This course is designed for sophomores who have demonstrated exceptional reading, speaking, and writing abilities during their ninth grade course work. Outside reading and writing assignments will be commonplace in this course; hence, students need to have effective study habits and self-discipline. The goal of this course is to develop in students critical reading and writing skills. It is my hope that students in this program will better understand the world and its people by studying some of the American classics. Students must maintain a “B” average or they may be removed from the honors sequence.

Course Description:

o Literature for this course will include the study of some of the works of major 19^th and 20^th century American writers.

o Journals will be completed by the student for each reading to demonstrate the student’s understanding of the relevance of the literary themes in today’s world.

o Composition, stressing expository writing, will be based on these same selections. Emphasis will be placed on writing as a process, pre-writing, multiple drafts, and peer editing.

o Vocabulary building will be based on the literary works studied as well as on AP and ACT preparatory materials.

o Speaking assignments throughout this year will emphasize research and organizational techniques. These assignments are designed to encourage self-confidence in public speaking.

o Grammar and usage studied will include subject-verb agreement, modification, coordination, subordination, parallelism, verb tenses, pronoun reference, capitalization, and punctuation.

o Much of the class participation will be in small, cooperative work groups. Special emphasis on teamwork and individual responsibility to the group will be a main component.

Class Materials:

Please bring these materials with you to class every day:

Any current texts (we will also have D.E.A.R. every Wednesday –Tuesday in the event of a conflict on Wednesday)

Blue or black pen

A 3-ring binder with 5 dividers designated solely for English class (this will be part of your daily work grade)

Notebook for journaling

Loose-leaf paper

Texts:

Ø *The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Ø *The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane

Ø The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams

Ø *The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Ø Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller

Ø *The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

For those texts with asterisks next to them, the student is expected to supply the novel. These may be purchased through the school bookstore or borrowed from a library or from someone who has already read the novel. Novel sharing is NOT encouraged.

Ø Each semester also contains an independent novel unit. Below is the list of books from which students will choose. The English department has copies of the books to loan out, however students are free to purchase a copy of the book if they choose to. Keep in mind, though, that independent novel selections are confirmed by the teacher. In other words, do not buy a copy of the novel until you are sure that is the novel you will be expected to read.

o I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

o Hiroshima by John Hersey AND Night by Elie Wiesel

o A Rumor of War by Philip Caputo

o The Hot Zone by Richard Preston

o The Water is Wide by Pat Conroy

o Warriors Don’t Cry by Melba Patillo Beals

o Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt

o Princess by Jean Sassoon

o There Are No Children Here by Alex Kotlowitz

Course Unit Overview

Semester 1: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn 8 weeks Red Badge of Courage 5 weeks “The Glass Menagerie” & Independent novel 6 weeks D.E.A.R. and A.C.T. prep throughout semester

Semester 2: Poetry 5 weeks The Great Gatsby 5 weeks The Grapes of Wrath and “Death of a Salesman” 8 weeks D.E.A.R. and A.C.T. prep throughout semester

Grading

Each assignment will have a point value. Rather than all points simply accumulating throughout the semester, however, assignments will be weighed in the following manner:

Final exam: 15% Mid-Term: 5%

Speeches: 20% Major writing assignments: 20%

Quizzes: 15% Tests: 10%

Daily work/Participation: 15%

Scale: 90-100 A 80-89 B 70-79 C 60-69 D <59 F

I’m here to help. If you feel you are struggling, don’t hesitate to see me before or after school. If you are not in school and have questions, or if your parents need to talk to me, feel free to contact me:

tsmith@learningcommunity202.org

(815) 577-5795