Instructional Calendar for Honors English 2

Joyce McCullough, Teacher

First Nine Weeks

Broad Theme:  Conflict

Date

Activity

Objective

Week 1

Classroom orientation

To familiarize students with classroom procedures and goals

Weeks 2-3

Literature appreciation/library and research orientation/short story preview

To prepare for in-depth literature study and recognize research tools

Weeks 2-3

Verb conjugation

To identify the 6 tenses of a verb and their uses

Weeks 3-4

Review of the 8 parts of speech, parts of the sentence, and capitalization rules

To recognize and use correctly in a writing passage the various parts of speech and parts of the sentence and to use capital letters correctly

Weeks 3-4

Résumés

To recognize the essential elements of planning for the future

Weeks 5-6

Study of Greek theatre/the life of Sophocles/ and Antigone

To distinguish between the characteristics of the ancient and modern-day hero and to identify the elements of tragedy

Weeks 7-8

Introduction to short story genre and analysis of works of Freeman and Steinbeck

To recognize an author’s use of allusion, irony, and symbolism

Week 9

Review and assessment

To identify and assess various skills learned throughout the 9 weeks period

Weeks 1-9

Concurrent study of vocabulary and writing skills

To improve writing, reading, and research skills

 

 

Second Nine Weeks

Broad Theme:  Understanding Cultural Diversity

Week 1

Study of Night/Life Is Beautiful

To understand the causes of WWII and the impact of the Holocaust upon society; to identify foreshadowing, satire, paradox, theme

Weeks 2-3

Short story unit

To identify elements of the short story and recognize an author’s use of various literary devices

Week 4

Study of phrases

To identify phrases and use them to improve writing

Weeks 4-6

Study of Silas Marner, George Eliot, and 19th century England

To identify elements of the novel and recognize a writer’s style and use of local color

Week 6

Study of active and passive voice

To apply the more effective use of active voice to writing passages

Weeks 7-8

Public speaking unit

To organize and deliver a basic demonstration speech

Week 9

Review and assessment

To identify and assess skills learned throughout the 9 weeks period

Weeks 1-9

Concurrent study of vocabulary, writing, reading, and research skills

To improve writing, reading, and research skills

 

Third Nine Weeks

Broad Theme:  Good Vs. Evil in the Literary Romance

Weeks 1-2

Study of J. R. R. Tolkien and The Hobbit

To identify elements of fantasy literature and characteristics of a romance

Weeks 2-3

Introduction to persuasive writing and speaking

To identify the different types of propaganda, to evaluate data effectively

Week 3

Clauses

To identify the three types of clauses and use them effectively in writing

Weeks 3-4

Sentence revision and combining sentences

To apply knowledge of phrases and clauses to write more effective sentences

Week 5

Persuasive speeches

To organize and write a persuasive essay and deliver an effective persuasive speech

Week 6

The comma and punctuation rules

To recognize and use proper punctuation and improve writing

Weeks 7-8

The King Arthur Legend and its makers

To identify the major writers of the King Arthur Legend and recognize their uses of various literary devices in their works

Week 9

Review and assessment

To identify and assess skills learned throughout the 9 weeks period

Weeks 1-9

Concurrent study of vocabulary, writing, reading, and research skills

To improve writing, reading, and research skills

 

 

Fourth Nine Weeks

Broad Theme:  Understanding and Appreciating the Classics

Weeks 1-2

Study of Tennessee Williams and The Glass Menagerie

To identify Williams’ use of autobiographical elements in his play and recognize his use of symbolism and other literary devices

Weeks 2-3

The 3-pt. essay and the writing process

To use prewriting, editing, and proofreading techniques; to ensure paragraph unity and coherence; to recognize and use parallel structure; and to ensure adequate organization, development, and transition in an essay

Week 4

Agreement/ Pronoun Usage

To recognize correct subject/verb agreement, pronoun/antecedent agreement, and to use pronouns correctly

Week 4

Introduction to Shakespeare

To understand the life of Shakespeare and 16th century England

Weeks 5-6

Gateway Review

To identify performance indicators in writing, reading, viewing and representing, and speaking and listening skills

Weeks 6-7

Study of Julius Caesar

To identify the structure of a play, to analyze human nature and motives, and to recognize Shakespeare’s use of literary devices in the play

Week 8

Poetry

To identify figures of speech and recognize use of poetic devices in selected poems

Week 9

Review and assessment

To identify and assess skills learned throughout the 9 weeks period

Weeks 1-9

Concurrent study of vocabulary, writing, reading, and research skills

To improve writing, reading, and research skills