English 9 A Self-Paced

Our lives are made up of tensions such as personal identity in contrast with society's expectations or having choices vs. having decisions made for us. You've likely experienced feeling at least one of these tensions - most people have. In this course, we will explore how studying tensions can help us understand universal themes and we'll do it by studying literature and writing.

This survey-style course begins with an exploration of self and society as students read and analyze short stories and the elements of fiction. At the same time, students will write a personal narrative developed through the writing process, from brainstorming to final revision.

In the second unit, students will consider the theme of choice through the graphic novel When Stars Are Scattered by Omar Mohamed and Victoria Jamieson. To provide context for this reading, students will engage in a research project about the Somali refugee crisis, and then will move on to completing independent research that culminates in an informational essay.

Throughout the course, students will build their vocabulary through a vocabulary journal, learn about and demonstrate their understanding of grammar concepts, and show their understanding of literature through a variety of written and creative assignments.

About the Self-Paced Course Model

Self-Paced courses are designed for students who need flexibility in their academic schedule. Teachers answer questions and interact with students in Private Topics, provide feedback on work, and host weekly office hours. Students work independently on course activities; the course does not include class discussion assignments or other collaborative work.

This course has start dates on each Wednesday throughout the year. Students must maintain enrollment for a minimum of 4 weeks and have up to 16 weeks to complete all assignments in the course. It is expected that students will work for approximately 90 hours to complete this course, though the amount of time may vary depending on a student’s work habits and comfort with the material.

Acknowledgements

Required Texts: This course requires students to obtain copies of certain texts. Details provided in the Additional Requirements field of this course description.
I acknowledge that this is a self-paced course.
This course contains an end-of-course proctored exam. Instructions for students to identify an appropriate adult proctor are included in the course lessons.

Course Objectives

Course Essential Questions:

How do tensions in literature reveal universal themes?
How does tension shape who we become?
What tools do writers use to express their ideas? How can I use these tools to craft my own writing?

Course Objectives:

Interpret and explore a variety of tensions in literature including tensions related to self, choice, defiance, and belonging.
Independently and proficiently read and comprehend both fiction and nonfiction texts from a variety of genres, cultures, and perspectives.
Analyze theme, character motivation, plot development, structure, and figurative language in a variety of texts.
Support claims with strong textual evidence.
Write well-organized and appropriately supported responses in a variety of genres, including narratives, informative texts, and arguments.
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage.
Answer research questions by identifying and evaluating reliable sources, gathering relevant information, providing appropriate citations, and presenting findings in an organized way.

Additional Requirements

Students will need to obtain copies of the following text which is available at many school or local libraries or for purchase online for a small fee.

Needed in Unit 2: When Stars Are Scattered a graphic novel by Omar Mohamed and Victoria Jamieson