Unit 1 Essential Question: What are the consequences and benefits of breaking social norms? 

Pre-AP Title: "Telling Details"

Texts: Short stories, novel of choice, character case studies

Writing: Email etiquette, evidence-based writing, character analysis,
memory time machine (personal narrative)

Unit 2 Essential Question: How does performance bring new life and meaning to words on a page?

Pre-AP Title: "Pivotal Words & Phrases"

Texts: Poetry, Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare, and multiple film adaptations of the play

Writing: Rewriting & performing a scene from Romeo & Juliet
Poetry portfolio

Unit 3 Essential Question: How do we know the truth?

Pre-AP Title: "Compelling Evidence"

Texts: Nonfiction (TBD), self-selected research on current events

Writing: Evaluating an argument, creating an argument/debate, research, works cited

Unit 4 Essential Question: What does it take to be creative?

Pre-AP Title: "Powerful Openings"

Texts: Film opening scenes, novel openings, novel of choice

Writing: Storyboard, literary analysis, creating a fictional world

Final Portfolio

Standards-based-reporting

Achieving: Consistently and independently meets the learning intention

Progressing: On the way to mastery, but some support or improvement is still needed

Beginning: just starting to develop understanding

Insufficient evidence

Yearlong Learning Intentions

Vocabulary & lang dev

Grammar & conventions

Speaking & listening 

Critical reading 

Writing 

Research

Absences: If a due date or assessment is missed due to an absence, it will be accepted up to 5 school days after the student returns to school.

Classroom Norms & Procedures

• Sign In/Out: Students must ask permission to the leave the classroom (bathroom, nurse). Sign-out is via the google form at the computer kiosk.

• Lockers: All bags/backpacks are to be kept in lockers. Students will not be able to visit lockers during the class period without being marked tardy.

• Food/drink: In general, only water bottles with sealable lids are allowed in class (no food), but special protocol will be followed on "Friyay Host Days."

• Cell phones: Cell phones are to remain in lockers during the school day.  Any phones in class will be brought to the office.

• Cheating, Plagiarism & AI: Turning in work that is not your own will result in a 0: insufficient evidence.

•  Respect: Bullying, belittling, degrading, discriminatory and disruptive language and actions are not tolerated.

Daily Supplies

• Composition notebook (supplied by the school and kept in the classroom)

• Two-pocket folder (for homework)

• School-issued chromebook 

•  Pencils 

• Independent reading book

• Optional: glue stick, scissors, colored pencils, highlighters, post-it notes, tissues, headphones

• If you are having technical difficulties with your chromebook, use the classroom chromebook to submit a help ticket. You will be expected to complete assignments on paper while you wait for assistance. 

Online Learning Platforms

• Google Classroom

• College Board

• Vocabulary.com

• Quizlet

• Blooket

• Kahoot

• Newsela

• Quill.org

• WeVideo

Homework???

• Not exactly, BUT...

• Some students may find they  need more study, practice or reading time at home.

• If you are absent, it is expected that you check Google Classroom and complete what you missed on your own time or reschedule quizzes/tests during free time at school.