First Semester
Unit One: The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
I Can….
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Determine the meaning of a word in context
Identify parts of speech
Identify and explain figurative language (simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole)
Identify and explain symbol
Define and explain denotation and connotation
Explain the tone of a passage
Use specific nouns and verbs, detail, and sensory language in a well-developed paragraph
Gather and organize specific examples and detail from a full-length text
Make inferences about characters and theme
Identify the speaker, audience, and purpose of an article
Identify the main idea of a passage
Write a narrative paper of a personal experience utilizing a variety of techniques such as precise
diction, sensory detail, and logical sequence of events
Unit Two: Night by Elie Wiesel
I Can…
Reinforce/deepen unit one goals
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Explain the effect of figurative language (simile, metaphor, personification)
Identify the tone of passage when it is more nuanced or ambiguous
Explain a symbol in a fully developed paragraph
Trace a theme throughout the text
Make inferences about characters
Summarize the main idea of an article
Identify parts of speech, and subjects and verbs, in more complex sentences
Determine the meaning of a word in context
Utilize descriptive detail (i.e. sensory language; concrete nouns; vivid verbs) when appropriate
Incorporate quotations with appropriate lead ins
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Incorporate the critical context (why it matters) in an argumentative essay
Refute the opposing argument
Use transitions to create coherence
Organize my arguments logically
Develop detail and examples to support my position
Make subjects and verbs agree in unusual sentences
Learn thirty new vocabulary words
Identify three types of irony
Identify other stylistic techniques of author (i.e. rhetorical question, fragments, parallel parts,
understatement and hyperbole)
I Can…
Unit Three: Lord of the Flies by William Golding
I Can…
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Write and evaluate an argumentative essay meeting the ACT standard for content, organization,
style, and mechanics
Determine the appropriate placement for commasin complicated sentences
Define and use thirty vocabularywords
Read and comprehend literature at the 11th grade level in terms of complexity (challenging
vocabulary, sentence structure, and themes)
Make inferences about character and theme
Determine the figurative and connotative meaning of a sentence or passage and how that meaning
impacts tone
Identify and explain situational irony
Unit Four: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
by Robert Louis Stevenson
I Can…
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Identify relevant background information regarding the Victorian Era.
Identify and describe key characters and events
Create an summary of a chapter
Explain how the author creates suspense
Identify the point of view and sequence of events, and explain why the author selected theme
Determine the themes of the novel without internet support
Explain how the author uses setting to develop themes and characters
Identify/define the conflicts, antagonist, protagonist, and the genre of the novella
Second Semester
Unit One: Research
I can…
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Anticipate the audience’s knowledge level, concerns, and biases
Create an introduction with a hook, context, and a clear thesis statement
Create an outline to guide my writing
Organize claims and counterclaims logically
Create cohesion using transitions words and phrases
Develop my claims and counterclaims fairly and thoroughly by selecting the most significant
facts, concrete detail, quotations, or other information
Vary my syntax and diction
Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone
Generate a concluding statement
Access and utilize a variety of databases
Evaluate my sources for credibility
Summarize, paraphrase, and take notes as appropriate
Document my sources
Create a works cited page following MLA guidelines
Follow other MLA guidelines for formatting a formal paper
Proofread my work carefully for spelling, capitalization, and punctuation, as well as grammar and
usage
Revise my work to meet the standards
Unit Two: Satire
I Can…
•
•
•
•
Identify types of satire Identify techniques employed by satirists Identify satire in complex texts, including both fiction and non-­‐fiction in order to grasp the difference between what is stated and what is intended,especially with the use of hyperbole, understatement, sarcasm, and irony Explain the purpose of a given work of satire Unit Three: Hamlet I Can… •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Describe background information about the author and time period
Identify figurative language
Explain the denotative and connotative meaning of key words
Paraphrase key passages
Follow a complex plot
Determine the relationship among characters
Determine the themes of the play as they develop over the course of the text
Identify literary techniques common to Renaissance plays (i.e. soliloquies, asides, etc.)
Write an analysis of a character or theme
Perform a passage with fluency and emotion
Compare and contrast two versions of the same scene
Write a movie review which establishes criteria for a claim of value and provides
supporting evidence
Unit Four: Personal Portfolio
I Can…
•
•
•
•
Create a resume
Write an engaging personal narrative for college or scholarship which uses a variety of techniques
(such as dialogue, pacing, description, reflection, etc.), engages the reader, considers
organizational options, and maintains a consistent tone and point of view
Request information from a college or potential employer via email or in a letter using
appropriate business English
Complete an application for work or college with attention to detail and accuracy