Honors American Lit 10A
Jason Stidham / Whitmore Lake High School / English Department
Email: jason.stidham@wlps.net Phone- 734-449-4461 x 335
Becoming well versed in the English language arts requires students to develop skills that are closely intertwined; this connectedness helps students become thoughtful readers, writers, listeners, speakers, and viewers both inside and outside of the classroom.
People often ask, "What's the difference between Honors Lit and regular American Lit"? The main difference is the teaching approach. Students complete several summer reading assignments, and then engage in in-class, higher-order discussion comparing summer reading to our in-class reading. This group interaction replaces the emphasis on reading comprehension skill building and test taking strategies found in the other sections of American Lit.
To meet this goal, I divide class time into these 3 parts:
1. "The First 20 Minutes"
Students spend the first twenty minutes reading a novel of their choice. Students answer a daily question related to the reading such as: " I predict that ________________. The evidence from the text to support this prediction is ____________________________________________."
The goal of this activity is to allow students to apply the comprehension skills we're learning to a novel that they selected to read for enjoyment.
2. "The Middle 30" of class during 10A is dedicated to the study of American Literature set before the 1900's. Our reading selections follow a timeline of American history, starting with The Crucible, set in 1690's Massachusetts . This is followed by "Revolutionary War Lit" like Patrick Henry's "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" speech, followed by "Romantic Literature" like Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven".
3. "Collins Writing" The last 10 minutes of class is saved for learning and practicing writing skills that help our sophomores become capable, confident writers. All teachers at WLHS follow a program called "The Collins Writing Method." You'll see these scored on PowerSchool as "Collins Writing" You'll usually hear your son or daughter calling these "Type Ones", "Type Twos", or "Type Threes", depending on the requirements. This writing connects to content we learned in the first two sections of class, and are usually 25 lines long.
WEEK #11- NOV 14-18
Monday- return/discuss Poe Project
-friendly letters are due at start of class
-Class time for the rest of this week is split between revising our friendly letters to soldiers, reviewing for the final exam, and reading our "choice novels".
-5th hour exam is Thursday afternoon, Nov. 17
-1st and 2nd hour exams are Friday, Nov. 18
-3rd and 4th hour exams are Monday, Nov.21
Here is our exam review-
American Lit 10 A Exam Review: (100 PTS= 20% OF YOUR FINAL GRADE)
1. Understand the plot of Pit and Pendulum, The Crucible, and The Raven. Why has this literature "stood the test of time"?
2. Sound Devices: List, Define, explain, and give textual evidence of their use in
The Raven3. Be able to use and recognize transition words and name their purposes.
(For example… "lastly" can be used to indicate time or to conclude)
4. Know the characteristics of Dark Romanticism. What are some similarities/differences between Poe’s works and Hawthorne’s "Young Goodman Brown"
5. Consider the short, informational passages we read (like the McRib article) and the types of questions we answered for them. You will have 30 minutes to read 3 passages and answer a total of 25 multiple choice questions, each worth two points.
THIS PART IS WORTH 50 POINTS (HALF OF YOUR EXAM GRADE)Review: test taking strategies, conflict, point of view, characterization, inferences
6. List the ways an author develops a character. (In other words, how do we learn about a character?
7. Be prepared to recognize, define, and give examples of :
Alliteration-
Repetition
Onomatopoeia
Assonance
sentence variety+types
allusion
allegory
simile
metaphor
oxymoron
WEEK #10- NOV 7-11
NEW HANDOUTS/ASSIGNMENTS ARE IN YELLOW, PLEASE GET ONE THE DAY YOU RETURN!
MONDAY- A. 20 minute read
B. Analyze Informational Article: "The McRib" w/ 10 questions, due
tomorrow
TUESDAY- In Honor of Veteran's Day and the upcoming holiday season:
Letter Writing Project "Letter to a Soldier" (Due Monday)
(Today's Handout)
DAY #1
Warm Up: 15 minutes- log on and Google "Write letter to Soldier" Choose three sites to browse for about 5 minutes each.
Why is this project a good use of time?________________________________________
Individual Research 45 minutes:
Row #1= Common transition words and phrases
Become an expert on "transition words"
Prepare a great description of "transitions" and how they work.
