English 9
Course Summary
Explore the beauty of the English language through a selection of well-known literary classics. In this course, students study short stories, non-fiction, poetry, drama, and novels. Increase knowledge of grammar and language usage by working through some of the world’s greatest adventure and love stories. Students engage in literary analysis and complete a variety of reading, writing, and oral communication activities.
Course Prerequisite(s):
Students should have passed two semesters of 8th grade English.
Curriculum
This is a 2-semester course. We do not recommend taking both semesters simultaneously.
Unit 1: Literary Analysis
- Writing Review
- Writing a Theme Paragraph
- Writing a Multi-Paragraph Essay
- Effective Thesis Statements
- Developing a Thesis
- Writing the Essay Introduction
- Writing the Essay Conclusion
- Concrete Detail
- Commentary
- The Scarlet Ibis
- Rules of the Game
- Commonly Confused Words
- Sentence Run-ons and Fragments
- Compound and Complex Sentences
- Appositives
- Parts of Speech
Unit 2: The Epic
- Homer: Background and Biography
- What is Epic Poetry?
- Who are Epic Heroes?
- Literary Terms Review
- Odyssey Books 1-24
Unit 3: Literary Analysis
- Dystopian Fiction
- Comparing Science Fiction
- Bradbury and Asimov
- Writing a Comparison: Organizing Your Thoughts
- Writing a Comparison: Organizing the Essay
- Flash Fiction
- Concrete Poetry
Unit 4: Romeo and Juliet
- Introduction to Romeo and Juliet
- Shakespeare's Tragedies
- Unlocking the Language of Shakespeare
- Shakespeare's Globe Theater
- Symbolism in Literature
- Soliloquies, Monologues, and Asides
- Themes in Literature
Unit 5: Author Study
- Introduction to Semester 2
- Life of Edgar Allan Poe
- Poetic Devices in Poe
- Annabel Lee
- The Raven
- Symbolism & Allegory
- The Masque of the Red Death
- The Cask of Amontillado
- Irony in The Cask of Amontillado
Unit 6: Call of the Wild
- Jack London Background
- Novel Focus - Literary Terms
- The Call of the Wild Chapters 1-7
- The Call of the Wild Themes
- Nonfiction Connections
Unit 7: Focus on Writing
- Narrative Writing Introduction
- Narrators and Point of View
- Characterization
- Effective Dialogue
- Show Rather Than Tell
- Scott Fitzgerald
- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
- Personal Narrative
- Autobiographies, Memoirs & Vignettes
- How to Write a Personal Narrative
- 12 Years a Slave
Unit 8: Poetry Study
- Ballad Form
- Sonnet Forms
- Who Is William Shakespeare?
- Poetic Devices
- Narrative Poetry
- Reciting Poems Effectively