Nine Weeks
The Book Thief, Zusak
A Long Way Gone, Beah
Documentary on Sierra Leone
Supplemental nonfiction pieces
Vocabulary based on ACT selections, 6 times per quarter, students effectively
incorporate vocabulary words into work
o Maximum 2 words per assignment
Writing portfolio
COURSE DETAIL
First Nine Weeks
Poetry Unit 7, “The Language of Poetry”
Text structure, connotation, denotation, language nuances
-RL. 9-10.5, RL. 9-10.4, L.9-10.5b
I.
II.
The House on Mango Street
Different mediums, POV cultural, text structure, connotation
-RL.9-10.6, RL.9-10.5, RL.9-10.4, RL.9-10.7
III.
Narrative Writing
Sequencing events, precise word choices, conclusion
-W.9-10.3c, W.9-10.3d, W.9-10.3e
IV. Grammar Usage and Mechanics as applicable to composition- Elements of
Language
a. Chapter 4- The Clause- pp.126-14
b. Chapter 5- Agreement-pp. 150-181
c. Review subject/verb agreement pg. 152-166
d. Pronoun agreement pg. 170-176
-L. 9-10.1b, L.9-10.2
VI. Vocabulary based on ACT
-L.9-10.4c, L.9-10.4d, L.9-10.6
VII.
Antigone (the tragic hero, moral dilemma)
With connections to Oedipus Rex
-RL. 9-10.4, RL 9-10.9, RL. 9-10.3, RL. 9-10.5
Second Nine Weeks
I. Composition: Argumentative Essay based on Antigone
- W.9-10.1b, W.9-10.1c, W.9-10.1e, W.9-10.1f
II. Macbeth (making choices, going against authority)
-RL. 9-10.3, RL. 9-10.5, RL. 9-10.4, RL 9-10.9
III. Composition: Argumentative Essay based on Macbeth
- W.9-10.1b, W.9-10.1c, W.9-10.1e, W.9-10.1f
IV. Grammar Usage and Mechanics – Elements of Language
a. Chapter 9 – “Using Modifiers Correctly” Troublesome Modifiers
b. Chapter 11 – “A Glossary of Usage” pp. 306-339
-L.9-10.2a, L.9-10.2b, L.9-10.1b
V.
ACT Based Vocabulary
-L.9-10.4, L.9-10.6
Third Nine Weeks
I.
Study of Rhetorical Skills in Non-Fiction
a. “On Nuclear Disarmament,” Sagan; “Abolishing the Penny Makes
Good Sense,” Blinder; Political ads and visual rhetoric (738)
b. Revisiting Three Cups of Tea
-RI.9-10.5, RI.9-10.6, 9-10.2
II. Composition: Research Paper
- W.11-12.7, W. 11-12.8, W.11-12.3
II.
Debate
a. Teams of 2-3 opposing one another
b. Library research included
Includes study of evidence gathering and use
c. Elements of Language- pp.1049-1058
-SL.9-10.4, SL 9-10.1d
III.
Grammar Usage and Mechanics- Elements of Language
a. Chapter 14- “Punctuation”- Review Commas and Semi-colons
b. Chapter 14- “Punctuation” Colon, Italics, Quotation Marks, Ellipsis
-L.9-10.2a, L.9-10.2b, L.9-10.1b
IV.
ACT based Vocabulary
-L.9-10.4, L.9-10.6
Fourth Nine Weeks
I.
The Book Thief
With connections to Little Bee
-RL.9-10.2, RL.9-10.3, RL.9-10.6, RL.9-10.7
II.
Composition
A. Literature analysis
-W.9-10.9a, W.9-10.9a
III.
A Long Way Gone
With connections to Little Bee and Three Cups of Tea
a. Supplemental Non-Fiction
-RL.9-10.2, RL.9-10.3, RL.9-10.6, RL.9-10.7