English--CP9
20th Century
Pop Culture
Welcome to Mr. Black's English 9 Honors Class!
Now get ready to learn, Baby…
Welcome to Canyon Crest Academy, and welcome to my class. These next four years should be filled with wonderful experiences for you. CCA is brand new, and as its first graduating class, extraordinary opportunities and experiences await you. I hope you are able to get the most out of your high school career, and I hope it all starts with my class. The following is a rundown of all the great things you can expect to learn this year.
NOVELS: (in no particular order)
Lord of the Flies, by William Golding…we will analyze characterization, imagery, symbolism and discuss themes of human nature, the struggle for power, and leadership.
Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck…we’ll study elements like foreshadowing and plot, while analyzing cultural forces which influence behavior and the nature of friendship and loyalty.
Black Boy, by Richard Wright…besides a continued discussion of imagery and characterization, we will analyze the sources of prejudice and their effects on individuals.
Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare…through this tragic drama, we will understand iambic pentameter, poetic diction, dramatic structure, and the notion of fate vs. free will.
The Odyssey, by Homer…in this epic poem, we will increase our knowledge of Greek mythology while addressing the heroic quest in literature.
OTHER POSSIBLE WORKS INCLUDE: Antigone, An American Childhood, Separate Peace, Great Expectations, or A Tale of Two Cities.
NOTE: In addition to the aforementioned novels, each Honors student will be responsible for reading at least TWO additional works outside of class or during scheduled Independent Reading opportunities.
ESSAYS:
Response to Literature--the aim of this essay is to analyze a work through its literary elements (theme/character/setting/tone/imagery/symbolism/etc.) and provide adequate support.
Response to Non-Fiction--based on the demands of college curricula, we will learn how to read pieces of non-fiction and identify the author’s arguments, biases, and purposes in each.
Independent Reading Analysis--choosing from two of your Independent Reading Novels, you will compose Response to Literature essays based on one of the following subjects: analysis of character, analysis of theme, or analysis of literary elements.
TEXTBOOK:
Our textbook, The Language of Literature, offers a tremendous collection of short stories, plays, and poems by the likes of Dickinson, Longfellow, O. Henry, Capote, Whitman, Frost, Cummings, Shakespeare, Hughes, Angelou, London, Cisneros, Bradbury, King, etc. After reading selected pieces from the text, you will increase your vocabulary, learn valuable literary concepts such as foreshadowing, conflict, suspense, and irony, and you’ll learn to write more effectively.
AND THE FUN DOESN’T STOP THERE...
Besides reading novels and writing essays, Mr. Black will teach you how to sing the Blues and write your own blues song! I’ll bet you had no idea that the Blues live inside you. Well, you’ll find out. Also, you will perform oral presentations and skits throughout the year, while working cooperatively in literary circles to help one another get the most out of the reading. In addition, you will create a PowerPoint portfolio, Flash Presentation, or webpage that includes many of the things we learned in class, so that you may reflect on your learning at the end of this year or upon your graduation.
I’m sure looking forward to this year, and I hope you are too. If you participate and cooperate with your classmates, you’ll get a great deal out of this class…..and you’ll probably have a great deal of fun along the way. I know it sounds crazy, but………………………………trust me.
