Sebring High SchoolEnglish I Honors Syllabus

Course #1001320Mrs. van der Kaay – Room 231F

Phone: 471-5500 Ext. 350Email: vanderkr@highlands.k12.fl.usWebpage: http://highmail.highlands.k12.fl.us/~vanderkr/

This is the tentative schedule for this year, so you can anticipate upcoming assignments and outside reading. In addition, my pacing guide is posted on my website (right- hand column). It contains week-by-week lessons including assignment deadlines (though a bit tentative). You will

receive the assignments for each unit at the beginning of each unit with all of the assignment and project due dates.

Course Overview

The purpose of this course is to provide instruction in English language skills, including reading, writing, speaking, and listening. A variety of literary genres in world literature will provide the basis for reading instruction and vocabulary development. Composition instruction will focus on the writing of essays for various purposes and will include all phases of the writing process.

Course Objectives

The student will Apply critical reading skills in analyzing literature Analyze representative selections from various genres found around the world Apply word-study skills to determine meanings of advanced vocabulary Apply the conventions of standard written English Write compositions for a variety of purposes using all stages of the writing process Make and critique formal oral presentations Apply reference and research skills

Course Content

Textbook: Florida Collections, Grade 9 – Houghton, Mifflin, Harcourt

Required Summer ReadingHow to Read Literature like a Professor – Thomas G. FosterMythology Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes – Edith Hamilton

1st QuarterUnit begins with a focus on the mythology from the summer reading

Florida Collections: Collection 1 – Finding Common Ground Reading selections include argument, blog, short story, essay, speech, photo essay, and poetry reading

Outside Reading: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeCollection Performance Tasks: Present a speech and write an analytical essayOutside Reading Tasks: Character role-play and analysis

2nd Quarter Florida Collections: Collection 2 – The Struggle for Freedom

Reading selections include speech, history writing, diary, memoir, graphic novel, short story, science writing, informational text, and public service

announcement readingOutside Reading: The House on Mango Street by Sandra CisnerosCollection Performance Tasks: Write an argument, write a fictional narrative, and

create a group multimedia presentationOutside Reading Task: Personal Story

Midterm will be based on the Language Arts Florida Standards and mimic the FSA for English Language Arts which includes both

a reading and a writing portion.

3rd Quarter Florida Collections: Collection 4 – Sweet Sorrow

Reading selections include The Seven Ages of Man with project,The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, Elizabethan/ShakespeareanSonnets for analysis and color-marking, essay, myth, and short story reading

Collection Performance Task: Write an analytical essay/literary analysis research paper

4th Quarter Florida Collections: Collection 6 – Heroes and Quests

Reading selections include poem, epic poem, travel writing, and nonfiction reading

Outside Reading: Either Lord of the Flies by William Golding OR A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah

Collection Performance Tasks: Write an argument, participate in a panel discussion, and research and write an analytical essay

Outside Reading Task: Journal writing, argumentative essay, figurative language analysis, survival collaborative group project/collaborative group presentation of literary elements from novel

Final will be based on the Language Arts Florida Standards and mimic the FSA for English Language Arts which includes both a

reading and a writing portion.