English 11, Fall Semester Instructional Focus

Weekly Lesson Plans

Focus: Analyze/Analysis RL. 11-12.3, RL. 11-12.6, RL. 11-12.7, RI. 12.6

Focus: Writing W. 11-12.1 (Arguments), W. 11-12.2 (Informative), W. 11-12.3

(Narrative)

Focus: Speaking and Listening SL. 11-12.1

Friday, August 16: Go over Class Syllabus, Discuss Expectations for Nine Weeks.

Monday, August 19-Friday, August 23

Essential Questions: In what ways can a study of focused themes provide readers with better insight to the Self and Life?

  1. Introduce focus areas. Discuss the connection between writing, critical thinking, speaking, and expression.
  2. Read There’s A Hair In My Dirt by Gary Larson
  3. Hand out Worksheet Assignment. (Two Constructed Response and Personal Narrative Essay)
  4. Define ‘paraphrase.’
  5. Read original “Desiderata” and go over challenge words.

Essential Questions: What are the key elements of a five-paragraph essay?

  1. Work on Personal Narrative
  2. Create individual version of the “Desiderata.” Define all challenge words and then paraphrase each sentence of original “Desiderata” to create own version.

Begin Six-Step Vocabulary: Thorough

Monday, August 26-Friday, August 30

Essential Questions: In what ways can a study of focused themes provide readers with better insight to the Self and Life? What is an effective literary process for analyzing poetry and/or literature?

  1. Complete paraphrasing of “Desiderata,” edit and revise, then type final, polished version of individual “Desiderata.”
  2. Give back diagnostic writing of personal narrative, and discuss collective errors and places in need of improvement to prepare for next essay assignment.
  3. Read “A Psalm of Life” by Longfellow (19th century literature). Define challenge words in poem.
  4. Do stanza analysis in large group work

Six-Step Vocabulary: Analyze [Essential Question: Why is the ability/skill to analyze an important strategy to have in every day life?]

Tuesday, September 3-Friday, September 6

Essential Questions: In what ways can a study of focused themes provide readers with better insight to the Self and Life? What is an effective literary process for analyzing poetry and/or literature?

  1. Continue and finish with stanza analysis of “A Psalm of Life”

Assessment:

  1. Hand out poem analysis worksheet explaining how to construct formal responses in relation to “A Psalm of Life”

Six-Step Vocabulary: Transcend

Essential Questions: In what ways can a study of focused themes provide readers with better insight to the Self and Life? How do the themes and messages in Poe’s short stories reflect Poe’s tormented mind? How can understanding conflict through multiple perspectives help the reader connect with the dark side of individualism presented in 19th century literature?

  1. Begin Edgar Allan Poe Unit. Discuss Poe’s biography. Read an Author Study.
  2. “The Cask of Amontillado”

Monday, September 9-Friday, September 13 (Early Out, Wednesday)

Essential Questions: In what ways can a study of focused themes provide readers with better insight to the Self and Life? How do the themes and messages in Poe’s short stories reflect Poe’s tormented mind? How can understanding conflict through multiple perspectives help the reader connect with the dark side of individualism presented in 19th century literature?

  1. Watch 20 minute video of “The Cask of Amontillado”
  2. Short Answer responses: #2, 3, 8.
  3. Read and discuss worksheet “The Black Death” to build background understanding for next short story (which was Poe’s inspiration for “Masque of the Red Death”).
  4. Read “The Masque of the Red Death.”
  5. Assignment Worksheet for “The Masque of the Red Death.”
  6. Read Poe’s famous poem, “The Raven”

Six-Step Vocabulary: Lucrative, Permeate

  1. Vocabulary Quiz=5 words

Monday, September 16-Friday, September 20 (Parent Conferences, Friday)

Essential Questions: In what ways can a study of focused themes provide readers with better insight to the Self and Life? How do the themes and messages in Poe’s short stories reflect Poe’s tormented mind? How can understanding conflict through multiple perspectives help the reader connect with the dark side of individualism presented in 19th century literature?

Six-Step Vocabulary: Conspicuous

  1. Watch the 1960’s classic, Vincent Price version of “The Fall of the House of Usher.”
  2. Read “The Pit and the Pendulum.”
  3. Watch the Simpson’s clip of “The Raven”

Monday, September 23-Friday, September 27 (Standards Based Assessment)

Essential Questions: In what ways can a study of focused themes provide readers with better insight to the Self and Life? How do the themes and messages in Poe’s short stories reflect Poe’s tormented mind? How can understanding conflict through multiple perspectives help the reader connect with the dark side of individualism presented in 19th century literature?

  1. Finish reading “The Pit and the Pendulum”
  2. Introduce I Am Poem Project

Cumulative Poe Assessment: Students will take their test over Poe biographical information, “The Cask of Amontillado,” “The Masque of the Red Death,” “The Raven,” “The Fall of the House Usher,” and “The Pit and the Pendulum.”

Monday, September 30-Friday, October 4 (Substitute on Mon., Sept., 30)

Essential Questions:

  1. Continue working on I Am Poem Project

Monday, October 7-Friday, October 11 (End of Course Exams)

  1. Cover tips and pointers on essay writing test-taking.
  2. Read “Monster” by Walter Dean Myers

Six-Step Vocabulary: Fatigue, Meager, Contrary, Anquish

Monday, October 14-Friday, October 18 (Early Release on Thurs., Oct. 17 and Teacher In-Service on Fri., Oct. 18)

  1. Continue reading “Monster” by Walter Dean Myers
  2. Vocabulary Study Guide
  3. Vocabulary Test
  4. “Monster” Test