High English Language Arts Curriculum

High School English Language Arts Curriculum

For more information on the courses and descriptions available in Prince William County Public Schools, visit the Secondary Course Catalog.

Grade 9

Ninth Grade Pacing and Units of Study

Ninth grade English Language Arts Students in Prince William County Public Schools will learn the 2024 Standards of Learning (SOL) from the Virginia Department of Education. Students will experience the following units in this course:

Quarter 1

Unit 1: Literacy Routines

Students will establish the literacy routines of independent reading, generative writing, article of the week, and structured collaboration. These routines will be applied throughout the year to develop the habit of daily reading and writing while independently applying common routines to build stamina, confidence, and skills in students. Performance Task: Students will produce an independent reading reflection, a daybook audit with reflection, an article response, and a self-evaluation of collaboration skills.

Standards Covered

9.DSR.B,C, E
9.RV.1.A,B,C
9.RL.1.A,B
9.W.2.A
9.W.3.A
9.C.1.A.i,ii,ii,iv,v

Assessment Window

Unit 2: Reading Like a Writer to Develop Effective Writing Strategies

In this unit, students will understand and apply how writers communicate their purpose in writing through the use of explicitly stated or implied thesis statements, choice in evidence and details, and reasoning through a close reading of texts from a variety of genres based on the question "What does it take to survive?"

Standards Covered

9.DSR.1.C,D
9.RL.1.A,B
9.RI.1.A, C
9.RI.2.A
9.W.1.A.i,ii,iii, iv
9.W.1.B
9.C.4.B

Quarter 2

Unit 3: Impactful Stylistic Choices

In this unit, students will consider how authors impact their audience through the interaction of stylistic choices and techniques within a text and in consideration of other texts and universal themes. Students will learn about tragic romances, considering the concepts of fate and personal choices. Students will do a first and close reading of a variety of texts and view media as they discuss the essential question for this unit: do we determine our own destinies? Students will develop a response to the summative performance task prompt: should the opinions of others affect our own choices or destinies?

Standards Covered

9.DSR.1.C,D
9.RV.1.D,E
9.RL.1.B,C,D
9.RL.2.A,B,C
9.RL.3.B
9.RI.2.B,C
9.W.1.C
9.LU.1.A,B,C,E
9.C.4.A

Unit 4: Independent Reading Project and Daybook Project

In this unit, students will prepare an adapted monologue or soliloquy by selecting a passage from the book to memorize and perform. Their performance will focus on the book's inflection, tone, and theme. Each presentation will include a brief introduction, the performance, and a reflection discussing the book's themes, characters, and style. While working on this presentation, students will also choose a topic and mode of writing from their daybook to develop through the writing process until publication.

Standards Covered

9.DSR.A,C,D,E
9.RV.1.A,B,C, D
9.RL.1.A,B,C
9.RL.2.A,B,C
9.RL.3.A,B
9.C.2.A.A,i,ii,iii
9.C.2.B
9.W.1.A.i,ii,ii, iv;
9.W.1.C;
9.W.2.A,i,ii,ii,iv,v
9.W.3.A,B,C

Grade 10

10th Grade Pacing and Units of Study

Tenth grade English Language Arts Students in Prince William County Public Schools will learn the 2024 Standards of Learning (SOL) from the Virginia Department of Education. Students will experience the following units in this course:

Quarter 1

Unit 1: Establishing Literacy Routines

Standards Covered

10.DSR.1. A,B,C,D,E
10.RV.1.A,B,C,F,G
10.RL.1.A.B
10.RL.2.B
10.RI.1.A
10.RI.2.A,B
10.W.1.B,D
10.W.2.A
10.W.3.A,B
10.C.1.A.i,ii,iii,iv,v,vi,vii

Unit 2: Constructing and Deconstructing Messages in Media and Writing

In this unit, students will understand and apply how writers and media use word choice, evidence, format, voice, and tone to construct messages in consideration of audience, historical context, and cultural/social function and motives. Students will examine texts for how these stylistic choices often reveal a viewpoint or bias. After examining multiple texts of different genres through whole class, small group, and independent settings, students will write an explanatory essay and deliver an accompanying presentation.

Standards Covered

10.DSR.1.D
10.RL.3.A,C
10.RI.1.C
10.RI.2.C
10.W.1.A.i,ii,ii,iv
10.W.1.B.i,ii,iii,iv
10.W.1.D
10.W.1.2.A,i,ii,iii,vi
10.LU.1.E
10.LU.2.C
10.C.2.A.i
10.C.4.A,D,E

Quarter 2

Unit 3: Crafting Effective Communication

In this unit, students will explore how authors, speakers, and creators of media craft their messages in consideration of audience, situation, and purpose. Students will read texts from a variety of eras and perspectives about many people who feel they don’t conform to what is considered ‘normal.’ After close reading texts from multiple genres in whole group, small group, and independent settings, students will write an argumentative essay and deliver a three-to-five-minute presentation.

Standards Covered

10.DSR.1.C,D
10.RV.1.D
10.RL.1.B; 10.RL.2.B,C,D
10.RI.2.A,B
10.LU.1.A,B,D
10.W.1.B,D; 10.W.2.A.vi

Unit 4: Independent Reading and Daybook Projects

In this unit, students will select one of their independent reading books from semester one that they would like to share with their class to prepare and deliver or present a book talk (a short persuasive speech about a book) that includes multimodal elements as well as a recitation of a short passage from the book. While working on this presentation, students will also choose a topic and mode of writing from their daybook to develop through the writing process until publication.

