Southside High School uses the Louisiana Guidebooks 3.0 curriculum in English II. This curriculum was created by the state of Louisiana and has the highest rating (Tier 1) for instructional materials. Below are the unit outlines and text lists. If you have any questions or concerns about curricular resources, literature, or instructional materials, please contact your child's teacher before contacting administration.

If you wish to view the unmodified and unedited Louisiana Guidebooks 3.0, please go to www.louisianacurriculumhub.com and select the appropriate grade level link.

Unit 1: Poetry and Hamilton

The first unit begins with an introduction to poetry and various genres of poems. We will focus on a variety of themes and discuss poetry as an expression of human experiences. Students will write original poems that reflect an understanding of the conventions of the genre. In the second half of the unit, students will study Hamilton the musical and examine how Lin-Manuel Miranda uses literary devices, poetry, and dramatic techniques to creatively retell Alexander Hamilton's story.

Unit 2: Things Fall Apart (Narrative Unit)

The second unit focuses on teaching students narrative structure and elements. In the first half of the unit, students will read and explicate short stories that represent a variety of authors and literary themes. We will focus on narrative as an expression of culture , human experience, and imagination. In the second half of the unit, students will read the first seven chapters of Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart to learn about Igbo culture and analyze Ikemefuna's experience. Students will end the unit by writing a narrative and an analytical essay.

Unit 3: Rhetoric and The Immortal Life

The third unit focuses on teaching students rhetorical analysis and argumentative writing. In the first half of the unit, students will read various arguments about censorship of literature in high school classrooms. We will focus on how authors use evidence and rhetorical appeals to develop an argument. In the second half of the unit, students will read the first eleven chapters of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. The unit ends with students writing an argumentative essay that takes a stance on the debate surrounding censoring or teaching The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.

Unit 4: Honor's Novel Study

Honors courses have an additional unit: the novel study. Your child's English II teacher will communicate the literature to you and your child.