Grade 9 Unit Overview Anchor Text Unit Focus Text Complexity* Content and Standards Recommended Time of Year Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury The influence of literature Readily accessible to moderately complex Theme development, significance of literary devices, and author’s style and purpose conveyed through language, tone, and rhetoric Beginning of year “How Laughter Works,” Marshall Brain Humor Moderately complex Analyze specific structures and literary elements that create humorous effects in a variety of print and non-print sources Middle of year “Hope, Despair, and Memory,” Elie Wiesel Hope and remembrance during times of tragedy Moderately complex to very complex Evaluate the effectiveness of an author’s message through analysis of diction, tone, rhetoric, and the author’s purpose Middle of year Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare Conflict, choice, and consequences Very complex Analysis of author’s language and motifs, development of complex characters and external and internal conflicts and themes Middle of year The Odyssey, Homer (Page 124) Physical and mental journeys Very complex Examine the symbolic meaning of texts, analyze character and theme development, write an argumentative essay, write and present personal narratives End of year Grade 10 Unit Overview Anchor Text Unit Focus Text Complexity* Content and Standards Recommended Time of Year “What is Rhetoric?” Rhetoric Readily accessible Examine how argument is created, evaluate the impact of occasion and audience on the use of rhetorical appeals in a variety of texts and media Beginning of year “Henrietta’s Dance,” Rebecca Skloot Medical ethics and family legacy Readily accessible Character development, comparing and contrasting points of view, conducting and using research to build an argument Coordinate with Biology and Civics The Metamorphosis, Franz Kafka (Page 190) Magical realism Moderately complex Character and theme development, symbolism, elements and characteristics of a genre Middle of year Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe Culture, globalization, and language Moderately complex Development of complex characters with conflicting motivations and different points of view, theme, style, and use of rhetoric Middle of year The Tragedy of Macbeth, William Shakespeare Ambition and failure Very complex Character development through interactions, influence of character development on theme, depiction of themes in various mediums, effect of text structure End of year
COLLEGE AND CAREER READY ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS STANDARDS Writing Text Types and Purposes21 Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence. Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content. Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences. Production and Distribution of Writing Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach. Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others. Research to Build and Present Knowledge Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation. Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, assess the credibility and accuracy of each source, and integrate the information while avoiding plagiarism. Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. Range of Writing Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.