Enriched Patterns of Communication

Candidates for this course: 

Enriched Patterns, a full-year course, serves those freshmen who have been approved to take Communications Arts classes at the College Preparatory AP Level.  Enrollment is contingent on approval by the District 203 Public Schools Administrative Center, based on ITBS scores and 8^th grade Language Arts teacher recommendation. 

Course focus/umbrella questions:

1^st semester:   How do I define myself?

      2^nd semester:  How do I take responsibility for my decisions/actions?

      What is my role in a variety of communities?

Non-negotiable assignments required of all students who take this course:

Because Enriched Patterns in two semesters covers the three semesters’ content from regular freshman Patterns of Communication and sophomore Written Communication, students will complete writings in both personal and analytical modes.

1st semester:    Interior monologue

                        Dialogue

                        Sensory writing

                        Two personal narratives:

A reminiscence based on the umbrella question

A narrative about a first event (completed as part of the 1st semester final exam)

An extended analytical paragraph based on a generalization about To Kill a Mockingbird

An analytical essay based on a generalization about Dandelion Wine

2^nd semester:    Short personal essays about an object and a place

Literary analyses based on generalizations about Antigone and A Separate Peace

                        An analysis of a dominant trait of a character from Romeo and Juliet

A personal essay about a relationship in the writer’s life (completed as part of the 2nd semester final exam)

These writing assignments are supplemented with vocabulary units based on roots and prefixes, reviews of conventions, and an introduction to sentence-combining skills.

Required reading:    

1^st semester:  To Kill a Mockingbird—Harper Lee

                       Dandelion Wine—Ray Bradbury

Unit on archetypes based on Wish and Nightmare—W. T. Jewkes and Northrop Frye, eds.

Independent reading novel

2^nd semester:  Antigone—Sophocles

                        A Separate Peace—John Knowles

                        Huckleberry Finn—Mark Twain

                        Romeo and Juliet—William Shakespeare

Independent reading novel

Student expectations:           

 Students should record assignments in the student handbook and organize handouts in a binder.  They should come to class having completed any assigned writing or reading.

Students should maintain the standards of excellence expected in a weighted-grade course. Whether in small or large group discussions, students should be active participants and respectful listeners.

Differences between this course and other companion courses: 

Enriched Patterns accelerates students through regular freshman Patterns and sophomore Written Communication.

Other relevant and important course-related information:         

Students in Enriched Patterns are expected to perform in an accelerated curriculum, meeting deadlines and demonstrating work and thinking that exceeds standards.