This freshman-year second semester English course engages students in literary analysis of great texts both classic and contemporary. Interwoven in the lessons are activities that encourage students to strengthen their oral language skills and produce clear, coherent writing. Students will read a range of classic texts including Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and Richard Connell’s “The Most Dangerous Game”, and O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi.” They will also study short but complex texts, including influential speeches by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Ronald Reagan. Contemporary texts by Paul Janeczko, Simon Singh, and Sue Macy round out the course.

ELA 9 B

Unit 1- Mystery and Suspense

Unit 2- Love, Tragedy, and Drama: An Introduction to Shakespeare

Unit 3- Fighting for Equality and Unity

Unit 4- Caring and Making a Difference

Unit 5- Wheels of Change