Standards Covered

10.DSR.A,C,D,E
10.RV.A,B,C,D
10.RL.1.A,B,C; 10.RL.2,B,C,D; 10.RL.3.A,B
10.LU.1.A,B,C,D; 10.LU.2.A,B,C
10.W.1.A.i,ii,iii,iv; 10.W.1.C,D; 10.W.2.A.i,ii,ii,iii,iv,v,vi; 10.W.3.A,B,C
10.C.2.A.A,i,ii,iii; 10.C.2.B

Grade 11

11th Grade Pacing and Units of Study

Eleventh grade English Language Arts Students in Prince William County Public Schools will learn the 2024 Standards of Learning (SOL) from the Virginia Department of Education. Students will experience the following units in this course:

Quarter 1

Unit 1: Establishing Literacy Routines

Standards Covered

11.DSR.A,B,C,D,E
11.RV.1.A,B,C,D
11.RL.1.A,B,C
11.RI.1.A,B
11.RI.2.A,B
11.RI.3.B
11.W.1A.iii
11.W.1.C,D
11.W.2.A
11.C.1.A.i,ii,ii,iv,v
11.C.2.A.ii

Unit 2: The Rhetorical Situation

In this unit, students will consider how texts are created in consideration of their audiences, contexts, topics, and situations. Students will read about and discover how powerful words can alter people’s lives and the words that shaped our nation. After exploring texts in the whole class, small-group, and independent settings, students will compose an argumentative essay and a video commentary.

Standards Covered

11.DSR.C,D
11.RV.1.E,F
11.RL.1.A,B
11.RL.2.A,C
11.RI.1.C
11.RI.2.A,B,C
11.W.1.A.i,iii
11.W.1.B.iv
11.W.1.C,D
11.LU.1.A,C
11.LU.2.C
11.C.2.A.ii,iv,v
11.C.4.C
11.R.1.D

Quarter 2:

Unit 3: Author’s Craft and Style

In this unit, students will read about real and fictional people who are protesting various injustices. After a close reading of text from multiple genres in whole group, small group, and independent settings, students will compose an informational essay that supports claims and counterclaims with evidence from multiple sources.

Standards

11.DSR.C,D
11.RV.A,B,C
11.RL.1.A,B; 11.RL.3.A,B,C; 11.RL.2.B,C,D 11.RI.1.B; 11.RI.3.A
11.W.1.B.i,ii,iii,iv; 11.W.1.C; 11.W.2.A.i,ii,iii,iv,v; 11.W.3.A,D
11.Lu.1.B; 11.LU.2.A
11.C.1.A.v

Unit 4: Independent Reading and Daybook Project

In this unit, students will create a multi-modal presentation that includes a literary analysis of the books they have read independently this semester. While working on this presentation, students will also choose a topic and mode of writing from their daybook to develop through the writing process until publication.

Standards

11.DSR.C,D
11.RV.1.G
11.RL.1.A;B 11.RL.2.C
11.RI.2.A
11.W.1.D; 11.W.2.A; 11.W.3.B,C,D 11.LU.1.B 11.C.1.A,ii; 11.C.3.B,D
11.R.1.F

Grade 12

12th Grade Pacing and Units of Study

Twelfth grade English Language Arts Students in Prince William County Public Schools will learn the 2024 Standards of Learning (SOL) from the Virginia Department of Education. Students will experience the following units in this course:

Quarter 1

Unit 1: Establishing Literacy Routines

Performance Task

Students will produce an independent reading reflection, daybook audit with reflection, article response, and self-evaluation of collaboration skills.

Standards Covered

12.DSR.1.A, B,C,E
12.RV.A,B,C,E,G
12.RL.1.B
12.RI.1.B
12.RI.2.A
12.RI.3.B
12.W.1.B.ii
12.W.2.A
12.W.3.B
12.R.1.F,G

Unit 2: Effective Workplace and Technical Writing

In this unit, students will develop their understanding that writing to a standard acceptable in the workforce and postsecondary education requires gathering information, making strategic choices in voice and detail based on audience and situation, and blending multiple forms of writing. Writers use clarity in language and grammatical structures to help their audience read and understand their ideas.

Performance Tasks

Complete a resume and job application or application for postsecondary education, which includes a cover letter or personal statement for college or scholarship applications.

Deliver an elevator pitch based on your application and supporting documents.

Standards Covered

12.DSR.C,D
12.RV.A,B,C
12.RI.1.A,B,C
12.W.1.A.i,ii,iv
12.W.1.B.i,ii,iii
12.W.2.A.i,ii,v,vi
12.W.3.A,C,D
12.LU.1.A
12.LU.2.A,B
12.C.2.A.i,ii,v,vi
12.R.1.B,D.F

Quarter 2

Unit 3: Stylistic Choices in Historical Literature

In this unit, students will read examples of how our past experiences influence future actions. After a close reading of Macbeth and texts from multiple genres in whole group, small group, and independent settings, students will write an argument responding to the literature. Students will also memorize and perform a monologue, soliloquy, or scene from the play.

Standards Covered

12.DSR.C,D
12.RV.A,B,C,F
12.RL.1.A,B,C,D;
12.RL.2.B;
12.RL.2.C;
12.RL.3.A,B,D
12.RI.2.A,B

Unit 4: Independent Reading and Daybook Project

Standards Covered

12.DSR.C,D,E
12.RV.A,B,C,D,E,F,G
12.RL.1.A,B,C;
12.RL.2.A,B;
12.RL.3.C
12.C.2.A.i,ii,iii,iv,v,vi;
12.C.2.B
12.W.1.A.i,ii,iii,iv;
12.W.1.C ;
12.W.2.A.i,ii,iii,iv,v,vi;
12.W.3.A,B,C,D
12.LU.1.A ; 12.LU.1.2.B