• Course Description

    Our school currently uses Springboard for ELA. This curriculum is designed by the College Board, the same company that gives the SAT, PSAT, and AP examinations. The curriculum is taught at a high level and is created to expose all students to what is expected to be college and career ready. Springboard uses a blended approach to learning using the materials and workbooks given to us by the College Board as well as the online digital resources through the Springboard website, including Khan Academy, Desmos, Zinc Learning Lab, and Turnitin Assist.

     

    Course Units

    Unit 1: The Challenge of Heroism

    Unit 1 goals

    • To analyze and synthesize a variety of texts to develop an original definition of hero.
    • To analyze and evaluate informational and narrative texts for ideas, structure and language.
    • To create and present an original illustrated narrative based on the Hero’s Journey Archetype.
    • To compose texts that convey information about a topic using strategies of definition

    Unit 2: The Challenge of Utopia

    Unit 2 goals

    • To analyze a novel for thematic development.
    • To recognize and analyze literary elements in a novel.
    • To analyze characteristics of argumentative and informational texts by evaluating ideas, structure, and language.
    • To develop informative/explanatory texts using the compare/contrast organizational structure.
    • To develop effective arguments using logical reasoning, relevant evidence, and persuasive appeals for effect.

    Unit 3: The Challenge to Make a Difference

    Unit 3 goals

    • To compare thematic development in multiple literary texts in different genres
    • To organize a draft with a purposeful structure, including an introduction, transitions, and a conclusion.
    • To research and summarize information from a variety of sources about an issue of national or global significance.

     

    Unit 4: The Challenge of Comedy

    Unit 4 goals

    • To use knowledge of genre characteristics and purposes to analyze texts.
    • To analyze how a variety of authors create humor in print and nonprint texts
    • To analyze how humor is used to reveal a universal truth (theme)
    • To analyze and perform a scene from a Shakespearean comedy
    • To write a well-developed analysis of a humorous text.
    • To revise and edit drafts using standard English conventions