English Program Summary:
Texts will be provided by Mr. Manning (except Eats, Shoots and Leaves, which is
optional for students). Most assignments below will be done in class except where
indicated with an "H" to designate homework.
September to December, 2011
Novel for September:
The Hollow Tree (Janet Lunn) is Canadian historical fiction about a teenager's forced
migration northward from the United States during the Revolutionary War. We are
reading this to prepare for a cross-curricular role-play in December, where students
assume the personas of prospective migrants to Canada..
Short Stories for September (to be read and analyzed in-class):
"The Rocking Horse Winner" (D.H. Lawrence)
- Quiz (Q) and Reading Journal (J) September 8
"Charles" and "The Lottery" (bonus) (Shirley Jackson)
- Q and J September 12
"The Red-Headed League (Conan Doyle)
- Q and J September 19
"An Arrest" (Ambrose Bierce)
- Q and J September 26
Novel for October
The Devil's Arithmetic (Jane Yolen) is the story of a girl transported back in time to a
place no one would ever want to go: this superbly written novel for adolescents confronts
the Holocaust and shows the importance of ritual and remembrance in our present-day
world.
Short Stories for October (to be read and analyzed in-class):
"The Moonlit Road" (Ambrose Bierce)
- Q and J October 3
"The Cask of Amontillado" and "The Raven" (bonus) (Poe)
- Q and J October 10
"Little Red Cap" (Grimm) and "The Werewolf' (Angela Carter)
- Q and J October 24
"A Vine on a House" (Bierce)
- Q and J October 31
November
"The Man Who Planted Trees" (Jean Giono) - November 7
"The Dentist and the Gas" (Stephen Leacock) - November 29
Independent Novel Study Project
H - Parental Pennission for Novel Chosen due November 14
H - Overview (250 words) due November 21
H - Character (250 words) due November 28
H - Setting (250 words) due December 5
H - Personal Response (250 words) due December 12
H - Multimedia Presentation due December 19
December
"With the Photographer" (Leacock) - December 5
"The Necklace" (de Maupassant) - December 12
"Gift of the Magi" (0. Henry) - December 20
Writing
H - Historical Narrative: Cross-curricular English and history assignment to prepare a
story for the Jubilee Time Capsule in Honour of Queen Elizabeth II's sixtieth year as
monarch.
Draft due November 14th
Good copy after revisions due November 25 th
Poetry
Grammar and Writing Conventions: Grammar Jeopardy Game
Recommended text: Eats, Shoots, and Leaves (Lynne Truss)
Oral Communication
Cooperative Group Problem-Solving Activities In-Class
January to June, 2012
Novel for January and February:
Life ofPi (Yann Martel) is a cure for the "winter blahs"! This story, (perhaps) about a
boy trapped in a life boat with a Bengal tiger, manages to rivet readers to their books
despite the limited horizon the novel's characters share on the Pacific Ocean.
Pages 1-93
- completed in class by Friday. January 20
Pages 94-200
- completed in class Friday, February 10
Pages 201-319
- completed in class Tuesday, February 21
Quiz Review on Life of Pi Wednesday, February 22 (in-class)
Quiz (15 Questions on the entire book): Thursday, Feb. 23
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Literature Circles on this book will be conducted in class throughout January and
February.
February Essays for Black History Month
"The Natives are Hostile" (Alistair Scobie)
- Q and J due Mon. Feb 6
"Notes of a Native Son" (James Baldwin)
- Q and J due Mon. Feb. 13
"Letter From Birmingham Jail" (Martin Luther King Jr.)
- Q and J due Tues. Feb. 23
Novel for February and March:
To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
Scout Finch and her brother Gem learn about the whisperings and prejudices that corrupt
their small Alabama town as their father Atticus, a lawyer, defends a man many
townsfolk would rather Atticus did not. This book is a controversial classic that students
will be well prepared to read, as it connects with the essays on Black history they are
reading as well as their preparations for a mock trial of Louis Riel.
Literature Circles on this book will be conducted in class throughout late February and
March.
April to June: Reading and Performance of Short Plays: "Sorry, Wrong Number"
(Fletcher), "Make Your Play" (Lillington), Twelve Angry Men (Rose)
Students will select a play and roles to perform either live in class, as an audio
presentation, or by video. Time will be given in class to complete this work, though
students may want to meet outside of class time to record their presentations.
"Sorry, Wrong Number" will be presented May 18
"Make Your Play" will be presented June 1
Twelve Angry Men will be presented June 18
Writing, Media Studies and Oral Communication
H-Commonwealth Essay Contest (see web link above for details): First Draft Due April
26th for peer revision and editing. Peers' suggestions will be available for students to
review before April 29.
H-Final Draft Due May 3. This draft will be sent to the Commonwealth competition and
a separate copy will be marked by Mr. Manning.
Students' Mock Trial of Metis leader Louis Riel
Most of this work, including a reading of the graphic novel Louis Riel by Chester Brown
and viewing of a CBC mock trial presentation, will be done in class. Students will also
have homework to prepare for their mock trial or to reflect on it: homework may include
- A biography of a witness to the events that occurred in the 1885 Northwest Uprising
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- A lawyer's factum (the student judge will write a judgement)
- Drawings, poems, or a website showcasing students' work in the mock trial
- Newspaper articles about the mock trial, or opinion pieces critiquing the verdict
Oral and Multimedia presentations for Ontario History Quest model-building activity
Participation in Diplomacy Bingo Model Diplomatic Conference Activity
H-Grade-Wide Public Speaking Contest (May).
- Students prepare 4-6 minute speeches on topics to be finalized in the spring. Every
student participates in the class-wide competitions, with classroom winners going on to
speak before all grade eights in an adjudicated competition for prizes!
Geography and Math Settlement Design Presentation (June)