- Wall High School
- English 9 CP
-
Course Overview
This English course exposes freshmen to various texts and writing modes while honing speaking and listening skills. Students garner and improve upon emerging critical thinking skills required at the secondary level by interacting with and producing a variety of texts around a “coming-of-age” theme. The units in this course alternate between reading-focused and writing-focused units. Reading units include literature, short stories, literary nonfiction, drama, and poetry. Writing units include process pieces in the argument (literary analysis), information (the research paper), and narrative (flash fiction) modes with attention to varying contexts and audiences. Vocabulary and grammar instruction are infused in the units of study.
Units of Study
Marking Period 1*
Big Ideas
Topics/Themes/Concepts
Activities & Assessments
Timeline
(Estimated Number of
Class Periods)
Unit 1: “Like Being a Caterpillar in a Cocoon”
NJSLS Reading Literature Domain
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and supplemental texts
Reading, direct instruction whole class and small group discussions, Socratic Seminar, small group work, debate, film analysis, close reading and annotations, presentations, vocabulary and grammar work
Traditional unit test
Project-based assessment
Estimated Instructional Periods: 25
Approximately September 4 - October 15, 2024
Unit 2: “Finding Your Voice” - Writing Argument
NJSLS Writing Argument Domain
Read, analyze, and write about various short stories of student choice
Writing Process
Writer’s Workshop
Individual and Peer Conferences
Literary Analysis/ Argument Essay
Estimated Instructional Periods: 15
Approximately October 17- November 6, 2024
*Subject to revision
Marking Period 2*
Big Ideas
Topics/Themes/Concepts
Activities & Assessments
Timeline
(Estimated Number of
Class Periods)
Unit 3: “Facing Adversity, Part 1”
NJSLS Reading Information Domain
Night by Elie Wiesel and supplemental texts
Reading, direct instruction, whole class and small group discussions, Socratic Seminar, small group work, debate, close reading and annotations, presentations, vocabulary and grammar work
Traditional unit test
Project-based assessment
Estimated Instructional Periods: 15
Approximately November 11, 2024 - December 6, 2024
Unit 4: “Facing Adversity, Part 2”
NJSLS Writing Information Domain
Read, summarize, synthesize, and write about various informational texts around student-generated research questions.
Writing Process
Research Process
Writer’s Workshop
Library Media Center dates
Individual and Peer Conferences
The research-based informational essay
Estimated Instructional Periods: 25
Approximately December 9, 2024 - January 16, 2025.
*Subject to revision
Midterm Exams: January 21 - January 27
Marking Period 3*
Big Ideas
Topics/Themes/Concepts
Activities & Assessments
Timeline
(Estimated Number of
Class Periods)
Unit 5: “The Journey to Self-Discovery”
NJSLS Reading Literature Domain
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros and supplemental materials.
Reading, direct instruction, whole class and small group discussions, Socratic Seminar, small group work, debate, close reading and annotations, presentations, vocabulary and grammar work
Traditional unit test
Project-based assessment
Estimated Instructional Periods: 25
Approximately January 27 -February 28, 2025
Unit 6: “The Role of Imagination in Growing Up”
NJSLS Writing Narrative Domain
Read flash fiction mentor texts and write in the style of the genre.
Writing Process
Writer’s Workshop
Individual and Peer Conferences
Flash Fiction/ Narrative essay
Estimated Instructional Periods: 15
Approximately March 3 - March 28, 2025
*Subject to revision
Marking Period 4*
Big Ideas
Topics/Themes/Concepts
Activities & Assessments
Timeline
(Estimated Number of
Class Periods)
Unit 7: “Navigating Emotions”
NJSLS Reading Literature Domain & Writing Narrative Domain
Read, listen to, analyze, discuss, write, and perform in the style of myriad poems, both teacher and student-selected.
Poetry reading, writing, and listening; direct instruction, whole class and small group discussions, Socratic Seminar, small group work, debate, performance, close reading and annotations, presentations, vocabulary and grammar work
Poem Mimicry Project & Performance
Estimated Instructional Periods: 15
Approximately March 31, 2025-April 25, 2025
Unit 8: “Forging Your Own Identity”
NJSLS Reading Literature Domain
The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare and supplemental materials
Reading, direct instruction, whole class and small group discussions, Socratic Seminar, small group work, debate, film analysis, performance, close reading and annotations, presentations, vocabulary and grammar work
Traditional unit test
Project-based assessment
Estimated Instructional Periods: 25
Approximately April 28 - June 5, 2024
*Subject to revision
Final Exams: June 6 - June 13
