English 9

This English course introduces students to the analysis of literature with a focus reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in order to prepare students for higher-level English classes and testing, as well as the world beyond high school. Over the course of the year, we will develop academic vocabulary; use the writing process to construct thoughtful essays; read works of fiction, non-fiction, drama and poetry; give oral presentations; have class discussions; and practice grammar, formatting, mechanics and writing conventions — including narrative, descriptive, persuasive and expository. This course includes frequent reading and writing assignments and requires a willingness to participate cooperatively with one's peers.

We will be exploring issues surrounding "Self and Society" throughout the course of this year. The major literary works with which we will be engaging are The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Lord of the Flies, Romeo and Juliet, and To Kill a Mockingbird, as well as several short stories and poems. There will also be a separate list of Independent Reading Books (IRBs). Each student will have a choice of IRB from this list and these are books that each student will be expected to read and analyze independently — while we are reading the core text as a class.

The Independent Reading Books I have chosen include The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger...