9th Grade English Courses

Aragon’s Guide for 9th Grade English Course Selection

In all 9th grade English courses, students will:

• read two required core fiction texts per semester
• read meaningful shorter, rigorous nonfiction texts to complement core fiction
• write literary analysis, narrative, and argumentative essays/paragraphs
• participate in small and large group discussions
• conduct short and longer, more sustained research projects
• use technology to present information
• do nightly homework

English 1
Grade 9
Students in English 1 work on the reading and writing skills they will need both in high school and in post-secondary endeavors. In the fall they learn the basics of grammar, study literature-based vocabulary, practice writing well-developed paragraphs, and learn the basics of research. They are also introduced to the format of the multi-paragraph analytical and synthesis essays. These same areas are reinforced during the spring semester as students hone their skills, work more independently, and add sophistication to their writing. Students study the elements of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry throughout the year, learning how authors demonstrate their purposes through various rhetorical devices. In the fall students read selected short stories, Of Mice and Men and Brown Girl Dreaming. In the spring, the core works are chosen from the following: The Odyssey, Night, and Romeo and Juliet, and the lessons are also supported with auxiliary texts that relate to the themes that are taught. In addition to content specific lessons, students learn to take effective Cornell Notes, to use context clues to determine meanings of words, and to employ other study and organizational skills. Each semester students complete a short research project which culminates in an oral presentation with technological visual aid. Students further develop their listening and speaking skills through small group and whole class discussions.

English 1 AS
Grade 9
English 1 AS is an accelerated program in which students read and study literary works and develop skills that help them master California State Standards and prepare them for Advanced Placement coursework as upperclassmen. Students learn to improve their writing skills by practicing the techniques of crafting effective sentences, paragraphs, and multi-paragraph essays. They also learn key literary terms and how to apply them when writing about and discussing literature. They study fiction and non-fiction, grammar rules, and vocabulary. In the fall, students study short stories, Frankenstein, and The Lord of the Flies. In the spring, they study Romeo and Juliet, Pride and Prejudice, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and poetry.

English 1
Grade 9
Students in English 1 work on the reading and writing skills they will need both in high school and in post-secondary endeavors. In the fall they learn the basics of grammar, study literature-based vocabulary, practice writing well-developed paragraphs, and learn the basics of research. They are also introduced to the format of the multi-paragraph analytical and synthesis essays. These same areas are reinforced during the spring semester as students hone their skills, work more independently, and add sophistication to their writing. Students study the elements of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry throughout the year, learning how authors demonstrate their purposes through various rhetorical devices. In the fall students read selected short stories, Of Mice and Men and Brown Girl Dreaming. In the spring, the core works are chosen from the following: The Odyssey, Night, and Romeo and Juliet, and the lessons are also supported with auxiliary texts that relate to the themes that are taught. In addition to content specific lessons, students learn to take effective Cornell Notes, to use context clues to determine meanings of words, and to employ other study and organizational skills. Each semester students complete a short research project which culminates in an oral presentation with technological visual aid. Students further develop their listening and speaking skills through small group and whole class discussions.

English 1 AS
Grade 9
English 1 AS is an accelerated program in which students read and study literary works and develop skills that help them master California State Standards and prepare them for Advanced Placement coursework as upperclassmen. Students learn to improve their writing skills by practicing the techniques of crafting effective sentences, paragraphs, and multi-paragraph essays. They also learn key literary terms and how to apply them when writing about and discussing literature. They study fiction and non-fiction, grammar rules, and vocabulary. In the fall, students study short stories, Frankenstein, and The Lord of the Flies. In the spring, they study Romeo and Juliet, Pride and Prejudice, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and poetry.