Freshman Curriculum for Pius X High School

Rationale:

The English department believes in goals and objectives which promote the overall philosophy of Pius X High School while meeting the academic and developmental needs of the students. A great strength of this plan is that it is comprehensive and creates a base upon which future classes may be built. Teachers seek to expose students to quality literature and fundamentally sound grammatical techniques that will meet the personal, social, and spiritual needs of our students while challenging them to improve thinking, writing and speaking skills as a means to prepare students for not only future classes, but also for every day life.

GOALS

1. Develop an understanding and appreciation of literature.

2. Apply the values found in literature to basic Christian values.

3. Discover and understand the correlation between situations in literature and in life.

4. Understand and apply the fundamental grammatical concepts both in class and in other classes.

OBJECTIVES

1. Learn the various literary terms and techniques used in the study of literature.

2. Learn how the language is organized and structured through fundamental grammatical concepts.

3. Experience a variety of written assignments ranging from the most subjective to the most objective, and the composition process of writing from brainstorming to published pieces.

4. Develop various study and library reference skills.

5. Examine a variety of poetry through their meaning and techniques.

FIRST QUARTER

1. Introduce study skills including library proficiencies and note taking. A notebook is created throughout the year to collect information on these skills.

2. The study of grammar is incorporated throughout the year. It is realized there is a need to know grammatical terms as a descriptor of language and how these rules are incorporated into every day life and work. Focus in grammar for the first quarter is on the eight parts of speech and parts of a sentence.

3. There is an introduction of literature as a means to study literature devices such as plot, conflict, foreshadowing, etc. Students are able to make some choices in what they read as a means to develop independent life-long readers. Students read self-selected material within the perimeters set by the teacher. The focus of literature in the first quarter is on short stories. Teachers can choose which stories to explore from a variety that are offered in the anthology, or can use stories from other sources.

4. Dialogue journaling between student and teacher is an ongoing process throughout the year. Portfolios may also be created by the students. The portfolio is a collection of student writings throughout the year. This is accomplished in various methods including unit portfolios, to semester portfolios, to full year portfolios as determined by the teacher. Students may choose personal works to be represented in a published book of class collections at the end of the school year. The book will be available in the classroom and in the school library.

SECOND QUARTER

1. The study of literature continues from the first quarter with a focus on the drama. Romeo and Juliet is read and viewed. Vocabulary is included in the unit. Reading is done both on own and in class. Background on Shakespeare and other aspects of Elizabethian Drama is given.

2. The musical West Side Story is viewed and a comparison paper on the two plays is assigned.

3. Continued study on grammatical terms with the emphasis in phrases and clauses.

THIRD QUARTER

1. The focus of literature is on poetry. Students will learn poetic terms and techniques. Students will read, learn, and memorize one poem extensively and then apply those techniques to other poems. Students are not required to write poetry, but they may do so for extra credit and improved work with poetry. Students will also learn about the style and technique of different poets.

2. Continued study on grammatical terms with the emphasis on aggreement and correct use of verbs.

FOURTH QUARTER

1. The study of the novel is the literary focus for fourth quarter. Students read Great Expectations from their anthology. There are a variety of quizzes and tests throughout the unit. Vocabulary is included in the unit. Students will also view the movie. Background on Charles Dickens and his writings will be included.

2. Continued study on grammatical terms with the emphasis on the correct use of pronouns and modifiers.

ASSESSMENT

1. Study Skills - There is a notebook check divided into quarters which takes into consideration organization of materials, neatness, care of product, and completeness.

2. Homework - Work will be completed for both notebooks and handed in assignments. Organization, neatness, care of product, and completeness will also be used in determining the overall grade for homework assignments.

3. Portfolios - This will be determined by individual teachers. Growth and development as a writer throughout the school year is taken into account.

4. Journaling - This will be determined by individual teachers. It will be based on a student-teacher running dialogue and student reflections on literature and other reading. Students will receive credit for completeness.

5. Group Preformances - This is to be determined by individual teachers. An overall grade is given equally to all group members. An individual grade is also given, taking into consideration the grade that group members give to other members of the group.

6. Reading Quizzes - These will be given at intervals throughout each literature unit and will be determined by individual teachers.

7. Unit Tests - This will be determined by individual teachers with tests containing objective and/or subjective qualities.

8. Comprehensive Final Exam - This exam is administered at the end of each semester. This test will be a major amount to the students grade.

9. Self Evaluation - This can be used by individual teachers at their discretion. Students evaluate their own performance over the semester and year. Credit is given for completion of the evaluation.