Assistance for Learning
Mr. Zobel makes himself available to assist individual students, by appointment, either before or after school.
The English and Social Studies departments also provide a mentor teacher on Thursday evenings in the school library.
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August 5, 2008
updated
Course Description First Semester This course concentrates on reading comprehension, writing, speaking, and listening skills with a specific goal of leading the student toward Advanced Placement English courses. LITERARY TERMS are utilized throughout the semester in order to prepare students to be successful in the remainder of their high school years. An accelerated pace enables students to expand their understanding of literature and writing. Students will be challenged to remain on track with a rigid reading schedule. One aspect of reading engages parents to partner with their student in the learning process. |
 Sample Student Assignments |
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Literary Terms Assignment Students identify ten literary terms found in a magazine advertisement.
Example: Symbol: GLAD Characters: Man and two boys Scene: back yard Setting: birthday party Irony: glad garbage bag is a pinata Irony: broken bat Irony: adult cannot break the GLAD bag Mood: disbelief, puzzlement, frustration Theme: GLAD garbage bags are tough Thesis: "The only trash bag with stretchable strength." |
GLAD magazine ad
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Outside Reading Assignment (example): Students will keep a reading journal in partnership with a parent or significant adult. This requires that both read the same text. Entries by both the student and parent emphasize one of the following concepts: a. revealing thoughts about the main character b. questions about plot development c. reflection on personal events, present or past generated by events in the text The main concept of this assignment draws its energy from the interaction that both readers have with each other and the text. Reflection, contemplation, and imagination play with the readers to provide interesting and creative ways to interact. |
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| First Semester | Syllabus  |
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We begin with a DISTRICT WRITING ASSESSMENT. It allows students to demonstrate their writing abilities as they enter high school. Students place this writing sample in their Culminating Project portfolio. PROFICIENCY REQUIRED ASSIGNMENTS: A student must complete the following assignments in order to receive credit for Freshman English at the end of the first semester (70% minimum grade to pass required): (1) Sentence Manipulation Paper (2) Descriptive Paragraph (3) Summary Paragraph(s) (4) Literary Analysis Paper (5) Narrative Paragraph (6) Informative Speech WRITING ASSIGNMENTS Expository paragraph related to course reading. Two Literary Analysis papers |
LITERATURE Summer Reading Requirements * Read a biography of your choice. * Write no more than a one-page response (in your own handwriting) to what you learned from the biography. Due the first day of class. Blue or black ink. * Read a Newbery Winner or a Pulitzer Prize Winner in Fiction. * Read either three (3) issues of a periodical or three (3) weeks of a newspaper. First Semester Great Expectations, Charles Dickens The Red Pony, John Steinbeck The Pearl, John Steinbeck Animal Farm, George Orwell Optional: I Heard the Owl , or an Agatha Christy murder mystery Outside reading on the Book Cart in the Resource Center |
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| Second Semester | Syllabus |
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This semester begins with a DISTRICT WRITING ASSESSMENT. This assessment also will be placed in the student's Culminating Project portfolio. PERFORMANCE ASSIGNMENTS: |
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