First Quarter Unit Plan
English I Pre-AP – Ms. Spence
Overarching Questions: What defines a family? What is worth fighting for? How do writers use the “hero’s
journey” to enhance plot, character development, and theme? Where do I see archetypes in literature, as
well in modern culture? How do I use text evidence to support a claim?
Major Readings: Summer selection - A Long Way Gone (or alternative novel)
The Odyssey by Homer
Thematically linked short stories, non-fiction texts, and poetry
Writing Focus: Short answer (single selection and crossover)
Grammar/Vocabulary: Parts of speech, subject-verb agreement, dependent/independent
clauses, prepositional phrases (mini-lessons through warm-ups)
Summatives: 1.) Summer Reading Test
2.) Odyssey Webquest
3.) Odyssey Test
4.) Grammar test
Date
8/25
9/1
9/8
Weekly Agenda
Objectives
Monday – Course introduction, reading questions
due, 6 Word Memoir assigned
Tuesday –Music’s influence in ALWG, Literary
devices handout
Block Day – Discussion groups for ALWG
Friday – Grammar Diagnostic, HW: Read “The
Sniper”
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Monday – No School (Labor Day)
Tuesday – 6 Word Memoirs due, Reading check
and “The Sniper” analysis, discussion of the
memoir’s conclusion
Block Day – Summer Reading Test
Friday –Test analysis and corrections
 Author’s purpose
 Written expression
 Cross-cultural
connections
 Point-of-view
 Parts of speech
Monday – Elements of a story booklet, begin “The
Most Dangerous Game” (finish for homework)
Tuesday – “Most Dangerous Game” analysis, short
answer practice
Block Day – Short answer practice continued, “The
Most Dangerous Game” wrap up
Friday – Introduction to mythology, HW: complete
gods and goddesses playing cards
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Organization
Theme analysis
Textual support
Cross-genre
connections
 Parts of speech
Plot development
Conflict
Characterization
Vocabulary
development
 Subject/verb
agreement
Assessments
Summer reading
questions
“The Sniper” reading
check
6 Word Memoir
Summer Reading
Test
Short answer
practice
“The Most
Dangerous Game”
booklet
9/15
9/22
9/29
10/6
10/13
10/20
Monday – Gods and Goddesses family tree
Tuesday – Greek Mythology / short answer
practice
Block Day – Greek Mythology / short answer
practice
Friday - Begin Hero’s Journey notes, connection to
modern storytelling and A Long Way Gone
Library orientation this week
Monday – Continue Hero’s Journey notes
Tuesday – Research review and assignment of
Odyssey Webquest, plagiarism contract
Block Day – Library for Webquest
Friday – Library for Webquest
Monday – Webquest due on TurnItIn by 4:00pm,
read “Invocation to the Muses” and “Calypso”
Tuesday –Odyssey Part I (Cicones, Cyclops – finish
for homework)
Block Day – Odyssey Part I (discussion of
Odysseus’ heroism and hubris, Circe, Underworld,
Sirens – finish for homework)
Friday – Vocab PP quiz + Odyssey Part I (finish Part
I for homework)
Monday – Review Part I, possible reading check,
Odyssey Part II (Reunion with son, Argos)
Tuesday – Odyssey Part II (Test of the Great Bow)
Block Day – Odyssey Part II (Battle in the Great
Hall and Penelope reunion) + analysis
Friday – Crossover practice with Odyssey and
“Ithaca” poem under document camera
Monday – No school (Columbus Day)
Tuesday – Odyssey review
Block Day – Odyssey Test
Friday – Vocab PP quiz
Monday – Review Odyssey test scores, Odyssey
video clips + why is this story still relevant today?
What does this have to do with me?
Tuesday – Grammar review
Block Day – Grammar Test
Friday – Grammar test corrections and analysis
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Literary devices
Thesis statement
Plot development
Subject/verb
agreement
 Identifying quality
research sources
 Documentation
 Archetypes
 Multimedia use
 Grammar
 Non-linear plot
 Narration
 Character
motivation
 Theme
 Hubris
 Grammar
 Application of the
hero’s journey
 Character change
 Literary devices
 Grammar
 Cross-genre
connections
 Thesis
 Textual evidence
 Support evidence
with analysis
 Self-evaluation
 Parts of speech
 Subject/verb
agreement
 Grammar
Unit plan is subject to change due to unforeseen events or a
variance in pacing. Students will be informed well in
advance when there is a change in test dates or deadlines.
Gods and Goddesses
Playing Card
Short answer
practice
Hero’s Journey quick
write
Research daily
grade(s)
Odyssey Webquest
Vocab PP Quiz
Odyssey daily grade
Reading check
Odyssey Test
Vocab PP Quiz
Grammar Test
Beware the Lotus!