English III Outline

Course Description:

As well as being a survey of American literature, Junior English is also a course designed to encourage students to implement what they have covered in their first two years in the English program. The student's knowledge of the basic rules of Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics, and the writing process are used to write more academic essays, usually expository, that analyze the elements of fiction. The student's critical thinking skills will continue to be developed as they survey major periods, writers, and themes in American literature.

Student Outcomes (skills):

A. Writing:

1. Expository: After reviewing the modes of discourse, students will go more into specific strategies of developing Expository writing, e.g., Definition, Classification, Compare/Contrast, Cause and Effect. Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics (GUM) are taught via the Revision Process and in in-class workshop sessions to address recurring problems. More often students will be referred to the Writing Handbook (Simon and Schuster). Students will be introduced to proper MLA format for presentation and documentation of sources. They will be prepared to incorporate secondary sources, documented properly, in a longer essay.

2. Creative: Students will practice narrative techniques and the use of figurative language through their own creative efforts.

B. Literary Study:

Through varied presentations, for example chronological, thematic, students will participate in a survey of American literature. Regardless of the specific approach,, students should be familiar with the major voices in American literature from the Puritans to contemporary American writers. Students will do analysis of these works by applying their previous knowledge of the genres and the elements of literature.

C. Vocabulary Development:

Students will continue to increase their working vocabulary by studying SAT high-frequency word lists and words taken from their reading. Students will write compositions and sentences as well as take quizzes that will reflect their acquisition of an increasing vocabulary base.

Required Texts: (Available in the Book Store located on the first floor of the library building)