ISS Course Syllabus
Teacher: Ms.A
Grade: 11
Teacher: Mr. Horan
Course Title: English 11
Course Description: Students in Grade 11 will focus on developing four areas in English: Reading, Writing, Speaking and
Listening. All students are expected to read a minimum of four novels as a class, plus at least one independently. In addition,
students can read short stories, poems, non-fiction, advertising, newspaper articles, journals, drama and magazine articles, letters,
essays, speeches, information, etc.
Students need to know and understand literary terms and poetry terms. Reading comprehension tests from unknown excerpts
similar to the PSAT and other standardized tests should be used throughout the year and included on the semester exams to show
application of learned tools such as literary terms and inference skills.
All students must understand the stages of the writing process and understand and use the 6+1 Trait Rubric to plan, prepare, and
analyze their writing. All students are expected to produce 1-2 pieces of “completed” writing in EACH of the following categories
– Expository (compare and contrast), Response to Literature, Persuasive, and Descriptive. Other suggested areas of writing
include: poetry; (Haiku, lyric, narrative, free verse), myths, fables, journals, research papers, newspaper articles, scripts, short
story, information writing, posters, letters, speeches.
All students are expected to perform SAT style writing prompts twice a year. Student writing will be formally evaluated using a
prompt and grading will be performed via the 6+1 Trait Rubric. Semester exams must include a prompt that requires students to
demonstrate learned skills. Students need to develop skills in basic mechanics (spelling, grammar, and punctuation/capitalization)
and learn vocabulary words to expand their word choice.
Students need to develop proof reading skills. Students should learn and use the MLA format for referencing and also be familiar
with APA.
All students are expected to take part in paired and group discussions, respond appropriately verbally and non-verbally to speakers,
prepare and deliver presentations, read aloud, readers’ theaters, and debate.
Course Contents:
First Quarter:
Theme: American Literature up to 1900s
Reading:
Novel: Fast Food Nation
Novel- : Of Mice and men
Speech: Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God – Speech in the Convention (Benjamin Franklin) Poetry: To My Dear and Loving Husband, Emily Dickinson poems,
Reading Comprehension
Writing: Review 6+1 writing traits. Review essay writing outline. Introduce the writing rubric. Recognize different genres of
writing. Understand and use the MLA format for references. Writing prompt outlines, Personal Narrative, and response to
literature. Proof reading – practice and develop skills.
Literary Terms and Grammar: Review, define, identify and practice:
Nouns and Pronouns, (common, proper, personal, demonstrative, interrogative, indefinite, relative, reflexive pronouns),
Verbs – tenses – past, present, future, perfect, progressive, perfect progressive
Adjectives and Adverbs (create lists of wide variety of words to use in writing) ,
Types of Sentences – simple, compound, complex, declarative, interrogative, imperative, exclamatory, Basic Sentence Parts,
Phrases and Clauses,
Transition words for essay writing, sequencing, time, summary, compare and contrast, - see list.
Introduce and/or review literary terms – see list.
Vocabulary: Students should have minimum 10 words per week to learn definitions, spelling and use in sentences. SAT words
prep – level 2 (5 per week), words from Novel, words that are regularly misspelt. Students should develop their own lists misspelt
word list to aid their writing.
Speaking and Listening: Reading aloud, discussions, morning circle presentations.
Second Quarter:
Theme: America 1850-1920 – Division - Expansion
Reading:
Novel: The Great Gatsby
Non-fiction: Norton Introduction to Literatures (short stories)
Short Story: An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, The Story of an Hour, “Araby,” “A Hunger Artist,” “The Rockinghorse
Winner,” ”The Cask of Amontillado,” ”A&P,” “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” “Shiloh,” “The Open Boat,” “A Rose for Emily,”
“The Yellow Wallpaper”
Poetry: Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (song), We Wear the Mask
Reading Comprehension
Writing: Writing prompt outlines, essay outlines, Compare and contrast expository, Poetry, mini-script writing, proof-reading
skills
Literary Terms and Grammar: Review, define, identify and practice:
Prepositions, conjunctions and interjections,
Effective Sentences, (work on sentence errors – fragments, run-on, comma errors)
Verb (subject-verb agreement) ,
Transition words – see list,
Literary terms connected with poetry – see list.
Vocabulary: Students should have minimum 10 words per week to learn definitions, spelling and use in sentences. SAT words
prep – level 2 (5 per week), words from Novel, words that are regularly misspelt.
Speaking and Listening –reading aloud, present poems, reader’s theatre act out Romeo and Juliet, Independence Day
presentations
Semester Review for End of Semester Exam (December)
Third Quarter:
Theme: America 1920-1960 – Becoming a world power, depression and war
Reading:
Novel: 1984
Short story: Winter Dreams, In Another Country,
Poetry: W H Auden, Wallace Stevens
Speech: Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech
Reading Comprehension
Writing: Persuasive essays, semester 2 writing prompt, speech writing,
Literary Terms and Grammar: Review, define, identify and practice:
Pronoun use,
Irregular verbs
Use and understand sentence clauses.
Vocabulary: Students should have minimum 10 words per week to learn definitions, spelling and use in sentences. SAT words
prep – level 2 (5 per week), words from Novel, words that are regularly misspelt.
Speaking and Listening: Reading aloud, speech giving, discussions, debate, morning circle presentations, Earth Day
presentations
Fourth Quarter:
Theme: America 1960-modern times – Prosperity and Protest, Turmoil and Change
Reading:
Novel: My Antonia
Drama: MacBeth
Short story: Ambush from The Things They Carried
Non-fiction: The Best American Science and Nature Writing
Reading Comprehension
Writing: response to literature, creative writing, letters
Literary Terms and Grammar: Review, define, identify and practice:
capitalization,
punctuation – comma, colon, semi-colon, apostrophe, hyphen, dash, quotation marks, parenthesis
Vocabulary: Students should have minimum 10 words per week to learn definitions, spelling and use in sentences. SAT words
prep – level 1 (5 per week), words from Novel, words that are regularly misspelt
Speaking and Listening: reading aloud, reading to other grades, discussions,
REVIEW FOR END OF THE YEAR EXAM
Resources:
Additional books for reading: Huckleberry Finn, How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent, Touch the Top of the World, The
Jungle.
Prentice Hall Literature – Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes, The American Experience,
Prentice Hall Writing and Grammar Ruby Level,
SAT Level 1,
The Least You Should Know about English,
Norton Series,
Teacher overheads and worksheets
Variety of Grammar books
Evaluation System:
 Tests and projects
 Quizzes and class work
 Participation and effort
 Homework
Total
40%.
40%
10%
10%
100%
Additional Comments:
1.
Homework is always posted on the board and on edline. It is your responsibility to make sure it is written into your
agenda. This also goes for any class assignments or upcoming class or school events.
2.
I am always available by appointment for extra help/advice and most mornings before class. If you have a specific
question or concern that may take some time, do not hesitate to make an appointment with me and I will be happy to help
you. Also, please remember that reinforcement will be used for any absences, late tests, or low scores. Students who have
below a 70% will be required to come to reinforcement. Upon your completion of reinforcement, you will receive points
which will be placed under your effort grade, but you will lose 10% of the assignment grade for every day that the work is
late. It is important to complete work regardless because all work is cumulative.