10th Honors English II World Literature grade

Honors English II World Literature focuses on critical reading and thinking skills through synthesizing basic facts and applying them to other situations and reasoning inferentially. First semester focuses on writing skills. Second semester focuses on reading skills. Students practice using Mortimer Adler’s principles for annotating texts, both in class and out of class. The mandatory literary selections are works of great world literature, and the outside reading falls into the category of great literature also but may include American and British literature titles. Students write Literary essays about all novels read. Students write and deliver persuasive speeches based on the classical model for argumentation and compose literary analyses. Vocabulary exercises and assessments prepare students for college entrance exams.

Prerequisite

Final year average of an A in English I or an A or B in Honors

English I

Special Purchases

Novels: Macbeth, Les Misérables, Things Fall Apart, Night, And Then There Were None. One outside reading work of great literature is due for annotation and in-class essay each quarter.

Homework Estimate

30-45 minutes nightly

Major Concepts Covered

Mortimer Adler’s principles for annotating texts, persuasive research paper, classical model speech, composing literary analysis, vocabulary exercises and assessments, SAT grammar tested concepts, and novel studies.

Insider Information

This class is a preparatory course for future AP Literature courses. Assignments have long-term due dates. To be successful in the course, students need good time management and project management skills. Assignments are scheduled so that students have adequate time to complete the assignment in-depth and with excellence. Good time management skills are essential. This course is for students who enjoy reading and writing. Students should not delay the start of long-term projects. One of the goals of the course is to help students cultivate excellent time-management skills in addition to excellent reading and writing skills.