High English 4

Segment 1

• Reading Comprehension/Expository & Narrative Writing and Presentations
• Identify and determine the purpose of text structures
• Evaluate how text features make a text more effective
• Evaluate how an author develops the central idea
• Evaluate how an author could support a central idea more effectively
• Paraphrase and summarize a text
• Determine the significance of denotation and connotation
• Identify the mood and tone of a text
• Use context clues to determine the meaning of an unknown word
• Explain how an author establishes and achieves their purpose when writing a text
• Identify and evaluate figurative language in writing
• Create a multimedia presentation
• Conduct research and determine source validity
• Identify the elements of literature and the four layers technique
• Identify and analyze the components of an author's style in a text
• Write an in-depth analysis of an author's style
• Identify literary themes and how they reoccur in classic and contemporary texts
• Describe how multiple themes develop through a literary text
• Evaluate the development of character perspective, including conflicting perspectives
• Evaluate how character perspective develops
• Evaluate techniques for character development
• Identify narrative techniques used in a text
• Compare how the same theme is presented in literature from two different time periods
• Write a purposefully crafted narrative
• Compare narrative texts for literary elements and style
• Organize ideas into a critique
• Create a full presentation including audio components and a polished slide deck

 

Segment 1 Honors

• Analyze the impact that perspective has on the audience's perception of good and evil
• Craft a narrative outline from a secondary character's perspective
• Evaluate a text for its use of figurative language
• Identify the central idea of a text
• Evaluate presentations for effectiveness
• Revise and edit a presentation
• Explain how historic influences impact authors and their works
• Assess a narrative for historical influences

 

Segment 2

• Poetry Analysis/Oration and Persuasion and Argumentative Writing
• Analyze poetry
• Analyze a poem for historical context
• Explain the historical influences that impacted poets in various literary periods
• Compare and contrast several poets from various literary periods
• Analyze and compare poems from contemporaneous authors
• Identify the components of an argument
• Explain the conditions surrounding an argument
• Recognize logical pitfalls in an argument
• Distinguish the differences in the four types of rhetoric and identify them within texts
• Evaluate an argument
• Compare the strength of arguments
• Identify a topic for research
• Determine source reliability
• Conduct research on a topic
• Craft a claim and counterclaim
• Outline an argumentative essay
• Write an argument that incorporates evidence
• Proofread and edit work
• Create a Works Cited page
• Improve arguments after considering feedback
• Create a slide deck to present an argument
• Apply etymology to determine the meaning of words
• Examine how persuasion has impacted history
• Interpret the impact rhetorical devices have on an author's purpose in speeches
• Compose a speech using rhetorical appeals and devices as well as research
• Analyze what makes a great speech great
• Explain the impact a specific speech had on a moment in history
• Apply presentation skills to a persuasive speech
• Record yourself giving an original speech

Segment 2 Honors

• Create a poem that's influenced by modern events
• Consider counterarguments and craft a response
• Write a persuasive letter

Students are responsible for obtaining independent reading material. 

Besides engaging students in challenging curriculum, the course guides students to reflect on their learning and evaluate their progress through a variety of assessments. Assessments can be in the form of practice lessons, multiple choice questions, writing assignments, projects, research papers, oral assessments, and discussions. This course will use the state-approved grading scale. Each course contains a mandatory final exam or culminating project that will be weighted at 20% of the student’s overall grade.***

***Proctored exams can be requested by FLVS at any time and for any reason in an effort to ensure academic integrity. When taking the exam to assess a student’s integrity, the exam must be passed with at least a 59.5% in order to earn credit for the course.  

To achieve success, students are expected to submit work in each course weekly. Students can learn at their own pace; however, “any pace” still means that students must make progress in the course every week. To measure learning, students complete self-checks, practice lessons, multiple choice questions, projects, discussion-based assessments, and discussions. Students are expected to maintain regular contact with teachers; the minimum requirement is monthly. When teachers, students, and parents work together, students are successful.