Welcome to the 2008-2009 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

End of First Semester: Jan. 15

2nd Round of OAKS testing for Sophomores: Jan. 20-22

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!

SECOND QUARTER:

-DRAMA UNIT: Finish reading and studying Shakespeare's "Othello"

-SPEECH UNIT: Impromptu & Expository partner speeches

-POETRY UNIT: A study of various poets (Semester Final is on poetry unit!)

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!

SECOND QUARTER:

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

-DRAMA UNIT: read and study Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew" and Sophocles' "Antigone"

-WRITING: weekly writing prompts with in-text citations

-INDEPENDENT BOOK PROJECT/WEB DESIGN PROJECT: Students will choose a classic novel from the AP book list for independent study. Papers 1-4 will be completed prior to end of Qtr. 2 and blogs will be completed

-SEMESTER FINAL: covers ALL first semester texts

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!

SECOND QUARTER:

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

-NOVEL UNIT: finish reading and studying Arthur Miller's The Scarlet Letter

-weekly reading assignments and reading quizzes

-POETRY UNIT: A survey of American poetry (semester final will cover poetry!)

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 NEW MEMBER INDUCTION CEREMONY: Oct. 2nd @ 5pm in Mac-Hi cafeteria

-HONORS DESSERT: April 2nd @ 5 pm in Mac-Hi cafeteria