Course: English 9 A

Topic outline

General

English 9A

English 9A is the first semester of a year-long Language Arts course. In this course, we will study novels, plays, poetry, and articles as a means of improving critical thinking, reading comprehension, vocabulary, and written expression. Through written, audio, and video recordings, students share their reactions to the characters, themes, and issues of the works studied. Grammar, vocabulary, symbolism, plot points, and character development are among the language and literary techniques which students will study in this course. Throughout the course, students will make connections between the themes and characters of literature, and the events and interactions of their own lives. Students will work through all steps of the writing process to create effective paragraphs and essays—skills that will apply in all disciplines throughout high school and beyond. Wikis and group work will allow students to share ideas and connect with other students, and interactive instruction and review will clarify grammar and usage rules to help our students avoid embarrassing mistakes that beset the English written word.

English 9A course materials created by the Open High School of Utah are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. This course contains open educational resources produced by other organizations which may use a different open license. Please confirm the license status of these third-party resources before reusing them. See OpenCourseWare for additional information about licensing.
- Download a Copy of this Course File 3.3MB
Topic 1
- Ready, Set, Write!: Introduction to English 9
- WATCH: English 9 Introduction URL
- 1.2
  
  Why Should We Learn Correct English?
- VIEW: "We thought you was a toad!" Page
- VIEW: "Childrens do Learn" Page
- READ: Discussion Instructions Page
- 1.3
  
  Grammar Review and Pre-test
- PRINT: Parts of Speech Handout Page
- PRACTICE: Parts of Speech Quiz Page
- Literature
- READ: Introduction to "The Outsiders" File
Topic 2
- Introduction to the Writing Process
- 2.2
  
  Subjects and Verbs
- WATCH: Week 2 Grammar Instruction Subjects and Verbs URL
- WATCH: Week 2 Usage Instruction There/Their/They're URL
- PRINT: List of Prepositions Page
- PRINT: List of Irregular Verbs Page
- PRACTICE: Finding Subjects Page
- PRACTICE: Finding Verbs Page
- 2.3
  
  Introduction to the Writing Process
- WATCH: Lesson 2 Writing Presentation URL
- 2.4
  
  Clustering and Review
- WATCH: Screencast how to do clustering assignment Page
- REVIEW: Prepositional Phrases Page
- 2.5
  
  Literature
- Read chapters 1 & 2 of The Outsiders, this week. Then complete the assignments below.
Topic 3
- Tell your Paragraph Where to Go! Effective Topic Sentences
- 3.2
  
  Subject-Verb Agreement
- PRINT: Subject-Verb Agreement Handout Page
- WATCH: Week 3 Grammar--Subject-Verb Agreement URL
- WATCH: Week 3 Usage Instruction URL
- PRACTICE: Subject-Verb Agreement Page
- 3.3
  
  Topic Sentences
- WATCH: Week 3 Composition Instruction: Writing Process (Planning) URL
- 3.4
  
  Review
- REVIEW: Articles A vs. An Instruction Page
- REVIEW: Articles A vs. An Exercises Page
- 3.5
  
  Literature
- Read chapters 3 & 4 in The Outsiders, this week. Then, complete the literature quick write journal and the discussion question below.
Topic 4
- Supporting Details: The Scenery Along the Journey
  
  Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass. ~Anton Chekhov
- 4.2
  
  Verbs and Verb Tense
- WATCH: Week 4 Grammar Instruction:Verb Shifts URL
- LISTEN: Grammar Girl on Passive Voice Page
- PRACTICE: Active vs. Passive Verbs Page
- PRACTICE: Shifts in Tense Page
- WATCH: Week 4 Usage--its/it's/your/you're URL
- 4.3
  
  Adding Detail and Support
- WATCH: Week 4 Composition Instruction: Support URL
- 4.4
  
  Paragraph Structure, Review, and Discussion
- PRINT:Paragraph Structure Handout Page
- REVIEW: Action vs. Linking Verbs Page
- 4.5
  
  Literature
- Read chapters 5 & 6 in The Outsiders, this week. Then, complete the literature quick write journal and the discussion question below.
Topic 5
- Unity and Coherence
  
  A perfectly healthy sentence, it is true, is extremely rare. For the most part we miss the hue and fragrance of the thought; as if we could be satisfied with the dews of the morning or evening without their colors, or the heavens without their azure. ~Henry David Thoreau
- 5.2
  
  Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices
- WATCH: Week 5 Grammar Instruction--Run-on Sentences URL
- PRACTICE: Comma Splices and Fused Sentences Page
- WATCH: Week 5 Usage Instruction: knew, new, no, etc. URL
- 5.3
  
  Unity and Coherence in Paragraphs
- WATCH: Week 5 Composition Instruction: Unity and Coherence URL
- PRINT: Transitions Handout Page
- 5.4
  
  Review Grammar
- REVIEW: Subject-Verb Agreement Page
- 5.5
  Literature
- Read chapters 7 & 8 in The Outsiders, this week. Then, complete the literature quick write journal and the discussion question below.
Topic 6
- Revising="Seeing Again"
  
  Write your first draft with your heart. Re-write with your head. ~From the movie Finding Forrester
- 6.2
  
  Sentence Fragments
- WATCH: Week 6 Grammar Instruction: Sentence Fragments URL
- PRACTICE: Sentence Fragments Page
- WATCH: Week 6 Usage Instruction then/than/loose/lose URL
- 6.3
  
  Revising and Submitting Paragraph for Peer Editing
- WATCH: Week 6 Composition pt. 1: Revision URL
- WATCH: Week 6 Composition Instruction part 2 Page
- WATCH Week 6 Instruction part 3 URL
- PRINT Rubric Page
- 6.4
  
  Slang and Cliche
- PRINT: Week 6 Slang/Cliche Note-taking Guide Page
- WATCH: Week 6 Instruction--Slang/Cliche URL
- 6.5
  
  Literature
- Read chapters 9 & 10 in The Outsiders, this week. Then, complete the literature quick write journal and the discussion question below.
Topic 7
- The Final Paragraph and Professional Letter
  
  If there's a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it. ~Toni Morrison
- 7.2
  
  CaPItaliZatioN
- WATCH: Capitalization Instruction Page
- PRINT: Capitalization Handout Page
- PRACTICE: Capitalization Page
- 7.3
  
  Peer Editing
- PRINT and READ: Peer Edit Guidelines and Example File
- 7.4
  
  Literature
- Read chapters 11 & 12 in The Outsiders, this week. Then, complete the literature quick write journal and the discussion question below.
Topic 8
- Midterm Peer Editing
- Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia. ~E.L. Doctorow
- 8.2
  
  Midterm Writing Steps
- REVIEW: Peer Editing Guidelines and Example Page
- Literature
- Read chapters 1 & 2 in A Separate Peace, this week. Then, complete the literature quick write journal and the discussion question below.
Topic 9
- Midterm
- 9.1
  
  Midterm Review and Study Guide
- STUDY and ADD to: Midterm Study Guide Page
- 9.2
  
  Objective Midterm Exam
- 9.4
  Literature
- Read chapters 3 & 4 in A Separate Peace, this week. Then, complete the literature quick write journal and the discussion question below.
Topic 10
- Introduction to the 5-Paragraph Essay
  
  “An artist's only concern is to shoot for some kind of perfection, and on his own terms, not anyone else's.”
  
  J.D. Salinger
- 10.2
  
  Pronoun Case
- *WATCH: Week 10 Grammar Instruction URL
- READ and PRINT: Pronoun Case Page
- PRACTICE: Pronoun Case Page
- WATCH: Week 10 Usage Instruction: Affect/Effect URL
- READ and PRINT: Affect vs. Effect Page
- LISTEN: Grammar Girl on Affect vs. Effect Page
- 10.3
  
  Essay Organization and Prewriting
- WATCH: Week 10 Composition Instruction URL
- VIEW: Sample 5-Paragraph Essay Page
- VIEW: Sample 5-Paragraph Essay URL
- PRINT: Week 10 Composition Assignment--essay organization Page
- 10.4
  
  Review
- REVIEW: Confused Words Page
- 10.5
  Literature
- Read chapters 5 & 6 in A Separate Peace, this week. Then, complete the literature quick write journal and the discussion question below.
Topic 11
- Thesis Statement: Giving Essays Focus
- 11.2
  
  Pronoun Agreement
- WATCH: Week 11 Grammar: Pronoun Problems URL
- STUDY: Pronon Agreement Handout Page
- STUDY: Accept vs. Except handout Page
- PRACTICE: Accept vs. Except. Page
- REVIEW: Using the Correct Pronoun Page
- 11.3
  
