ENGLISH 9 – Quarterly Essential Skills

FIRST QUARTER

Reading Skills:

  • Literary Forms- Narrative Poetry [9.4c]
  • Elements of Dramatic Literature/Plot Structure- exposition, rising action, conflict, climax, falling action, resolution/denouement, foreshadowing [9.4b]
  • Plot, setting, point-of-view, tone, theme, mood, irony [9.4e]
  • Character Types- dynamic/round, static/flat, stereotype, caricature [9.4c, d]
  • Figurative Language- simile, metaphor, personification, analogy, symbolism, imagery, hyperbole [9.4d]
  • Annotations [9.5]

Writing Skills:

  • Sentence Development- Independent clause, combined with CC or semicolon [9.7a]
  • Coordinating conjunctions/ Semicolons [9.7a]
  • Thesis statements [9.6c]
  • Paragraph Organization [9.6a]

SECOND QUARTER

Reading Skills:

  • Syntax/diction [9.4h, k]
  • Figurative Language- extended metaphors, imagery, oxymoron, puns [9.4d]
  • Sound devices- rhyme, rhythm, repetition, alliteration, assonance, consonance, onomatopoeia, parallelism [9.3a]
  • Roots/affixes [9.3a]
  • Connotation/denotation [9.3c]
  • Author’s purpose [9.5a]

Writing Skills:

  • Sentence Development- complex and compound-complex sentences, subordinating conjunctions
  • Format and revision of a five paragraph essay (proper paragraph) [9.6, 9.7f]
  • Commas- lists, introductions, extra information, side-by-side sentences (LIES), and semicolons [9.7d]

THIRD QUARTER

Reading Skills:

  • Summarizing text skills [9.4b]
  • Identify position/argument to be confirmed, disproved, or modified [9.5e]
  • Apply knowledge of word origins, derivations to extend vocabulary development [9.3]
  • Elements of dramatic literature- monologue, soliloquy, dialogue, aside, dialect, and stage directions [9.4c, j]
  • Media and Literary Skills:
  • Plan, present, and critique oral presentations independently and in small groups [9.1]

Writing Skills:

  • Develop narrative, expository, and persuasive writings for a variety of audiences and purposes [9.6a-c, f, g,]
  • Self and peer edit for correct grammar, capitalization, punctuation, spelling, sentence structure, and paragraphing [9.7b, c, e, f]

Research Skills:

  • Use print, electronic databases, online resources, and other media to access information to create research product [9.8]

FOURTH QUARTER

Reading Skills:

  • Apply knowledge of word origins, derivations to extend vocabulary development [9.3a, b, g]
  • Read, comprehend, and analyze a variety of literary texts [9.4]
  • Summarizing text skills [9.4b]
  • Identify the characteristics that distinguish literary forms [9.4c]
  • Compare and contrast author’s use of literary elements within a variety of genres [9.4 j]
  • Make predictions, inferences, draw conclusions and connect prior knowledge to support reading comprehension [9.4l]
  • Identify position/argument to be confirmed, disproved, or modified [9.5e]
  • Draw conclusions and make inferences on explicit and implied information using textual support as evidence [9.5h]
  • Differentiate between fact and opinion [9.5i]

Media Literacy Skills:

  • Produce, analyze, and evaluate auditory, visual, and written messages [9.2]
  • Organize and synthesize information from sources for use in written and oral presentations [9.5j]

English 9 - Sample Blueprints:

1st QUARTER
SKILLS / TEXTS/ASSIGNMENTS
See Quarter 1 Skill Set / Texts:
The Most Dangerous Game
The Necklace
The Ransom of Red Chief
Speak
Introduction to Big Question
Writing a Thesis Statement
Journal Writing
Personal Narrative Essay
2nd QUARTER
SKILLS / TEXTS/ASSIGNMENTS
See Quarter 2 Skill Set / Texts:
“Oranges”
“My Papa’s Waltz”
“Grape Sherbet”
“Incident in a Rose Garden”
“The Ballad of Birmingham”
Group Poetry Project
3rdQUARTER
SKILLS / TEXTS/ASSIGNMENTS
See Quarter 3 Skill Set / Texts:
Twelve Angry Men
The Odyssey
The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet
Research Unit
Creative Writing Essay
Analytical Writing/Dialectical Journals
Honor’s Portfolio Writing Reflection Essay
4th QUARTER
SKILLS / TEXTS/ASSIGNMENTS
See Quarter 4 Skill Set / Texts:
Of Mice and Men
Tuesdays with Morrie
Socratic Seminar
Honor’s Portfolio Big Question Synthesis Essay
Honor’s Portfolio Big Question Presentation

