Welcome

English Language ArtsSara Meskin

Alyssa Jenkins

Terra Nova English: Excellence

Diverse course offerings (College-prep English, Enriched/Honors, Advanced Placement, Film as Literature)

Rigorous (Demanding writing program, high-quality literature, Common-Core aligned)

Superior (AP pass rates 20+% higher than national average)

8th grade Enriched English testing

Students wishing to get into 9th grade Enriched English must take an entrance test. Failure to take this test will result in no entrance.

If your student doesn’t pass the test, he or she can still enter the honors program at 10th grade, as long as he or she meets the requirements.

Testing Dates for Enriched English

May 3 at 9:00amOR

May 17 at 9:00amStudents should arrive between 8:30 and 8:45.

Testing will be in the English wing (3rd floor)They need to bring: blue or black pens, college-ruled

paper, and a #2 pencil. No materials will be available.

Placement notification will be mailed by June 13.

Test for Enriched English

Two parts to the test: Reading Comprehension Students must read a text and then answer a

series of multiple choice questions testing their comprehension of the material.

In-class Essay Students read a short passage and then

respond to an essay prompt. (Want to prepare for the essay? Look up

“Schaffer paragraph” on Wikipedia.)

Summer reading for 9th graders

English 9: Buddha Boy by Kathe KojaAssignment: Read the novel. Take careful notes to help you study

for the test and essay you will write in August.

English 9E: Buddha Boy and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Assignment: Read both novels. For Buddha Boy, write a dialectical journal; this will help you with the test in August. Instructions will be handed out when the counselors come to your school for scheduling. For A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, take careful notes to help you with the test and essay you will write in August.

Freshmen Year options Enriched English: English 9E Students gain admission by passing the Enriched English test in

May. Students must earn a grade of B- or higher both semesters of their freshmen year in order to be recommended for sophomore enriched English.

College Preparatory: English 9 Students not in English 9E will be in this class. Students must

receive an A- or higher both semesters of their freshmen English class and get a teacher recommendation in order for them to transition into sophomore enriched English.

Academic Literacy A support class for struggling freshmen students. Placement

determined by counselors. Concurrent enrollment with English 9.

Freshman Novels Of Mice and Men* Romeo and Juliet * Ender’s Game* House on Mango Street* The Odyssey/Mythology* Absolutely True Autobiography of a Part-

Time Indian Les Miserables** Oliver Twist*** Core Novels ** Enriched English

English Curriculum Map Grade 9

Weeks 1- 6 Weeks 6-12 Weeks 12 - 18Focus: Essay WritingTypes of Essays:1. Narrative2. Expository3. Persuasive4. Literary AnalysisEssay Basics:1. Thesis2. Topic Sentence3. C.D. / Evidence4. C.M. / Analysis5. Body Paragraph6. Conclusion

Common Assessment:

Writing Assessment:

Focus: Plot StructureLiterary Elements1. Exposition / Basic

Situation2. Rising Actions/

Complications 3. Climax4. Falling Actions5. Resolution6. Conflicts 7. Personification8. Mood9. Imagery 10. Flashback

Common Assessment:

Writing Assessment:

Focus: Characterization

Literary Elements1. Characterization2. Motivation3. Round4. Flat5. Dynamic6. Static7. Main Character8. Subordinate

Characters9. Protagonist10. Antagonist

Common Assessment:

Writing Assessment:

Weeks 18 - 24 Weeks 24 - 30 Weeks 30 – 36

Focus: Literary Analysis

Essay Basics:1. Direct Quote2. Paraphrase3. Summary4. Citation5. Thesis Statement6. Integrating

Quotes7. Transitions8. Lead-Ins9. Quo, Par, Punc.

“(13).

Common Assessment:

Writing Assessment:

Focus: Theme & Narration

Literary Elements:1. Theme 2. Tone3. Diction4. Voice5. Narration

Common Assessment:

Writing Assessment:

Focus: Research Writing

Essay Basic Abilities:• Evidence• Primary Source• Secondary

source• MLA Citation• Work Cited• Credible• Plagiarism• Methods

Common Assessment:

Writing Assessment:

Sophomore Year choices

Enriched English: English 10E In addition to the coursework in English 10, students in 10E

read A Tale of Two Cities and two additional novels. Students are expected to read independently over vacations, as well.

College Preparatory: English 10 This class is aligned with the World History, Cultures, and

Geography class that all sophomores take; literature focuses on Western civilization and includes literature like All Quiet on the Western Front, Macbeth, Catcher in the Rye, and Night.

Junior Year choices AP Language and Composition Honors English (English 11H) College Preparatory (English 11)

Electives Journalism 1 (newspaper) Priority goes to seniors, but juniors are encouraged to apply

for class. Yearbook Film as Literature (may not be taken both

junior and senior year)

Senior Year choices AP Literature and Composition Honors English (English 12H) Expository Reading and Writing (ERWC) –

College Preparatory Film as Literature

Electives Journalism 1 and 2 Yearbook

Questions?