Welcome English Language Arts Sara Meskin Alyssa Jenkins

Terra Nova English: Excellence  Diverse course offerings (College- prep English, Enriched/Honors, Advanced Placement, Film as Literature)  Rigorous (Demanding writing program, high-quality literature, Common-Core aligned)  Superior (AP pass rates 20+% higher than national average)

8 th grade Enriched English testing  Students wishing to get into 9 th grade Enriched English must take an entrance test. Failure to take this test will result in no entrance.  If your student doesn’t pass the test, he or she can still enter the honors program at 10 th grade, as long as he or she meets the requirements.

Testing Dates for Enriched English  May 3 at 9:00am OR  May 17 at 9:00am Students should arrive between 8:30 and 8:45. Testing will be in the English wing (3 rd floor) They need to bring: blue or black pens, college-ruled paper, and a #2 pencil. No materials will be available. Placement notification will be mailed by June 13.

Test for Enriched English Two parts to the test:  Reading Comprehension Students must read a text and then answer a series of multiple choice questions testing their comprehension of the material.  In-class Essay Students read a short passage and then respond to an essay prompt. (Want to prepare for the essay? Look up “Schaffer paragraph” on Wikipedia.)

Summer reading for 9 th graders  English 9: Buddha Boy by Kathe Koja Assignment: Read the novel. Take careful notes to help you study for the test and essay you will write in August.  English 9E: Buddha Boy and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith Assignment: Read both novels. For Buddha Boy, write a dialectical journal; this will help you with the test in August. Instructions will be handed out when the counselors come to your school for scheduling. For A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, take careful notes to help you with the test and essay you will write in August.

Freshmen Year options  Enriched English: English 9E Students gain admission by passing the Enriched English test in May. Students must earn a grade of B- or higher both semesters of their freshmen year in order to be recommended for sophomore enriched English.  College Preparatory: English 9 Students not in English 9E will be in this class. Students must receive an A- or higher both semesters of their freshmen English class and get a teacher recommendation in order for them to transition into sophomore enriched English.  Academic Literacy A support class for struggling freshmen students. Placement determined by counselors. Concurrent enrollment with English 9.

Freshman Novels  Of Mice and Men*  Romeo and Juliet *  Ender’s Game*  House on Mango Street*  The Odyssey/Mythology*  Absolutely True Autobiography of a Part- Time Indian  Les Miserables**  Oliver Twist** * Core Novels ** Enriched English

English Curriculum Map Grade 9 Weeks 1- 6Weeks 6-12Weeks Focus: Essay Writing Types of Essays: 1. Narrative 2.Expository 3.Persuasive 4.Literary Analysis Essay Basics: 1.Thesis 2.Topic Sentence 3.C.D. / Evidence 4.C.M. / Analysis 5.Body Paragraph 6.Conclusion Common Assessment: Writing Assessment: Focus: Plot Structure Literary Elements 1. Exposition / Basic Situation 2.Rising Actions/ Complications 3.Climax 4.Falling Actions 5.Resolution 6.Conflicts 7.Personification 8.Mood 9.Imagery 10.Flashback Common Assessment: Writing Assessment: Focus: Characterization Literary Elements 1. Characterization 2.Motivation 3.Round 4.Flat 5.Dynamic 6.Static 7.Main Character 8.Subordinate Characters 9.Protagonist 10.Antagonist Common Assessment: Writing Assessment:

Weeks Weeks Weeks 30 – 36 Focus: Literary Analysis Essay Basics: 1. Direct Quote 2.Paraphrase 3.Summary 4.Citation 5.Thesis Statement 6.Integrating Quotes 7.Transitions 8.Lead-Ins 9.Quo, Par, Punc. “(13). Common Assessment: Writing Assessment: Focus: Theme & Narration Literary Elements: 1.Theme 2.Tone 3.Diction 4.Voice 5.Narration Common Assessment: Writing Assessment: Focus: Research Writing Essay Basic Abilities: 1. Evidence 2.Primary Source 3.Secondary source 4.MLA Citation 5.Work Cited 6.Credible 7.Plagiarism 8.Methods Common Assessment: Writing Assessment:

Sophomore Year choices  Enriched English: English 10E In addition to the coursework in English 10, students in 10E read A Tale of Two Cities and two additional novels. Students are expected to read independently over vacations, as well.  College Preparatory: English 10 This class is aligned with the World History, Cultures, and Geography class that all sophomores take; literature focuses on Western civilization and includes literature like All Quiet on the Western Front, Macbeth, Catcher in the Rye, and Night.

Junior Year choices  AP Language and Composition  Honors English (English 11H)  College Preparatory (English 11) Electives  Journalism 1 (newspaper) Priority goes to seniors, but juniors are encouraged to apply for class.  Yearbook  Film as Literature (may not be taken both junior and senior year)

Senior Year choices  AP Literature and Composition  Honors English (English 12H)  Expository Reading and Writing (ERWC) – College Preparatory  Film as Literature Electives  Journalism 1 and 2  Yearbook

Questions?