Semester 1 of English/Communications 11 consists of 3 units. The poetry unit eases us into the semester and gives students an opportunity to explore the creative use of language as an expression of cultural norms and values using a variety of poetic formats. Unit 2, the Reader’s Workshop, focuses on perception and how literary characters perceive the world around them. Shakespeare’s plays, The Merchant of Venice and As You Like It, are the vehicles for this exploration, and students will hone their academic reading skills including underlining/highlighting and note taking. Unit 3, the Writer’s Workshop, centers on the idea of knowledge using Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. Huxley’s “utopian/dystopian” vision of the future allows students to grapple with the notion of an idyllic existence and how science affects human life. Writing for this unit includes expository and critical analysis, with an aim to improve students’ written response to literature.

In 9th grade, students will explore how ideas are effectively communicated. Students will begin the semester by participating in a Media Literacy Workshop designed to enhance their understanding of the techniques used in effective verbal communication. Writing skills will be supported in a Writer's Workshop where students will creatively explore the writing processes and explicitly practice the steps needed to produce excellent written communications. In the Reader's Workshop, students will analyze, appreciate, and be enlightened by short stories written by contemporary masters of the form.

Each semester will consist of three different types of units: a cultural literacy unit, a readers workshop and a writers workshop.

The readers workshop will give students the choice of several books that explore a common theme. Students will convene in a series of symposia designed to acquaint readers with the primary themes, specific literary elements and staples of skilled reading – comprehension, inference and analysis

The writers workshop will implement activities – such as brainstorming, organization, drafting and peer revision – to generate a high-quality written product. Genres include memoir, expository and persuasive writing.