Welcome to the 2007-2008 academic school year! This year we will be reading wonderful literature, improving our writing skills, and incorporating technology into different lit-based projects. Log onto this blog to access information about course information and upcoming class events!

Upcoming Events

Last Day of School: June 4

Last Day for Seniors: May 20

Sophomore OAKS writing testing: May 12-13

Memorial Day: May 26; Graduation: May 25

The Classic Crusaders: A link to my AP English Students' Web Design Project on Classic Authors

Mac-Hi Home Page

MLA Citation Format Guide

Online Grammar and Writing Guide

AP Central Website: Prep for AP Students

It's a benchmark year, which means we will be prepping hard to meet standards in reading and writing. Students in this course will read a variety of literature and engage in meaningful projects designed to foster improved reading and writing skills. Students will practice reading fiction and non-fictional texts in preparation for several TESA reading exams; in addition, students will become proficient writers in all modes after practicing and completing multiple formal writing worksample pieces. Students will be well-prepared for the state writing assessment and will have fun incorporating technology into written work!

APRIL-JUNE

-OAKS testing (3rd round): May 12-13

-read and study George Orwell's Animal Farm

-persuasive WEEK! (May); sophomores will write position papers and deliver persuasive speeches on chosen controversy

-short story UNIT: survey of world literature

Welcome to AP English! This year we will be engaging in an intensive preparatoy program designed to ready students for the AP exam in May. Students who earn a passing score on the exam will earn college credit in English.

Students will read literature selections taken from the "College Bound Reading List" and they will learn to write respond to prose, poetry, and literature-based essay questions. Students will become advanced analytical essay writer, and will develop valuable critical thinking skills.

It will be a difficult school year, but you will be better for having taken this course...I guarantee it! We will have fun!

APRIL-JUNE:

-mini-essay unit: prep for AP essay exam

-prep. for AP exam; review literary devices, poetry, prose, and lit-based essays; practice multiple choice exam questions

-read Richard Wright's Native Son

-continue practice with analytical writing and in-text citation

-TAKE AP EXAM: first week of May

Welcome to American Literature! This year, American Lit. students will be reading a variety of novels, plays, short stories, poetry, and early colonial literature from various authors. Students will study texts in a chronological way. Students will be learn about different historical contexts in which American authors wrote, and will thus gain a fairly comprehensive understanding of the history of American literature. It will be an exciting year with lots of opportunities for growth and intellectual gains!

APRIL-JUNE:

-complete short story unit from text (survey of American authors)

-complete narrative worksamples (Flash Fiction project; recite in class)

-continue to practice analytical writing in response to literature and in-text citation

-read and study John Steinbeck's The Pearl

At the end of every school year, Ms. Powell will invite certain students to join Mac-Hi's Chapter of the Honor Society. Students will be invited who have met the following requirements:

* Must achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better

* Must complete the application, charting involvement in school and community activities, by designated date

* Must be approved by teachers, who will complete a survey on each candidate's character, integrity, and responsibility

Honor Society members will be inducted in October of 2007 and will be required to attend periodic meetings and help facilitate various fundraisers throughout the school year. They will also help with Mac-Hi's Honors Dessert, to be held during March of 2008. Perhaps most importantly, Honor Society members have the privilege of claiming membership in this exclusive academic club, which is a definite advantage when applying for college admittance!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

HONOR SOCIETY APPLICATION DISTRIBUTION: in May

APPLICATIONS DUE: by May 26 (complete and give to Ms. Powell)