Contemporary Literature

COURSE DESCRIPTION: (1 unit, Gr. 11-12) This course explores major

themes in contemporary novels. Students will read, discuss, research, and
analyze literary selections. They will examine authors techniques and will
gain awareness of how literature reflects society. Students will read and
write about a variety of works including literature from different cultures,
authors and societies; young adult literature; contemporary literature; and
sports literature. The course will be to help students become more culturally
literate and globally aware while developing vocabulary, reading
comprehension, and composition skills. This course will be conducted in a
workshop format.
RATIONALE: This course offers students the opportunity to develop
proficiency in the Communication Arts (reading, writing, listening and
speaking, and information literacy) through engaging contemporary
literature from various cultures and styles.
MAJOR INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS
READING
Goal 1: Develop and apply skills and strategies to the reading process
Objectives:
Fluency: Read grade-level instructional text
a) with fluency: accuracy, comprehension and appropriate expression
b) adjusting reading rate to difficulty and type of text
Vocabulary: Develop vocabulary through text, using
a) roots and affixes
b) context clues
c) glossary, dictionary, thesaurus, and online resources
Pre-Reading: Apply pre-reading strategies to aid comprehension
a) access prior knowledge
b) preview
c) predict with text support or rationale
d) set a purpose and rate for reading
During Reading: During reading, utilize strategies to
a) determine meaning of unknown words
b) self-monitor comprehension
c) question the text
d) infer
e) visualize
f) paraphrase
g) summarize
Post-Reading: Apply post-reading skills to comprehend, interpret, analyze, and evaluate
text

a) identify and explain the relationship between the main idea and supporting
details
b) question to clarify
c) reflect
d) draw conclusions
e) paraphrase
f) summarize
Making Connections: Compare, contrast, analyze and evaluate connections
a) text-to-text (information and relationships in various fiction and nonfiction works)
b) text-to-self (text ideas and own experiences)
c) text-to-world (text ideas and the world by analyzing and evaluating the
relationship between literature and its historical period and culture)

Goal 2: Develop and apply skills and strategies to comprehend, analyze

and evaluate fiction, poetry, and drama from a variety of cultures and
times.
Objectives:
Text Features: Analyze and evaluate the text features in grade-level text
Literary Techniques: Analyze and evaluate literary techniques previously introduced
a) figurative language
b) hyperbole
c) imagery
d) jargon
e) dialect
f) slang
g) symbolism
h) allusion
Literary Elements: Use details from text(s) to
a) demonstrate comprehension skills previously introduced
b) analyze character, plot, setting, point of view
c) analyze the development of a theme across genes
d) evaluate the effect of tone on the overall meaning of work

Goal 3: Develop and apply skills and strategies to comprehend, analyze

and evaluate nonfiction (such as biographies, newspapers, technical
manuals) from a variety of cultures and times

Objectives:
Text Features: Explain, analyze and evaluate the authors use of text features to clarify
meaning
Literary Techniques: Analyze and evaluate literary techniques including figurative
language and sound devices previously introduced
a) figurative language
b) hyperbole
c) imagery
d) jargon
e) dialect
f) slang
g) symbolism
h) allusion
Text Structures: Use details from argumentative text(s) to
a) analyze and evaluate the organizational patterns
b) identify and analyze the faulty reasoning and unfounded inferences
c) evaluate proposed solutions
d) evaluate for accuracy and adequacy of evidence
e) analyze and evaluate the type of appeal (emotional, ethical, and logical)
f) evaluate the effect of tone on the overall meaning of work
g) analyze and evaluate point of view
Understanding Directions: Read and apply multi-step directions to perform complex
procedures and/or tasks

WRITING
Goal 1: Apply a writing process in composing text
Objectives:
Writing Process: Apply a writing process to write effectively in various forms and types
of writing (W3A)

Goal 2: Compose well-developed text

Objectives:
Audience and Purpose: Compose text
a) showing awareness of audience
b) choosing a form and point of view appropriate to purpose and audience
Ideas and Content: Compose text with
a) strong controlling idea
b) relevant specific details
c) complex ideas
d) freshness of thought
Organization and Sentence Fluency: Compose text with
a) effective beginning, middle, and end
b) a logical order

c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
Word Choice:
a)
b)
Conventions:
a)
b)
c)

effective paragraphing
cohesive devices
varied sentence structure
clarity of expression
active voice
Compose text using
precise and vivid language
writing techniques such as imagery, humor, voice, figurative language,
and rhetorical devices
In written text use
conventions of capitalization
conventions of punctuation
standard usage

Goal 3: Write effectively in various forms and types of writing

Objectives:
Forms/Types/Modes of Writing: Compose a variety of texts
a) using narrative, descriptive, expository, and/or persuasive features
b) in various formats, including workplace communications, (resume, letter
of application, follow-up letter)
c) including summary
d) including literary analysis
e) including reflective writing

LISTENING AND SPEAKING

Goal 1: Develop and apply effective listening skills and strategies
Objectives:
Purpose for Listening: Listen
a) for enjoyment
b) for information
c) for directions
d) critically to summarize and evaluate communications that inform,
persuade, and entertain
e) to evaluate own and others effectiveness in presentations and group
discussions
f) to evaluate the validity and reliability of speakers message

Goal 2: Develop and apply effective speaking skills and strategies for
various audiences and purposes
Objectives:

Discussion and Presentation: In discussions and presentations,

a) create concise presentations on a variety of topics
b) incorporate appropriate media or technology
c) respond to feedback
d) defend ideas
e) demonstrate poise and self-control

INFORMATION LITERACY
Goal 2: Develop and apply effective skills and strategies to analyze and
evaluate oral and visual media
Objective:
Media Messages: Analyze describe and evaluate the elements of messages projected in
various media (e.g. videos, pictures, websites, artwork, plays and/or news programs)