Writing: Unless your child decides to be a Creative Writing Major, the majority of the writing required at the collegiate level is nonfiction. Students will be expected to read large amounts of information and synthesize meaning from multiple texts. Then they will be expected to formulate an argument based on this information. Are you overwhelmed just by reading this? Just consider a student who hasn't practiced writing essays. Imagine he/she is given a syllabus and is told to write a 5-7 page paper explaining the factors that lead up to the American Revolution. The professor expects him/her to write a logical, well-crafted argument, and he/she has no idea how to do it! Many students find that their English classes haven't adequately prepared them to do writing tasks efficiently and with success. This High School English class will require students to stretch their writing skills and write a large variety of nonfiction essays.
Your student will write a:
Research Paper with MLA citation
Literary Analysis
College Entry Essay
Business Email
Argumentative Essay
Cause and Effect Essay
Process Essay
Narrative Essay
Thank You Letter
We will also utilize creative writing to help develop word choice, sentence structure, organization, figurative language, etc. The skills practiced in creative writing will elevate nonfiction essays and help our writers to communicate with ease. Your student will also write a:
Short collection of poems
Short Story
Dramatic scene
Personal Narrative/Memoir
Reading Students will continue to develop their reading skills by reading a wide variety of complex texts. At this stage, students must read critically (and this skill takes practice and time). Students must wrestle with texts to find meaning, despite difficult vocabulary. They must examine the author's motivation and evaluate their worldview. In a Literature class, students are working to develop their critical thinking skills, as much as their vocabulary and grammar.
2022-2023 Texts Travel Through American History with these classic texts:
The Scarlett Letter
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Huckleberry Finn
Great Gatsby
To Kill a Mockingbird
Fahrenheit 451
Language of Literature-American Literature
***By using a retired public-school textbook, you can find this text used for $4-10 on amazon. ISBN-13:978-0618170470 ISBN-10:0618170472
Grammar Grammar will be primarily taught and practiced during writing assignments. However, I will provide short grammar practice worksheets and video links explaining the exercises.
Does this sound overwhelming? First of all, breathe. We will do it together. I will meet your student where they are, and we will take the next step together. If you look at this list and think, "There is no way." Be assured, the only way to fail is to never take a step. I never want a student to feel like it is impossible to reach the goal and will provide support for success.