COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is designed for the college-bound student. The semester will have a balance of composition, grammar, and literature. The development of vocabulary, speaking, listening, and research skills will be included.

1. WRITING
1. Writing process
2. Review of narrative, descriptive, expository, persuasive paragraphs developing a topic sentence using a variety of methods
3. Writing of two to four essays with thesis statement (minimum of one persuasive)
4. Appropriate voice of writer with n awareness of audience
5. Strategies and related terms for responses to essay test questions
6. Avoidance of fragments, run-ons

 

2. READING/LITERATURE
1. Recommendation of three parallel works
2. Development of higher order thinking skills through the study of different genres: poetry and epic (required), novel (optional)
3. Knowledge of relevant terms for genres studied

 

3. USAGE/GRAMMAR
1. Review of parallel structure, subject-verb agreement, pronoun-antecedent agreement, internal punctuation, usage, manuscript form.
2. Analysis of clauses and types of sentences (simple, compound, complex)
3. Introduction of phrases, clauses, and verbals
4. Study of rules governing usage and their application to student writing

 

4. LANGUAGE/VOCABULARY
1. Working knowledge of SAT format and words
2. Understanding of synonyms, antonyms, analogies, words in context, and other devices of language
3. Expansion of reading, writing, and speaking vocabulary

 

5. RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGY
1. Application of skills necessary for research papers: paraphrasing, direct quotations, and documentation
2. Utilization of available technology for writers and readers

 

6. SPEAKING/LISTENING
1. Conceptions, development, and presentation of project
2. Development of active listening skills, discussion skills, and note-taking skills