English II 

 COURSE DESCRIPTION

English II:

 English II is a thematic study of world literature ranging from ancient history to the contemporary period.  This course includes poetry, drama, fiction, and nonfiction, as well as opportunities for a variety of compositions with an emphasis on argument.  This course is skills-driven and focuses on writing, grammar, reading, and vocabulary. 

In this course, students will read extensively to strengthen their skills and deepen their understanding of literary and informational texts. Emphasis will be placed on drawing evidence from literary and informational texts in order to support analysis, reflection, and research. 

Additionally, this course will focus on the acquisition and application of skills in writing, speaking and listening, word study, and language. Writing instruction will focus on teaching students to assert and defend claims in order to demonstrate what they know about a topic. 

Students will learn to consider task, purpose, and audience as well as how to combine information, structures, and formats deliberately to make their claim.  Students will participate in research that requires them to gather information, evaluate sources, and cite material accurately.  Students will become skilled in determining and clarifying the meanings of words and phrases in order to comprehend complex texts and build extensive vocabularies.