Junior English is the study of American literature, combined with the study of vocabulary, grammar and usage; composition is integrated with the literature study all year to increase the understanding of the English language and to improve the students’ writing skill.  There is an emphasis on writing/composition during the first semester of the year to reinforce the logical and critical-thinking skills that are necessary for good writing.  Students write in a variety of styles, including descriptive, narrative, persuasive and expository.  The literature is chronologically studied; therefore, it generally correlates with the junior’s required U.S. History course.  The course follows the reasons and methods of writers to persuade or enlighten the American public.  In addition to the essays, speeches, poems, and short stories in the textbook, the students read several additional works.  The following novels are used:  To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. The play Our Town by Thornton Wilder is also studied.  Students will also read Accelerated Reader novels and take computerized tests as part of their literature study.   A 30-lesson vocabulary series is used requiring students to constantly review words previously studied.  Part of the vocabulary series is the study of analogies, which requires the students to think very critically.  Grammar and usage are reviewed daily through the use of DOL (Daily Oral Language) exercises and weekly quizzes.

Texts Used:

Holt McDougal Literature:  Grade 11:  American Literature. Common Core Edition. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. 2012

Holt Handbook Grammar-Usage-Mechanics-Sentences Fifth Course, John E. Warriner, Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 2003.

Major Supplementary Materials Used:

    Novels:

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

   Drama:

            Our Town by Thornton Wilder

Additional Options:

            The Crucible by Arthur Miller - drama

            The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne - novel

   DVDs:

            To Kill a Mockingbird

            The Help

            Our Town