2016-2017

GRADE 9 ENGLISH

This year's class will be examining a number of exciting texts, from short stories to poetry, novels, and drama. This course is designed to develop oral communication, reading, writing, and media literacy skills that will help to prepare you for success academically and in daily life. The class will be examining a number of different texts, exploring their forms and fucntions, and developing effective communication skills, as well as fostering an apprecaiton and enjoyment of reading.

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS WE WILL WORK TOGETHER TO ANSWER

These questions will help guide our investigation of literature, communication, and media this year. Your final assignment will be based on a paper answering one of these questions using the texts covered in the course.

QUESTION 1

What is literature? What is the purpose of literature? What is literature’s function in our lives? What is it supposed to do? What are the reasons that individuals, cultures, and societies create stories or literature? Why are stories so important or so essential to the human experience? What moves us to create this way?

QUESTION 2

Does literature reflect culture or does literature shape it? Does culture, experience, or belief influence the understanding and appreciation of literature? Is all literature influenced by bias and perspective?

QUESTION 3

How is language used to influence, empower, and manipulate us? Why is language so powerful? Is it possible to have a culture without language? Is it possible to think without language? How is our understanding of culture and society constructed through and by language?

QUESTION 4

How does the study of literature and texts help individuals consider and construct their understanding of reality? How can reading and writing lead to self-discovery? What of our own stories can be found in the stories of others?

QUESTION 5

Where does the meaning or truth of a text reside? How is a text used to convey meaning or truth? How does an author create meaning or reveal truth in a text? And what makes that meaning valid?

SPARK WRITING

YOUR DAILY PRACTICE WRITING

The only way to improve any skill is practice, practice, practice. Your daily spark is that practice. Every class will start with 15 minutes of uninterrupted writing time. There will be a new prompt on the board and repeated on the class blog for that day. Write any style, format, or form you see fit. Poetry, fable, opinion essay, biographical story, what ever inspires you that day. Every semester you will choose your favourite five Sparks from your portfolio for feedback. You will receive a grade for completion and feedback on your writing. Once a week we will share our favourite for the week for some peer feedback.