📚 Unit 1: Strategies for Critical Reading and Response

What we’re learning:
In this first unit, students review the core skills that will guide their success in English IV—reading deeply, writing clearly, speaking confidently, and working with others effectively.

Why it matters:
These foundational tools help students grow as thoughtful readers, writers, and communicators—skills essential for college, career, and life.

Focus skills: Reading strategies, academic writing, discussion, and collaboration.

📖 Unit 2: Analyzing Literary Texts and Composing the Literary Analysis Essay

What we’re learning:
Students will read and analyze powerful works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama. They’ll also practice writing their own literary texts using the techniques they study.

Why it matters:
This unit helps students understand how authors use literary tools to share deep messages—and prepares them to do the same in their own writing.

Focus skills: Literary analysis, creative composition, and author’s craft.

🧠 Unit 3A: Rhetorically Analyzing and Composing Texts that Argue and Inform

What we’re learning:
Students will explore how writers structure informative and persuasive texts to reach an audience. They’ll also write their own resumes, letters, and essays.

Why it matters:
From college essays to job applications, these real-world writing tasks teach students how to express themselves clearly and with purpose.

Focus skills: Informational writing, argumentative writing, resume and letter writing, and rhetorical analysis.

🗣️ Unit 3B: Analyzing Argumentative Texts through the Rhetorical Analysis Essay

What we’re learning:
Students will closely examine how authors build arguments and persuade readers. Then, they’ll write their own rhetorical analysis essays based on those techniques.

Why it matters:
Understanding how arguments are constructed gives students the tools to think critically and write with clarity and precision.

Focus skills: Rhetorical analysis, identifying author’s purpose, and evaluating persuasive strategies.

📝 Unit 4: Opposing Viewpoints – Composing the Argumentative Research Essay

What we’re learning:
Students will research a topic they care about, explore different perspectives, and write an argumentative essay supported by credible sources.

Why it matters:
This unit prepares students to present informed opinions in college and the workplace. It also sharpens research, writing, and critical thinking skills.

Focus skills: Argument development, credible sourcing, persuasive writing, and academic formatting.

🔁 Unit 5: Making Connections Across Texts with Rhetorical and Literary Analysis

What we’re learning:
Students will compare literary and argumentative texts that deal with similar themes. They’ll write comparative essays that highlight how different genres communicate ideas.

Why it matters:
Today’s media landscape is full of mixed genres. This unit teaches students how to recognize patterns, compare messages, and become more analytical readers and writers.

Focus skills: Comparative analysis, author’s craft, and writing across genres.

🎯 Unit 6: Producing Authentic Composition with Multiple Genres and Modes

What we’re learning:
For their final project, students will research their future career path and create a multimodal presentation that shows what’s required to succeed in that field.

Why it matters:
This unit connects classroom learning with real-world goals. Students will research, write, and present a professional-quality product that showcases their voice, vision, and skills.

Focus skills: Career exploration, research, multimedia composition, and audience-centered communication.