English, grades 9 and 10

Units

1. 1

   Reading literature: theme, character and plot

   3 lessons

   1. Strong and thorough textual evidenceChoose quotations that prove a claim about a text, tell what a text says outright from what it only suggests, and show that the evidence is thorough as well as strong.
   2. Theme and how it developsState a theme as a full sentence about life, trace how it grows through the events and details of a story, and write a short objective summary that leaves opinion out.
   3. Complex characters and their motivesExplain how a character with conflicting motives develops, how the character's choices move the plot, and how those choices shape the theme.
2. 2

   Author's craft: words, point of view and structure

   3 lessons

   1. Word choice, tone and figurative languageExplain what a word means in context, tell denotation from connotation, name common figures of speech, and show how a pattern of word choices builds a tone.
   2. How structure shapes meaningExplain how an author's choices about the order of events and the handling of time create mystery, tension or surprise.
   3. Point of view and cultural experienceName a work's point of view, say what cultural experience it reflects, and read a world-literature poem for what it shows of the writer's place and time.
3. 3

   Comparing texts across genres and media

   2 lessons

   1. The same story in different mediaCompare how a text and a painting treat the same story, and say what each medium emphasizes, leaves out, and why.
   2. How authors transform source materialIdentify what an author keeps from a source, what the author changes, and what the changes add to the new work.
4. 4

   Poetry and drama

   2 lessons

   1. Reading poetry closelyRead a poem for its speaker, imagery, form, sound and shifts, and explain how those choices build meaning and tone.
   2. Drama: structure, soliloquy and dramatic ironyExplain how a play's five-part structure, its soliloquies and asides, and dramatic irony shape what the audience understands.
5. 5

   Reading nonfiction: central ideas and evidence

   3 lessons

   1. Evidence in nonfictionFind the claim in a nonfiction passage, cite the strongest explicit evidence for it, and draw an inference the text supports.
   2. Central ideas and their developmentState the central idea of a nonfiction text, show how details shape and refine it, and summarize the text without opinion.
   3. How an author builds an analysisFollow the order in which an author makes and develops points, and explain why that order persuades.
6. 6

   Rhetoric and argument in nonfiction

   3 lessons

   1. Meaning, tone and technical wordsWork out what a word means as used in a nonfiction text, handle technical and figurative words, and show how word choices set the tone.
   2. Structure and effect of an argumentBreak an argument into claim, reasons, counterclaim and conclusion, and judge how particular sentences and paragraphs develop and strengthen the claim.
   3. Rhetoric: purpose and styleIdentify an author's purpose and point of view, name the appeals and devices used, and explain how they advance the purpose.
7. 7

   Foundational documents and speeches

   2 lessons

   1. Analyzing a subject in different mediumsCompare accounts of one event or person told in different mediums and say which details each account emphasizes and why.
   2. Foundational U.S. documents and speechesRead the Declaration of Independence, the Gettysburg Address and King's Letter from Birmingham Jail for their themes, purposes and rhetorical features, and see how they answer one another.
8. 8

   Writing arguments

   3 lessons

   1. Writing an argumentWrite an argument with a clear claim, valid reasons and relevant, sufficient evidence, and check that each reason really supports the claim.
   2. Claims, counterclaims and rebuttalIntroduce a precise claim, state a fair counterclaim, and answer it with a rebuttal that respects the audience's knowledge and concerns.
   3. Cohesion and a concluding statementLink the sections of an argument with words, phrases and clauses that show how claims and reasons relate, and end with a concluding statement that supports the argument.
9. 9

   Informative and explanatory writing

   2 lessons

   1. Writing to inform or explainWrite an informative text that introduces a topic with a controlling idea, organizes ideas in a clear order, and analyses the content so the reader understands why, not only what.
   2. Developing a topic with evidenceDevelop a topic with well-chosen facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations and examples that suit the audience.
10. 10

    Narrative writing

    2 lessons

    1. Writing a narrativeWrite a narrative that engages the reader with a problem or situation, builds a well-structured sequence of events, and uses well-chosen details and a satisfying ending.
    2. Narrative technique: voice, pacing and reflectionUse dialogue, pacing, description, reflection and a second plot line to develop experiences, events and characters.
11. 11

    Literary analysis essays

    3 lessons

    1. Writing a literary analysisState a claim about a work of literature and defend it with evidence from the text, explained step by step.
    2. Building the analytic paragraphWrite a body paragraph that moves from a point to embedded evidence to commentary that explains how the evidence supports the claim.
    3. Thesis, introduction and conclusion for literary essaysWrite a thesis that makes a defensible interpretive claim and frame it with an introduction and a conclusion that extend rather than repeat it.
12. 12

    The writing process: plan, revise and edit

    3 lessons

    1. Writing for task, purpose and audienceChoose the organization, development, tone and style of a piece of writing to fit its task, its purpose and its audience.
    2. Planning, revising and editingStrengthen a piece of writing by planning before drafting, revising for the biggest problems first, and editing for correctness last.
    3. Using technology to write and publishUse digital tools to produce, publish and update writing, work with others on a shared document and link to other information responsibly.
13. 13

    Research projects

    2 lessons

    1. Sustained research projectsPlan and carry out a research project that starts with a focused question, narrows or broadens it as needed, and ends in an answer supported by evidence.
    2. Judging sources and citing themJudge the usefulness and reliability of print and digital sources, integrate information selectively and avoid plagiarism with a standard citation.
14. 14

    Discussion and presentations

    3 lessons

    1. Collaborative discussionPrepare for, start and take part in a discussion by building on others' ideas, asking good questions, handling disagreement and reaching a clear point.
    2. Evaluating a speaker's reasoningEvaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning and use of evidence and rhetoric, spotting weak links, fallacies and exaggeration.
    3. Presenting information and findingsPresent findings clearly and logically so that listeners can follow the line of reasoning, with an organization and delivery that suit the purpose, audience and task.
15. 15

    Grammar, usage and punctuation

    3 lessons

    1. Parallel structure and using phrases and clausesUse parallel structure, and a variety of phrases and clauses, to say exactly what you mean and give sentences rhythm and variety.
    2. Semicolons, colons and conventionsUse a semicolon to link closely related independent clauses and a colon to introduce a list or quotation, and observe hyphenation, capitalization and spelling conventions.
    3. Language and style for effectMake deliberate choices of sentence length, voice and word register to achieve an effect, and understand more fully what you read and hear.
16. 16

    Vocabulary and word meanings

    3 lessons

    1. Unfamiliar words and word partsWork out the meaning of an unfamiliar or multiple-meaning word using context clues, word parts and reference works, and confirm the guess.
    2. Figurative language, nuance and word relationshipsInterpret figures of speech such as euphemism and oxymoron in context, and tell apart words with similar meanings but different connotations.
    3. Academic and domain-specific vocabularyAcquire and use accurately general academic words and domain-specific words so that reading, writing, speaking and listening reach the level college and careers expect.