  Thesis Statement Instruction
- WATCH: Thesis Statements URL
- STUDY: Thesis Statement Handout Page
- 11.4
  
  Thesis Statement Assignments
- 11.5
  Literature
- Read chapters 7 & 8 in A Separate Peace, this week. Then, complete the literature quick write journal and the discussion question below.
Topic 12
- Outlining: Giving Essays Structure
- 12.2
  
  Point of View
- WATCH: Week 12 Grammar Instruction: Point of View URL
- WATCH: Usage Video: Fewer/Less URL
- 12.3
  
  Outline
- WATCH: Week 12 Composition Instruction URL
- PRINT: Sample Outline Template and Sample Outline Page
- 12.4
  
  Practice and Review
- PRINT: Handout on Sentence Variety Page
- REVIEW: Sentence Variety Page
- PRACTICE: Avoiding Sexist Language Page
- 12.5
  Literature
- Read chapters 9 & 10 in A Separate Peace, this week. Then, complete the literature quick write journal and the discussion question below.
Topic 13
- Introductions
  
  "Stranger than Fiction"
- 13.2
  
  Commas
- WATCH: Week 13 Comma Usage Instruction URL
- PRINT: Comma Rules Handout Page
- PRACTICE: Comma Usage Page
- 13.3
  
  Adjectives and Adverbs
- PRINT: Adjectives and Adverbs Handout Page
- LISTEN: Grammar Girl on Bad vs. Badly Page
- LISTEN: Grammar Girl on Good vs. Well Page
- 13.4
  
  Writing the Introduction and Review
- WATCH: Week 13 Composition Intstruction: Introductions URL
- REVIEW: Comma Splices and Fused Sentences Page
- 13.5
  Literature
- Read chapters 11, 12 & 13 in A Separate Peace, this week. Then, complete the literature quick write journal and the discussion question below.
Topic 14
- Depth and Detail
- 14.2
  
  Punctuation
- WATCH: Punctuation Instruction URL
- PRINT: Punctuation Handout Page
- PRACTICE: Punctuation Exercises Page
- WATCH: Week 14 Usage Instruction: Woman/Women/Among/Between URL
- 14.3
  
  Adding Depth and Detail to Body Paragraphs
- WATCH: Buiding Depth and Detail Instruction URL
- PRINT: Body Paragraph Outline and Example Page
- WATCH: Writing the Body Paragraph Video Page
- REVIEW: Transitions with Grammar Girl Page
- 14.5
  Literature
- Read pages 1-26 in Night, this week. Then, complete the discussion question below.
Topic 15
- And they lived Happily Ever After...
  
  Writing Effective Conclusions
- 15.2
  
  Apostrophes
- WATCH: Week 15 Apostrophes Instruction URL
- PRINT: Apostrophe Handout Page
- PRACTICE: Apostrophe practice quiz Page
- MORE PRACTICE: Apostrophes Page
- 15.3
  
  Conclusions
- WATCH: Week 15 Composition Instruction: Conclusions URL
- READ: How to Write a Conclusion Page
- READ: How to write an effective conclusion Page
- WATCH: Conclusion Checklist Video Page
- 15.4
  
  Review
- REVIEW: Commas vs. Semicolons Page
- REVIEW: Capitalization Page
- REVIEW: Essay Organization Page
- 15.5
  Literature
- Read pages 27-62 in Night, this week. Then, complete the discussion question below.
Topic 16
- Revising the Final Essay
- 16.2
  
  Peer Editing Forum
- 16.3
  
  Quiz
- PRINT: Essay Scoring Guide Page
- PRINT: Week 16 Revision Quiz Information Page
- 16.4
  
  Review Writing Process
- REVIEW: Writing Process Page
- 16.5
  
  Literature
- Read pages 63-92 in Night, this week. Then, complete the literature quick write journal and the discussion question below.
Topic 17
- Submitting Final Essay
  
  Most editors are failed writers - but so are most writers. ~T.S. Eliot
- 17.3
  Literature
- Read pages 93-109 in Night, this week. Then, complete the literature quick write journal and the discussion question below.
Topic 18
- Final Exam
- Prepare for Final Exam
- READ: how to prepare for essay exam Page
- REVIEW: Using the Correct Words Page
- REVIEW: Essay Organization Page
- PRINT: Final Exam Study Guide Page
- CONTRIBUTE: to Class Study Guide Page