English II

English II addresses four strands of literacy: Reading, both literary and informational texts; Writing, including research; Listening and Speaking; and Language. Students complete a survey of World Literature, including a variety of books, fiction and nonfiction, short stories, poetry, drama, literary nonfiction and informational texts. Writing involves the modes of narrative,informative/explanatory, and argument/opinion with an emphasis on providing relevant and ample evidence to support a claim while using increasingly sophisticated structures. Students have regular opportunities to conduct both limited and extended research and to share their findings in a variety of ways, including technology-based presentations, whole and small group discussions, and written products. This course continues to develop language knowledge and skills, enabling students to write and speak in registers appropriate to the purpose and audience. The course will prepare students to demonstrate success on the English II End of Course Examination and the American College Test (ACT).

Students in English II Honors have successfully completed English I Honors or demonstrated above grade level skills in reading and writing and an ability to work independently and collaboratively. As in English II, students read a variety of increasingly complex texts and write in a variety of modes, with the additional expectation of extended reading, writing, and research.

Students must successfully meet district and teacher expectations in the completion of honors criteria each quarter, while also completing at least one or more extended reading and writing assignments related to the quarter’s content. Students are expected to demonstrate mastery of grammar and language mechanics in both writing and speaking by the end of the year.

A comprehensive nine-week and a comprehensive eighteen-week exam are given for each semester of the course.