English 4 [Competency Based] (1st Semester)

Course Description

In English 4, students look critically at the world around them by reading a range of texts that explore past and present social, political, and cultural issues. As they read, students are challenged to analyze how central ideas and themes are crafted and presented, assess the author’s purpose for writing, and consider how to break down and evaluate information in a thoughtful manner. Throughout this course, students will think about how people see the world from different perspectives while also considering the common themes, hardships, and triumphs that unite humanity.

Course Breakdown

• "American History" by Judith Ortiz Cofer
• "Once Upon a Time" by Nadine Gordimer
• "Sweat" by Zora Neale Hurston
• "The Garden of Forking Paths" by Jorge Luis Borges
• "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
• "Dreams of a City on a Hill" by John Winthrop
• The Crucible by Arthur Miller
• "Declaration of Conscience" by Margaret Chase Smith
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
• "U.N. Water Protector Speech" by Autumn Peltier
• "Speech at the Youth Takeover of the United Nations" by Malala Yousafzai
• "Persistent Experimentation" by Kelvin Doe
• "Speech at the U.N. Climate Action Summit" by Greta Thunberg
• Statement to Congress by Joshua Wong

Course Goals

1. Read and analyze short stories, with a focus on examining character, setting, symbolism, and theme.
2. Write a literary analysis of a short story.
3. Read The Crucible and examine how Miller develops themes about fear, corruption, and standing up to injustice.
4. Explain how Miller used The Crucible as a metaphor for the McCarthy hearings.
5. Write a scene in which you dramatize a real instance of injustice in society.
6. Choose, research, and write an expository essay on a career you may be interested in pursuing.
7. Read Frankenstein and evaluate Shelley's development of setting, characterization, and style.
8. Watch and evaluate speeches by different youth activists from around the world.
9. Write and deliver a persuasive speech.