|
Course Title: English 9 (1 credit)
Teacher: Mrs. Gurholt
tgurholt@ksd.k12.wi.us
262-626-8427 extension:153
Room 153
Description:
Students will learn basic language and writing skills to be successful as a high school student. Topics include: public speaking, the six traits of writing, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, basic parts of speech, mythology, Elizabethan England, basic research skills, formal writing skills, and To Kill a Mockingbird. Students will work collaboratively to learn compromise and to show their knowledge and creativity in a group.
Methodology: Presentations, demonstrations, modeling, constructing/creating, small group work, discussion, and hands-on experiences.
Outline of Content, Essential Learnings, and Major Assignments
I. The six traits of writing
a. Word choice
b. Ideas
II. II. Basic parts of speech
a. Students will review nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs
i. A specific emphasis on descriptive writing and effective use of verbs
III. Public Speaking
a. Students will learn the process of preparing and delivering a formal speech
IV. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens
a. Students will examine and define virtues and character education
V. Elizabethan England
a. Students will examine what constitutes a good and bad museum exhibit
b. Students will research a topic that deals with Elizabethan England
c. Students will create a museum exhibit to display their knowledge of a given topic
d. Students will be assessed on whether or not they understand the daily happenings of a person living in Elizabethan England.
VI. Formal Research Paper
a. Students will use their research to write an informative paper (ideas and content/ word choice)
i. Process of writing (organization, sentence fluency and conventions)
ii. Ideas such as: thesis, topic sentence, transition words, and citation will be addressed
VII. Mythology
a. Students will learn why mythology is important
VIII. The Odyssey by Homer is about an Epic Hero who learns humility with the help of the Gods. This is a cooperative unit where students work in groups to complete given tasks. Grades are based on three parts: 1/3 test and thesis paper; 1/3 individual assignments, and 1/3 is based on the group’s success. After reading each section, students do some type of retelling activity with their group (acting it out, cartooning what happened, group quizzes, creating and performing a song). Each of these must convey what they learned in the reading. All preparation for the retelling activities and the reading is done in class. Opportunities for earning more group points include creating: ships, sea chests, pictures, maps, memorials, and ship flags. This is done outside of class.
a. Readings
i. Lotus Eaters
ii. Cyclopes
iii. Circe
iv. Sirens
v. Scylla and Charybdis
vi. The Test of the Bow
vii. Death in the Great Hall
viii. The Trunk of the Olive Tree
b. Individual Assignments
i. Creation of a personal ad (voice)
ii. Letter of condolence
iii. Letter to a hero
iv. Brochure
c. Thesis paper
i. Students will learn how to write thesis paper
ii. Students will use prewriting, drafting, editing, and publishing skills
1. Process of writing (organization, sentence fluency and conventions)
2. Students will use topic sentences and transition words (Sentence Fluency and Organization)
IX. To Kill a Mockingbird
a. Students will investigate life in the 1930’s to foster their understanding of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird
i. Arts and Entertainment
ii. People
iii. The south in the 1930’s
iv. Politics and economics
b. Students will investigate how to use the virtual library and effective internet searching strategies
c. Students will study diversity and conflict as themes in a novel
d. Students will analyze and discuss characters in a novel
e. Students will analyze and discuss setting, mood, foreshadowing, flashback, and irony
| 
