First Quarter Unit Plan

English I Pre-AP – Ms. Spence

Overarching Questions: What defines a family? What is worth fighting for? How do journeys shape our understanding of the world? What literary techniques do writers use to enhance plot, character development, and theme? How do I develop a strong thesis statement? What is the difference between evidence and analysis? What are the defining characteristics of memoir, fiction, and expository texts?

Major Readings: Summer selection - A Long Way Gone (or alternative novel)

Odyssey by Homer

Thematically linked short stories, non-fiction texts, and poetry

Writing Focus: Short answer (single selection and crossover)

The AP essay

Grammar/Vocabulary: Parts of speech, subject-verb agreement, dependent/independent

clauses, prepositional phrases, sentence diagramming (warm-ups)

Summatives: 1.) Summer reading assessment

2.) AP essay

3.) “Rappaccini’s Daughter” test

4.) Odyssey test

Extra Credit AP Novel:A Separate Peace by John Knowles (timed writing to be completed in tutoring)

Date / Weekly Agenda / Objectives / Assessments
8/24 / Monday – Course introduction, reading questions due, 6 Word Memoir/ “Who Am I?” essayassigned
Tuesday –Memoir characteristics and author’s credibility, PTSD article study
Block Day –Summer readingcarousel rotations
Friday –English I Diagnostic / Theme analysis
Author’s purpose
Textual support
Cross-genre connections / Summer reading questions
Diagnostic
(not graded)
8/31 / Monday – Sentence diagramming introduction, ALWG motif analysis (Folk Tales and Music)
Tuesday – 6 Word Memoirs / “Who Am I?” essay due, test review, HW:ALWG Literary Report Card
Block Day – Summer Reading Test(Summative)
Friday –Literary Report Card due,test analysis, introduction to AP, HW:practice essay due Tuesday / Author’s purpose
Cross-genre connections
Point-of-view
Parts of speech
Theme / 6 Word Memoir /
“Who Am I?” Essay
Carousel review
Summer Reading Test
9/7 / Monday – No school (Labor Day)
Tuesday – Introduction to literary analysis, deconstruction of an AP prompt, writing a thesis
Block Day –Development of body paragraphs:(evidence, blending quotes, and analysis)
Friday –AP essay / VW quiz, Unit 1 activities due,body paragraphs / Thesis construction
Textual support
Analysis
Parts of speech
Theme
Transitions / Practice body paragraph
AP essay / VWUnit 1 quiz
9/14 / Monday –Conclusion, revision, partner planning
Tuesday – Partner body paragraph
Block Day – Individual planning day (2 prompts)
Friday – AP essay (Summative), HW:read “Rappaccini’s Daughter” for Monday / Thesis construction
Textual support
Analysis
Parts of speech
Theme
Transitions / Partner planning
AP Essay
9/21 / Monday – Reading quiz over “Rappaccini’s Daughter,”plot diagram and characterization
Tuesday – Biblical allusions, Genesis passage, symbolism, HW: expository article response
Block Day – Short answer introduction, single selection as a class, individual crossover practice (Complete for HW if needed)
Friday – VW Unit 2 activities due and quiz, partner short answer critique / Allusion
Symbolism
Character development
Imagery
Diction
Irony / Reading quiz
Short answer
VW Unit 2 quiz
9/28 / Monday – “Rappaccini’s Daughter” review
Tuesday – “Rappaccini’s Daughter” test
Block Day – Library orientation + research, HW: complete Greek god or goddess card
Friday – research cards due, Greek family tree, HW: read Odyssey introduction in textbook / Non-linear plot
Epic poetry
Character motivation
Theme
Hubris / “Rappaccini’s Daughter” Test
Research cards
10/5 / Monday – English I STAAR Checkpoint #1, HW:Read “Homer’s World” (pages 1188-1191 in Holt textbook)
Tuesday –Introduction to the Odyssey, hero’s journey, and epic hero notes, HW:Read Odyssey Part I(“Invocation to the Muses” and “Calypso” – pages 1204-1209 in Holt textbook)
Block Day – Calypso character study, Calypso short answer, OdysseyPart I (Cicones, Lotus Eaters, Cyclops), Odysseus’ heroism versus his hubris, HW: Finish reading Book 9
Friday – OdysseyPart I (Circe, Underworld, Sirens), HW: Finish reading Odyssey Part I / Non-linear plot
Epic poetry
Character motivation
Theme
Hubris
Epic similes / Odyssey reading quiz
Odyssey short answer
10/12 / Monday – No school (Columbus Day)
Tuesday – Part I packet due,Part I recap, OdysseyPart II (“Argos,” “Father and Son”)
Block Day – FinishOdyssey Part II
Friday – VW Unit 3 activities due and quiz, Odyssey movie clips and modern life application / Cross-genre connections
Hero’s journey
Personal connections
Media analysis / Odyssey Part I Notes Packet
VW Unit 3 quiz
10/19 / Monday – “Penelope” poem and crossover practice
Tuesday –Odysseytest review
Block Day – Odyssey Test, Part II packet due
Friday –Test corrections and analysis, final Odyssey wrap up / Poetic devices
Evidence
Analysis
Tone
Theme / Odyssey Part II Notes Packet
Odyssey Test