Students strengthen their critical thinking, reading, and writing skills as they begin to craft five-paragraph essays backed by research and literary analysis. The goal of this program is to stimulate an enthusiasm for learning while reinforcing essential skills. Students read such classics as Sophocles Oedipus Rex, William Shakespeare s Macbeth, and George Orwell s Animal Farm, as well as a mix of contemporary literature. Opportunities for independent reading choices occur frequently so students are challenged at their individual levels. Assigned readings include nonfiction, short stories, poems, drama, and novels.
Students write often and in a variety of modes, including journals, poems, and essays.
The multi-step writing process is used extensively. Independent thinking and group collaboration are both emphasized. To aid in this process, the first two trimesters of this course concentrate on developing strong reading skills and habits. Students learn to annotate text, recognize motifs and themes, analyze character and plot development, and improve their vocabulary. The texts range from classic to modern and cover all genres.