ERWC, Language Arts 12 Syllabus
Fall 2015/Spring 2016
Ms. Cook, Mr. Drury, Mrs. Marshall, Mrs. Wood
Language Arts 12 is an Expository Reading and Writing Course (ERWC)—a comprehensive, college-prep class, teaching the Common Core standards. This course was developed by the California State University system and has been adopted by the Norwalk-La Mirada District.
**PLEASE NOTE**
Because ERWC is still new to us, and we are dedicated to rework things to make them as meaningful as possible for our students, some specifics of each unit are still in the planning phase. Below is a general outline of the units we have decided on at this time. Changes may be made.
Semester 1
Unit 1—Life After High School (reading); Personal Statement (writing)
Unit 2— The Value of Life; Shakespeare play (Hamlet) (reading); Persuasive Essay (writing)
Unit 3— Rhetoric of the Op-Ed Page (reading); Research (writing)
Semester 2
Unit 4—Fiction focus, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (reading); Analysis Essay (writing)
Unit 5—Bring a Text (student choices); Multi-Media Presentation
Assessment
Student assessment will include, but is not limited to: tests, quizzes, writing (formal and informal), close reading questions and notes, and participation in class activities.
Independent Reading Requirement
Quarter 1—Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild. Students will read this short book (200 pages), working through the study guide as well as the passage reflection assignment at home. There may be occasional check-ins in class. After reading, students will complete a timed-writing essay in class and take an exam on the book.
Quarter 2—Students need to complete 600 pages minimum for this assignment, reading books of their choice. There will be occasional check-ins in class to assess progress. The page requirement can be met reading more than one book if desired. The book tests on these pages will be one-on-one with the teacher, and typically take no more than a few minutes to complete (see Independent Reading Requirements for full details).
Quarter 3—Same as Quarter 2.
Quarter 4—Rudolfo Anaya’s Bless Me, Ultima. Students will read this book (262 pages), working through the study guide at home. After each five-chapter section, students will be quizzed on the material, and will be working through enrichment material. At the end of the quarter, the exam will be given (semester final).