9th Grade Lit


	The Short Story and informational Texts (see ELA 9 Michigan Merit Curriculum Course, pg 16).


	Week 1: "The Washwoman" by Isaac Bashevis Singer, page 188, about 3 1/2 pages Internet Textbook


	Monday: Labor Day: No School


	Tues-Wed: Discuss Vocabulary: affront gentile gnarled obstinacy premonition peasant rancor shard unwieldy vagrant Discuss elements of fiction: Character Plot Setting Theme Internal conflict and External conflict Read and discuss "The Washerwoman" by Isaac Bashevis Singer, page 188, about 3 1/2 pages This story can be found on-line on our Internet Textbook. We will also study the literary element of theme (See English Terms). The State of Michigan considers this story to be a "Linking Text", because it was assigned at the district level.


	Wed: Quiz--See "Taking a Quiz".


	Thurs-Fri: Writing for this week: Look at these human motivations: flattery, fear, greed, anger, guilt, exclusivity, curiosity, and salvation. Which of these motivations do you consider the most powerful? Give an answer in an essay. Details of Assignment A video on motivations


	Focus for 1st Quarter: From ELA 9 Michigan Merit Curriculum Course Requirements, pg 16. Big Ideas: XX survival XX chance rules XX sacrifice XX chasing after status and wealth XX status for sale XX true wisdom XX value of material possessions Themes Seven human emotions: flattery, fear, greed, anger, guilt, exclusivity, and salvation Learning from texts Focus Questions: How do emotions, wants, and needs make these characters vulnerable? What change is seen in how each character perceives what is valuable? What sacrifices do these characters make? How do characters gain true wisdom? How are the characters' strengths and weaknesses alike or different from my own? Essential Questions How do my emotions, wants, and needs make me vulnerable? How do I read to gain skills, knowledge, and wisdom? What do I need to learn in high school to be prepared for college or work? What generalizations or principles have I discovered about my own reading? How do I learn best? How do my skills and talents define who I am? As per ELA 9 Michigan Merit Curriculum Course Requirements, page 16


	Week 2: "A Man Called Horse" by Dorothy Johnson, page 167, about 10 pages Internet Textbook Family Tree author link


	Monday-Tuesday: Creative Writing Assignment Pre-Reading Creative Writing Due Wednesday.


	Wednesday Each student will find an Internet picture that exemplifies each word's meaning. The student must then copy and paste the pictures into a PowerPoint show prepared by the teacher. Beginning this week, this assignment will also include finding synonyms and antonyms for words. Vocabulary forestalled detractor piteously crone discontent brooding rancid restive regalia discontent Review it!


	Wednesday-Thursday: "A Man Called Horse" by Dorothy Johnson, page 167, about 10 pages Characters in this story We will also study the literary element of setting (See English Terms). The State of Michigan considers this story to be a "Linking Text", because it was assigned at the district level.


	Tuesday: Explore Prior knowledge: I will write on the whiteboard what you know (or think you know) about plains Indians. Then we will explore this site: "Crow Indian Fact Sheet." (n.d.). XXX Orrin's Website. http XXX www.bigorrin.org/crow_kids.htm We will then return to our notes and re-evaluate them.


	Fri: Quiz See "Taking a Quiz".


	Week 3: "Haven't I Made a Difference!" by James Herriot, page 407, 6 1/2 pages Internet Textbook


	Monday: Each student will find an Internet picture that exemplifies each word's meaning. The student must then copy and paste the pictures into a PowerPoint show prepared by the teacher. The student will also have to find synonyms and antonyms. Vocabulary callous desolation diligent dispersing implicit interminably luxuriant remonstrance stupefying uncanny


	Tues-Wed: We will read and discuss "Haven't I Made a Difference!" by James Herriot, page 407, about 6 1/2 pages . We will also study the literary element of non-fiction narrative (article pg 406 of our textbook). (See English Terms). The State of Michigan considers this story to be a "Linking Text", because it was assigned at the district level.


	Wed-Thur: Read "The World is not a Pleasant Place to Be" pg 416. Develop a metaphor to use in your poem. See more examples of metaphor poems. Writing for this Week: Compose three poems. The poem's type must be labeled. Choose two or three of the following types: XXXFree Verse XXXCouplets XXXQuatrains XXXSonnet (for advanced poets only) Look over the poems written by other students. You'll find them in the three-ring binder under the ninth-grade novels. Here is an alternative writing assignment details.


	Fri: Quiz See "Taking a Quiz".


	Week 4: "The Trap of Gold" by Louis L'Amour, page 249 in the Green book, About 5 pages Internet Story


	Monday: Each student will find an Internet picture that exemplifies each word's meaning. The student must then copy and paste the pictures into a PowerPoint show prepared by the teacher. The student will also have to find synonyms and antonyms. Vocabulary abrasive alleviated cache contemplative deluded foreboding impediment inevitable portals untenable Review vocabulary here.


	Tues-Wed: We will read and discuss the article "Risk" and the short story "The Trap of Gold" by Louis L'Amour, page 249 in the Green book, about 5 pages We will also study the literary element of setting (See English Terms). The State of Michigan considers this story to be a "Linking Text", because it was assigned at the district level.


	Wed-Thur: Writing for this Week: Write an essay on the theme of risk-taking. Ideas: 1) Explain why some types of risks are acceptable (unacceptable) to take. 2) Explain what types of benefits should be possible before taking risks. 3) Explain why some risks which are always too hazardous to take 4) Explain why the illusion of control encourages people to take risks. 5) Explain what lessons can be learned from risk-taking Detailed Essay Instructions


	Fri: Quiz See "Taking a Quiz".


	Tues: This week we will read and discuss the article "Reading Expository Text" from englishcompanion.com The state of Michigan has identified this article as an "Anchor Text" (see ELA 9 Michigan Merit Curriculum Course, Pg 17)