Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.

1. What is the English I syllabus?
2. What is the English II syllabus?

What is the English I syllabus?

English I Syllabus
Mr. Pickering

First Nine Weeks:
	Summer Reading	-Animal Farm � George Orwell

	Literature	-Identify Symbolism.
			-Recall events orally and in writing.
			-Fill in story events on a plot diagram.
			-Identify plot diagram components.
			-Be able to show evidence of irony from a story.
			-Identify ironic statements from literature read.

	Vocabulary 	-Use vocabulary words in correct context.
			-Identify synonyms and antonyms.
			-Identify words with prefixes and suffixes.
			-Use prefix/suffix words in sentences correctly.
	
	Grammar/Punctuation Skills
			-Compose a business/friendly letters.
			-Apply all rules of capitalization and end mark
                         punctuation.
			-Apply all comma, quotation mark, semicolon and 
                         colon rules.

Second Nine Weeks:
	Literature	-Read stories orally and independently and write 
                         themes relating to story events and characters.
			-Identify author�s point of view.
			-Identify factors in a selection that make up 
                         setting.
			-Find passages that indirectly characterize 
                         characters.
			-Be able to describe the suggested tone in a passage.
			-Identify the author�s purpose.
			-Summarize written and oral information.
			-Distinguish fact from opinions and cause and effect.
			-Infer character traits and actions.

	Vocabulary	-Use vocabulary words in correct context.
			-Identify synonyms and antonyms.
			-Identify words with prefixes and suffixes.
			-Use prefix/suffix words in sentences correctly.

	Grammar/Punctuation Skills
			-Identify eight parts of speech in sentences.
			-Demonstrate correct pronoun/antecedent agreement.
			-Demonstrate correct pronoun cases in sentences.
			-Choose verbs that agree with subjects.
			-Write correct plurals of nouns, and identify 
                         articles.
Third Nine Weeks:
	Literature	-Identify figures of speech in reading selections.
                        -List examples from poetry that evoke the 5 senses.
			-Identify rhyme scheme.
			-Analyze character attitudes and actions.
			-Recall events in drama.
			-Compare and contrast characters.
			-Identify elements of drama.
			-Describe character transformation.
	
	Vocabulary	-Use vocabulary words in correct context.
			-Identify synonyms and antonyms.
			-Identify words with prefixes and suffixes.
			-Use prefix/suffix words in sentences correctly.
			-Use context clues to arrive at meanings for 
                         unfamiliar words.
			-Complete analogy statements.

	Grammar/Punctuation Skills
			-Identify main idea of sentences.
			-Development main idea for paragraphs.
			-Identify narrative, descriptive, explanatory, 
                         persuasive 
			 writing
			-Write coherent paragraphs.

Fourth Nine Weeks:
	Vocabulary	-Use vocabulary words in correct context.
			-Identify synonyms and antonyms.
			-Identify words with prefixes and suffixes.
			-Use prefix/suffix words in sentences correctly.
			-Use context clues to arrive at meanings for 
                         unfamiliar words.
			-Complete analogy statements.

	Grammar/Punctuation Skills
                        -Library Orientation
                        -Annotated Bibliographies
                        -Note and Bibliography Cards
                        -Works Cited Page
			-Peer edit writings applying punctuation and grammar 
                         rules.
			-Compose persuasive, explanatory, narrative, and 
                         descriptive
			 essays with specific beginnings, middles, and ends.
			-Utilize/demonstrate steps in the writing process to 
                         compose 
			 essays.
			-Produce coherent paragraphs.

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What is the English II syllabus?

English II Syllabus
Mr. Pickering

This course is designed to lay a foundation in English to prepare for upper-
level English courses and college.  It will prepare them for the English II 
Subject Area Test  which,  not only is necessary for graduation, but is also 
excellent preparation for the Act, PSAT, and SAT.

The grading scale for this course is as follows:  40% for tests, 60% for 
daily quizzes, for classwork, and for homework.

Language Convention  Review

�	Nouns, verbs, and prepositions
�	Parts of sentences
�	Pronouns
�	Adjectives, adverbs, and commonly confused words
�	Subject-Verb agreement
�	Mechanics ( capitalization, punctuation, and spelling)
�	Sentence structure
�	Proper format of all types of letters, resumes, and memos.

Reading Comprehension

�	Reading Skills
�	Words  (root words, prefixes, suffixes, and cognates)
�	Charts and Graphs
�	Resources
�	Author�s use of Language
�	Literature Genres ( read, discuss, analyze, and evaluate)
�	Characterization
�	Stylistic Devices

Vocabulary

�	Develop and apply expansive knowledge of words and word meaning to 
communicate.
Objectives:  A.  analyze the relationships of pairs of words in analogical 
statements and infer word meanings form these relationships.  B.  analyze 
word choice and diction  to determine the author�s purpose.  C.  analyze 
authors� uses of figurative language in multiple texts in the creation of 
setting, tone, atmosphere, characterization, and mood. D.  analyze text to 
determine authors� purposes for using connotative or denotative words.


Writing (  planning, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing an 
informative essay for state test)

�	Planning:  Determine audience, purpose, generate ideas, address 
prompt/topic, organize ideas, and compose a clearly stated thesis.
�	Drafting informative essay:   formulate introduction, body, and 
conclusion, create paragraphs (minimally five paragraphs), use various 
sentence structures
�	Revising:  Revise for clarity and coherence ( consistent point of 
view, tone, transition, etc.)
               Add and delete information and details for audience, purpose 
and unity.
               Use precise language
�	Editing:  Proofread to correct errors and apply tools to judge 
quality and score by using a rubric developed by the State Department of 
Education.

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