Curriculum for Regular English Courses

Garfield High School, L.A.U.S.D. Interim draft, August 12, 2002 CA Standards alignmnent pending

CURRICULUM FOR REGULAR ENGLISH COURSES

GRADE 12: EXPOSITORY COMPOSITION (SEMESTER COURSE)

Course Content

1.  The instructor will choose literature that he/she believes represents a wide variety of styles and genres representing world literature. Representative authors will include, but not be limited to, the following:

·  Achebe, Anaya, Austen, Conrad, Dostoevsky, García Márquez, Ibsen, Joyce, Morrison, Orwell, Shakespeare, Walker, etc.

·  Selected poets and essayists

(See attached, grade-specific inventory of literature.)

2.  Writing, college-bound vocabulary & skill development.

·  Mastery of comprehensive literary terms & concepts (attached list is representative)

·  Critical thinking skills

·  Alternate modes of writing beyond the 5-paragraph method (research writing, abstracts, analytical writing, resumés, personal essays, etc.)

·  Academic writing skills: citation of sources, academic vocabulary, etc.

3.  A thematic unit concerned with selected societal issues leading to further development of public speaking and composition skills.

4.  Continued mastery of MLA-based writing format.

Methodology

1.  Close reading of prose and poetry (explication, reading logs, etc.).

2.  Writing in drafts beyond the five-paragraph essay and mandatory writing process with revisions and peer evaluation.

3.  Planning and executing compositions appropriate to varied writing situations (i.e. literary analysis, practical writing skills, reportage, etc.).

4.  Textual analysis using grouping and oral presentation.

5.  Panels, role-playing and performance activities related to contemporary personal and social issues and ideas (panels, role-playing, etc.).

6.  Continued weekly formal writing assignments and reading comprehension tests (multiple-choice as well as short-answer).

7.  Independent reading of works of literary merit which may represent any of:

·  One or more novels

·  One or more plays

·  Optional use of the Star/Accelerated Reader program:

8.  Language Arts Portfolio construction. Additions to the portfolio in Expository Composition courses will include at least four essays and one research paper, all of which will be used to document student progress, and will represent the student’s best work. The Language Arts Portfolio will contain further examples of descriptive, narrative, informative, and expository compositions demonstrating further mastery in these domains. A persuasive essay based on a current issue should also be included. The portfolio will contain one detailed research paper, word-processed in MLA-based writing format. The portfolio will be maintained by the individual student or by the teacher at the teacher’s discretion. The student will present his/her Language Arts Portfolio to the teacher for evaluation at the end of the course.

Assessment

1.  Formal writing assignments, teacher-constructed tests, classroom performance and review of the Language Arts Portfolio.

2.  An Honors student must complete a substantial portion (i.e. 60%) of the above content and methodology at a minimal level of competence in order to pass the course. (Some kind of points-based grading system is recommended.)