Another Example…

1st Quarter:

--Short Story Unit

  • Stories: The Scarlet Ibis, The Necklace, The Sniper, The Most Dangerous Game.
  • Paired Text: The Scarlet Ibis transition to Of Mice and Men (similar character relationships)

--Of Mice and Men:

  • Paired Texts: Nonfiction texts concerning treatment of disabilities in the 1930s, ADA laws, etc.
  • Vocabulary Analysis: Chapter Words
  • Connections of imagery, symbolism and plot points from “The Scarlet Ibis” and Of Mice and Men
  • Analysis Paper: Compare and Contrast of Themes in OMAM and Ibis.
  • Using evidence in analysis, perfect paragraph style, general writing analysis.

--Writing:

  • Perfect Paragraph Style
  • Using literary evidence
  • Commas, punctuation, sentence development (subject verb agreement, parts of speech, run-ons vs fragments, etc.)

2nd Quarter:

(Analysis paper may cross over into 2nd quarter depending on class needs for pacing, current skill level, etc.)

--Poetry:

  • Figurative Language Introduction
  • Analysis of Poems for figurative language, meaning, theme, audience, purpose
  • Poems Taught include Fireworks, The Road Not Taken, Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening, Hope is the thing with feathers, I did not stop for death, etc.
  • Comparison to Poetry to Music: The Hanging Tree from Mockingjay.
  • Soundtrack of my life Poetry Analysis Project
  • Found Poetry: playing with poetry ideals through differently written poetry (explore style choices).
  • Poems: The Red Wheelbarrow, Genesis Poem, Sound Poems
  • Creative Poetry Choices/Projects:
  • Blackout Poetry
  • Mimicking Style Choices
  • Analysis of Poetry: Group Video Project

--Grammar/Mechanics:

  • Continuation on needed skills based on class needs: Subject/Verb Agreement, Punctuation (Commas, Semi-colons, Colons, etc), building complex sentences, apostrophes, word choice.

--Vocabulary: 9th Grade affixes (List 1-3)

Quarter 3

--“The Odyssey”

  • Epic Heroes/Literature History
  • Elevated Language Analysis
  • Character Traits, revisit of plot points, theme, analysis of figurative language (advancing skill sets)

--“The Odyssey” Writing

  • Research Paper on Greek Mythology
  • Using MLA
  • Works Cited
  • Source Research: databases, analyzing appropriate sources, plagiarism, in-text citations, evaluating research and organizing of research
  • Using source evidence to prove an arguable thesis statement
  • Perfect Paragraph Style: Expanded (5 paragraph research paper)

--Vocabulary: 9th grade Affixes (List 4-6)

Quarter 4

(Romeo and Juliet may be begun in 3rd Quarter if snow days allow; due to past year’s history, 3rd quarter was more Odyssey focused)

--Romeo and Juliet (Inquiry lesson plans—connections to real life)

  • Nonfiction Text Comparisons to famous family feuds and the couple of Sarajevo, bullying and other current events
  • Written responses to big questions concerning love, relationships and meaning of life
  • Play Analysis: building on skill sets of character analysis, plot, theme, figurative language
  • Love Song Project: Evaluating the power of music for text connections
  • Sonnet Comparisons
  • Shakespeare history and text (beginning transition to 10th grade ideals)
  • Verse vs Prose

--Literature Circles and Independent Reading Projects

Project Option 1:

  • Students are broken into two groups based on a book choice. Goal is for Honors bound students to read TKAM and for academic groups to explore one of the following choices (varies on class interest: Monster, Tuesdays, Staying Fat).
  • Read in and out of class and produce oral presentation on book using 9th grade skills sets at advanced level: Figurative Language, Plot Points, Character Analysis, source Evaluation, Opinion vs Fact, Connections to nonfiction, etc.
  • Presentation is Part of Final

Project Option 2:

  • Students choose independent reading book based on current reading level.
  • Read in and out of class and produce oral presentation on book using 9th grade skills sets at advanced level: Figurative Language, Plot Points, Character Analysis, source Evaluation, Opinion vs Fact, Connections to nonfiction, etc.
  • Presentation is Part of Final