Email the most helpful link you found to the others in your row.
Row #2 = Sentence Variety
Become an expert on "sentence variety"
Prepare a great description of "Sentence Variety"
Make sure to include the main types of sentences
(hint, hint: simple, compound, ____________ , _______________)
Email the most helpful link you found to the others in your row
Row #3 = Common Comma Mistakes
Become an expert on "common comma mistakes".
Read the explanations and examples of comma mistakes.
Choose one common mistake that you always seem to make.
Prepare to share the rule, along with an example to the others in your row.
Email the most helpful link you found to the others in your row.
Row #4 = Tips for writing a friendly letter to a soldier
Visit several websites (try ehow.com and associatedcontent.com ) that give advice for what to include and what not to include in a friendly letter to a soldier.
List the 5 most important tips you find.
Now find a website that labels the parts of a friendly letter. Email the link and your 5 tips to your row
WEDNESDAY- Continue letter writing
A Discuss your topic with your row, and share information with your
assigned group. Take notes so you understand the info provided about
transitions, sentence variety, comma usage, and friendly letter tips
with your group.
B. Begin drafting
THURSDAY- Continue letter writing (all letters are due Monday)
FRIDAY- No class- Rake 'N Run / Veterans' Day
WEEK #9 OCT 31-NOV 4
NEW HANDOUTS/ASSIGNMENTS ARE IN YELLOW, PLEASE GET ONE THE DAY YOU RETURN!
MONDAY- HALF DAY/HALLOWEEN
A. Print Edgar Allan Poe Project- DUE TODAY!!
B. Watch 5 minute video clip of The Simpson's "Raven" Episode
TUESDAY- A. 20 minute read
B. Informational Text Comprehension
-Read "The Poe Toaster" answer accompanying questions
WEDNESDAY- A. Watch "Sleepy Hollow" to conclude our unit on Dark Romanticism
B. Fill in chart with examples from the movie that prove it contains
elements of 'Dark Romanticism'
C. Discuss this Friday's test on Dark Romantic literature
D. Poe Toaster questions from yesterday are due!!
THURSDAY- A. Finish "Sleepy Hollow "
B. List 5 similarities you make between this movie and your study of
Edgar Allan Poe on the bottom of yesterday's chart
FRIDAY- Test on Dark Romanticism
WEEK #8 OCT 24-28
HANDOUTS ARE UNDERLINED, MAKE SURE TO GET ONE WHEN YOU RETURN TO CLASS IF YOU WERE ABSENT!!
MONDAY- A. 20 minute read
B. Edgar Allan Poe Background. Watch first 20 minutes of video,
"Biography Channel-Edgar Allan Poe. Discuss.
C. Begin reading "The Pit and the Pendulum"
D. Begin "active reading" assignment
TUESDAY- A. Finish last 20 minutes of Poe video
B. Finish reading "The Pit and the Pendulum
WEDNESDAY- A. 20 minute read
B. Read and discuss "The Raven" by Poe
C. Explain Edgar Allen Poe "Webquest"
THURSDAY- Continue Webquest
FRIDAY- Finish Webquest (due on Monday!)
WEEK #7 OCT 17-21
MONDAY- A. Reteach "Allegory". Watch "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street"
(Twilight Zone) and discuss its allegorical elements
B. "Pregrade" our short story project and our Collins Writing Notebooks
TUESDAY- Test: short stories, allegory, characterization, summarization (50 pts)
WEDNESDAY- A. Check and discuss tests
B. 20 minute novel read
THURSDAY- A. Reading for information- "Last Meals"- Check, collaborate, discuss
FRIDAY- A. 20 minute read
b. Reflective Journal Write- "Top 3 things I've learned in class"
WEEK #6 OCT 10-14
MONDAY- A. SKILL BUILDING- READ, ANSWER, AND DISCUSS "FAST FOOD
NATION" ARTICLE
B. 20 MINUTE READ (8 ANSWERS FROM "20 QUESTIONS HANDOUT
DUE ON FRIDAY!)
C. SKILL BUILDING- READ, ANSWER, AND DISCUSS "ABOUT
THE RABBITS" ARTICLE
TUESDAY- Begin "short story" unit. Read Young Goodman Brown, answer questions,
discuss.
