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English 12 A Self-Paced

Syllabus

Course Essential Questions

  • How do universal themes connect literature across time and place?
  • How can we interpret literary and informational texts to understand a wide variety of topics?
  • How do writers use literary tools to express their ideas?
  • How do we use language and conventions to communicate effectively?

Course Learning Objectives

  • Analyze how ideas are developed throughout or between texts.
  • Cite strong and thorough textual evidence, from both literature and informational texts, to provide a summary of the texts and support analysis of themes.
  • Analyze the craft and structure of both literature and informational texts, including literary devices and rhetoric.
  • Write arguments, informational, and narrative pieces using development, organization, style, vocabulary, and conventions that are appropriate to the purpose and audience.
  • Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

Unit 1: Epics and Heroes (Topics 1-5)

Unit description

In Unit 1, students explore the idea of what makes a hero and identify and analyze heroic qualities in a variety of English literature including Beowulf, legends of King Arthur, and ballads about Robin Hood. The unit concludes with students identifying a contemporary hero and writing an illustration essay about that person and their heroic qualities.

Unit Level Essential Questions

  • Why and how do people tell stories of epic heroes?
  • What does it mean to be a hero?

Topic 1: Thematic Idea: Epic Heroes

Topic Learning Objectives

  • Define and identify heroic qualities.
  • Explain the origins of epic heroes in literature.

Topic 2: Beowulf

Topic Learning Objectives

  • Analyze the idea of hero in Beowulf.
  • Identify and analyze the impact of poetics such as alliteration and kenning.
  • Support claims with well-chosen textual evidence.

Topic 3: The Legend of King Arthur

Topic Learning Objectives

  • Analyze the idea of hero in the Legend of King Arthur.
  • Identify and analyze symbols.
  • Support claims with well-chosen textual evidence.

Topic 4: Robin Hood and the Ballad

Topic Learning Objectives

  • Analyze the idea of hero in the ballads of Robin Hood.
  • Analyze the idea of hero in modern ballads.
  • Support claims with well-chosen textual evidence.
  • Write a poem in the ballad form.

Topic 5: Contemporary Heroes

Topic Learning Objectives

Analyze the idea of hero in a contemporary context.

Identify and analyze heroic qualities in contemporary informational texts.

Write an illustration essay and support claims with well-chosen evidence.

Unit 2: Choices and Decisions (Topics 6-10)

Unit description

In Unit 2, students consider the thematic idea of choice through poems and short stories. They continue to explore how choices and decisions impact characters as they read and analyze Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Students watch and evaluate cinematic versions of Macbeth and end the unit with a persuasive speech on a topic of their choice.

Unit Level Essential Questions

  • How and why do people make decisions?
  • How can writing influence people?

Topic 6: Thematic Idea: Choice

Topic Learning Objectives

  • Analyze how the thematic idea of choice is developed in the poems "The Choice" and "The Road Not Taken."
  • Evaluate the choice of the main character in the short story "On Rainy River."
  • Reflect on the role of choice in our contemporary setting.
  • Write descriptively about a time they were faced with a choice.

Topic 7: Macbeth

Topic Learning Objectives

  • Analyze how the thematic ideas of fate, free will, and ambition are developed throughout Macbeth.
  • Analyze character development in Macbeth.
  • Identify and explain the five-act structure in Macbeth.
  • Analyze the structure of monologues in Macbeth and use the structure to support a presentation of the monologue.
  • Identify and analyze the impact of literary devices in Macbeth.
  • Support claims with well-chosen textual evidence.

Topic 8: Macbeth in Film

Topic Learning Objectives

  • Evaluate different cinematic versions of Macbeth.
  • Compare critical reviews and different productions of Macbeth.
  • Write a review of a cinematic version of Macbeth.

Topic 9: Rhetoric and Persuasion

Topic Learning Objectives

  • Identify and evaluate rhetorical devices in a variety of historical and contemporary speeches.
  • Identify the author's point of view, purpose, and audience.
  • Write a persuasive speech, incorporating rhetorical techniques.
  • Deliver a persuasive speech, adapting speech to the context and task

Topic 10: End-of-Course Assignments

Topic Learning Objectives

  • Reflect on progress throughout the course.
  • Analyze how ideas are developed throughout or between texts.
  • Analyze the craft and structure of both literature and informational texts, including literary devices and rhetoric.