Teaching and Learning

This required course for ninth graders is designed to encourage students to think deeply and critically, broaden students' reading experience, develop composition and grammar skills, and improve oral communication skills. Students will be introduced to narrative, persuasive, analytical, and creative writing structures and will practice these skills though at least ten conferenced assignments.  Students will design and deliver a persuasive speech as part of their study of the persuasive writing.  Major works include Homer's Odyssey, William Golding's Lord of the Flies, William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point.  Core literature is supplemented through other literature, possibly including Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, Yan Martel’s Life of Pi, and classic short stories, poems and essays. This course is designed to help move students toward independent reading of complex texts and thoughtful, purposeful writing.