An Exploration of the Balance between Fiction and Non-Fiction
Course Description:
English II continues the development of the structures of communication with an emphasis on the language arts of speaking and listening. Through the communication of ideas in both writing and speaking, students will learn to use information responsibly, accurately, and ethically. Students will communicate through a variety of mediums, including technology, to recognize the role evaluation and response have on oral communication.
The scope of this course should address the topic of COMMUNITY AND SOCIETY through many lenses.
Consider the following guiding questions to guide the scope of your text choices and topics for discussion.
Complex Texts: Grade-level Materials for All
Text complexity is a measure of multiple intersections of Lexile, language features, themes, and knowledge demands. Every text used for whole group instruction should be carefully considered for how it will serve grade-level access to standards based instruction. Supplemental texts can be used to support individual students build content vocabulary but all students should have access to grade-level materials every day. Please consider the following rubrics when discussing text complexity with your PLC.
10th Graders should be exceeding 1100L by the end of the year to be on track for proficiency.
Curriculum Guide:
The complete English II curriculum guide is located at the link below. As you continue down the page, specific information and resources for each unit will be presented.
English II continues the development of the structures of communication with an emphasis on the language arts of speaking and listening. Through the communication of ideas in both writing and speaking, students will learn to use information responsibly, accurately, and ethically. Students will communicate through a variety of mediums, including technology, to recognize the role evaluation and response have on oral communication.
The scope of this course should address the topic of COMMUNITY AND SOCIETY through many lenses.
Consider the following guiding questions to guide the scope of your text choices and topics for discussion.
- What are the factors that move individuals / communities / nations to great sacrifice and what are the consequences?
- What is community and what are the individual’s responsibilities to the community as well as the community’s responsibilities to the individual?
- When is it appropriate to challenge the beliefs or values of society?
- To what extent do belief systems shape and/or reflect culture and society?
- How are belief systems represented and reproduced through history, literature, art, and music?
- How do beliefs, ethics, or values influence different people’s behavior?
- What allows some individuals to take a stand against prejudice/oppression while others choose to participate in it?
- What are the causes and consequences of prejudice and how does an individual’s response to it reveal his/her morals, ethics, and values?
Complex Texts: Grade-level Materials for All
Text complexity is a measure of multiple intersections of Lexile, language features, themes, and knowledge demands. Every text used for whole group instruction should be carefully considered for how it will serve grade-level access to standards based instruction. Supplemental texts can be used to support individual students build content vocabulary but all students should have access to grade-level materials every day. Please consider the following rubrics when discussing text complexity with your PLC.
10th Graders should be exceeding 1100L by the end of the year to be on track for proficiency.
- Rubric for Assessing Fiction
- Rubric for Assessing Non-Fiction
- Lexile Finder (look up a book)
- Lexile Analyzer (check passages from texts to determine current Lexile)
Curriculum Guide:
The complete English II curriculum guide is located at the link below. As you continue down the page, specific information and resources for each unit will be presented.
Writing Genre Focus: InformativeIn each year of the seven-year progression through Secondary Literacy, a specific genre of writing is focused upon in both practice and assessment. As students advance through English II, they are assessed on their skills in working with both explanatory/informational writing and literary analysis.
No Red Ink (IN PROGRESS, check back soon...)
All ELA teachers now have a premium account through NoRedInk.com. Please see the attached pacing guide that identifies activities and assessments in NRI that connect with each learning target from your curriculum guide. This tool is an incredible resource for grammar instruction but should not take the place of strong in-person lessons from you, their teacher. Students should have opportunities to engage in authentic practice through writing. |
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Additional Resources
English II is primarily supported by the 2012 Holt McDougal Literature Grade 10 textbook and supplemented by the 2015 Prentice Hall Writing Coach Grade 10 textbook. Additional resources, as compiled by DMPS teachers, are listed below.
Useful Links (provided by teachers) |
