Essentials of English I
Essentials of English I is offered in the fall for freshmen to prepare for their first high school English course in the spring. In a sense, it's a boot camp where prior skills are reviewed and other basic skills are introduced. The course will cover writing skills through an introduction to the writing process and basic documentation skills. Students will also be taught to research and identify legitimate sources. We'll read classic literature and nonfiction selections to improve reading comprehension skills and learn more about global affairs. Oh -- and we'll have fun!
Highlights
- Reading
Students can expect to read popular works such as Romeo and Juliet and Ender's Game. We will also cover a lot of short works of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. Since I'm a big proponent of incorporating current events, you can also expect to read and analyze news articles. - Writing
We'll write a lot in this class, so be prepared. In addition to journals, students can expect to write essays, poems, and letters. Students will also learn more about the MLA format and parenthetical documentation. Grammar lessons will be taught in context of writing assignments. - Speaking and Listening
There will be many opportunities for students to share their thoughts and ideas in small and large group settings. You will be asked to read out loud, act out parts in a play, and give a speech. - Technology
The main reason students go to school is to prepare for 21st century jobs; therefore, it is imperative that students learn how to efficiently and effectively use technology. It is also important that students learn how to use technology in an honest, moral manner, so we'll do many activities that discuss practical skills and appropriate behaviors.
Upcoming Events
- Syllabus
I am posting the class syllabus for your convenience. You will also find it on the class calendar when I have it prepared for you.
- Class Calendar
Daily lessons, activities, and handouts are available on the class calendar. Please bookmark this page for future reference. If there are changes in the schedule, I make announcements in class and update the calendar immediately.
Objectives
- Writing - Students will practice the writing process and learn the basic conventions of writing. Lessons will focus on ideas, grammar, organization, sentence fluency, and voice.
- Reading - Students will review and analyze the key elements of a text. They will be asked to identify the main idea, draw inferences, make conclusions, and use the text for support. In addition to fiction, students will be asked to introduced to a variety of nonfiction in preparation for standardized tests.
- Researching - Students will be taught to evaluate sources for their reliability. Proper researching skills will be taught and documentation skills will be introduced.
- Listening & Speaking - Students will be asked to deliver speeches in order to build confidence as public presenters. Since it is also important to be an active listener, these skills will be rehearsed, too.
- Vocabulary - Students will be introduced to Greek and Latin root words in order to prepare for upcoming standardized tests.