English Novels
"The paradox of education is precisely this--
that as one begins to become conscious
one begins to examine the society in which he is being educated.
The purpose of education, finally, is to create in a person the ability to look at the world for himself,
to make his own decisions . . . .
But no society is really anxious to have that kind of person around.
What societies really, ideally, want is a citizenry which will simply obey the rules of society.
If a society succeeds in this, that society is about to perish.
The obligation of anyone who thinks of himself as responsible is to examine society
and try to change it and to fight it--at no matter what risk.
This is the only hope society has.
This is the only way societies change."
--James Baldwin
English Novels is an upper level literary analysis course in which we closely study the themes in literature. The course is inquiry-based, which means that we will use texts as a tool to tackle complex essential questions. Major works we will study include Hamlet, The Crucible, Of Mice and Men, Their Eyes Were Watching God, The Bean Trees, and The Glass Castle. Additionally, we will read and study various excerpts, poems, and scholarly essays to enrich and enhance our understanding of our focus texts. The goal of this course is to help you become a more active and critical consumer of texts, in addition to honing your argumentative writing skills.
Essential Learning Outcomes, Grade 11
Reading
By the end of Grade 11, the student can...
1. Understand the differences and significance of primary and secondary sources
2. Understand historical context and its influence on text including authors use of allusion
3. Analyze multiple interpretations of a story, dramas, or poem
4. Understand what is stated versus what is really meant (satire, sarcasm, irony, understatement, hyperbole)
5. Compare and contrast two or more themes in a single text
6. Understand how Style contributes to the meaning of text
7. Integrate multiple sources of information presented in different media or formats and words to address a question
Writing
By the end of Grade 11, the student has demonstrated his/her ability to...
1. Advance a theme through various narrative techniques
2. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
3. Write an extended essay which sustains and explores an idea
4. Use appropriate vocabulary, word choice, and varied syntax to create cohesion and clarify relationships
5. Proficiently use academic conventions of citation and format
6. Synthesize evidence from multiple resources
7. Produce creative works that interpret texts
By the end of Grade 11, the student has demonstrated his/her ability to...
1. Advance a theme through various narrative techniques
2. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
3. Write an extended essay which sustains and explores an idea
4. Use appropriate vocabulary, word choice, and varied syntax to create cohesion and clarify relationships
5. Proficiently use academic conventions of citation and format
6. Synthesize evidence from multiple resources
7. Produce creative works that interpret texts