WEDNESDAY- Continue "short story" unit. Students pick a story of their choice from
selections available. Discuss characterization. Answer characterization questions.
THURSDAY- Continue "short story" unit. Students pick a story of their choice from
selections available. Discuss summarization. Complete a simple summary from
today's choice.
FRIDAY- Finish "short story" unit. Students pick a story of their choice from
selections available. Goodman Brown, Characterization Questions, Simple
Summaries, and 8 notebook entries all due!
WEEK #5 OCT 3-7
HANDOUTS ARE UNDERLINED, MAKE SURE TO GET ONE WHEN YOU RETURN TO CLASS IF YOU WERE ABSENT THAT DAY!!
MONDAY- A. 20 MINUTE READ
B. CRUCIBLE FINAL PROJECTS ARE DUE!
C. DISCUSS CRUCIBLE TEST
TUESDAY- A. READING COMPREHENSION/TEST TAKING SKILLS PRACTICE
READ "CHINA BANS DOG-EATING FESTIVAL" ARTICLE
WEDNESDAY- A. 20 MINUTE READ
B. ANSWER ANY ONE METACOGNITION QUESTION
FROM "20 QUESTIONS" HANDOUT
C. WATCH CAUSES OF SALEM WITCH TRIALS VIDEO
D. COMPLETE QUESTION/OPINIONS SHEET
THURSDAY- READING COMPREHENSION/TEST TAKING SKILLS PRACTICE
READ "HIGHEST PAYING BACHELOR DEGREES" ARTICLE
FRIDAY- 20 MINUTE READ
WEEK #4 SEPT 26-30
HANDOUTS ARE UNDERLINED, MAKE SURE TO GET ONE WHEN YOU RETURN TO CLASS IF YOU WERE ABSENT THAT DAY!!
MONDAY- 20 Minute Read-
Continue the movie, The Crucible
TUESDAY- PLAN PREP / Finish The Crucible movie
WEDNESDAY- The Crucible Final Project (Day One)
THURSDAY- The Crucible Test
FRIDAY- Finish The Crucible Final Project (Day Two)
WEEK #3 SEPT 19-23
HANDOUTS ARE UNDERLINED, MAKE SURE TO GET ONE WHEN YOU RETURN TO CLASS IF YOU WERE ABSENT THAT DAY!!
MONDAY- 20 Minute Read- Begin Act II of the Crucible, pp. 88-94. Prep for tomorrow's quiz.
Discuss 6 word memoirs
TUESDAY- PLAN PREP / Act I Quiz / Finish Act II
WEDNESDAY- 20 minute Read / Begin Act III, pp. 113-120
THURSDAY- PLAN PREP / Finish Act III
FRIDAY- 20 Minute Read / Finish the Crucible pp. 127- 132
WEEK #2 SEPT 12-16
HANDOUTS ARE UNDERLINED, MAKE SURE TO GET ONE WHEN YOU RETURN TO CLASS IF YOU WERE ABSENT THAT DAY!!
MONDAY- Library Day- Choose a novel from my list. Discuss "20 Questions". Visit nationalgeographic.com/salem, write three questions we should discuss.
TUESDAY- Complete The Crucible Webquest. Questions due tomorrow at start of class
WEDNESDAY- 20 minute choice novel read. Grade and discuss yesterday's Webquest Questions. Read Scene I (pp. 64-71) of The Crucible.
THURSDAY- 20 minute choice read. Read The Crucible, Act I, pp. 71-81
FRIDAY- 20 minute choice novel read. Watch Act I of The Crucible.
WEEK #1 SEPT 6-9
HANDOUTS ARE UNDERLINED, MAKE SURE TO GET ONE WHEN YOU RETURN TO CLASS IF YOU WERE ABSENT THAT DAY!!
MONDAY- NO SCHOOL/LABOR DAY
TUESDAY- HALF DAY
WEDNESDAY- Introduce and practice "Making Inferences". Discuss syllabus.
THURSDAY- Discuss Inferences Worksheet. (Due for 20 pts) Video "The Salem Witch Trials" Answer questions from video.
FRIDAY- Discuss Witch Trials handout. Practice Reading for information using text features and 9/11 article.
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