October/ Novemeber/ December

ENG III- American Literature

Wow, my juniors are finally working on their own. We are tackling Revolutionary writers in groups using the skills we've been working on as a class and soon they will present their findings. Then we jump into the Dark Romantics Washington Irving, Edgar Allen Poe, and the like. Transcendatlists are next and then on to Realism when we read as a class, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." Whenever possible the class will continue researching an American author and practice writing in a persuasive style. Which will all culminate in a semester review in preparation for the final exam.

ENG IV- British Literature

We are having a blast exploring the literature and culture of the middle ages. We have finished "The Canterbury Tales" by Chaucer and are looking at one of the King Arthur tales "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight." To finish the unit there will be an exam and each student will write one essay through a series of drafts into a final polished essay. Then we will begin William Shakespeare's play "The Tragedy of Macbeth" set in Scotland which explores the themes of greed and betrayl. I am hoping that the class will also see a play this semester and will send home details if that should become a reality. To make sure all students are ready for the future we will also have lessons on scholarship writing, resume, 'how to ask for letter's of recommendation' and the like. And of course we will take a few days to review for the semester exam.