Ninth Grade English

This course includes the study of  composition (writing), literature, spelling and vocabulary development, grammar, research, and study skills.  The course objectives directly correlate to district and state reading and writing standards (see course outline).  The nature of the course makes it a challenging one and requires students to be responsible and to actively participate.

Course Outline

Grade Level: 9th                                                                   Course #: EN 09
Course Name: General English                                          # Of Credits: One (1)

Course Objectives:
1. Students will use the writing process.
2. Students will compose a persuasive essay.
3. Students will compose a limited research paper.
4. Students will read a variety of literature and analyze for elements of fiction.
5 Students should know and be able to acquire and use new vocabulary in relevant contexts.
6. Students should know and be able to employ strategies to comprehend text.
7. Students should know and be able to identify, analyze, and apply knowledge of the purpose, structures, and elements
of literature.
8. Students should know and be able to recognize and apply knowledge of historical and cultural aspects of American,
British, and world literature.
9. Students should know and be able to identify, analyze, and apply knowledge of the purpose, structures, and elements
of expository text.
10. Students should know and be able to identify, analyze, and apply knowledge of the purpose, structures, and elements
of functional text.
11. Students should know and be able to explain basic elements of argument in text and their relationship to the author’s
purpose and use of persuasive strategies.

Course Content
Reading:                                                      Writing:

              AIMS Test Prep                                    AIMS Test Prep
              Comprehension Strategies                 Business Letter
              Drama, Romeo and Juliet                  Daily Oral Language
              Epic, The Odyssey                              Editing
              Expository Text                                     Expository Writing
              Fluency                                                  Grammar
              Functional Text                                     Literary Analysis
              Historical and Cultural Aspects          Paragraph Writing
              Literary Elements                                 Personal Narrative
              Non-fiction, Farewell to Manzanar     Persuasive Essay
              Non-fiction, Into Thin Air                     Poetry
              Non-fiction, Red Scarf Girl                 Research Paper/Researched Essay
              Novel, Animal Farm                            Revising
              Novel, Bless the Beasts and Children    Six Traits of Writing
              Novel, Bless Me, Ultima                     Spelling
              Novel, Cold Sassy Tree                      Step Up to Writing
              Novel, The Giver                                  Terra Nova Test Preparation
              Novel, Great Expectations                  Thinking Maps
              Novel, I Am the Cheese                      Timed Writing
              Novel, Oliver Twist                                Vocabulary
              Novel, Out of the Dust                          Writing Process
              Persuasive Text
              Poetry
              Short Story
              Terra Nova Test Preparation
              Thinking Maps
              Vocabulary


Testing:
• District Test (Writing/Communication: Persuasive Essay)
• Terra Nova (Reading Fiction/Non-fiction, Vocabulary, Language Mechanics, Spelling)

*Selection of reading and writing materials is at the sole discretion of the teacher as long as the materials fit within MPS policies and curriculum. Reading and writing materials are subject to change throughout the semester.