Course Standards
General Course Information and Notes
Version Description
Students’ coursework focuses on the origins of western theatre from the Renaissance period to modern theatre. Students research and investigate the dramatic forms and practices of the times through the reading of plays and related literature. Public performances may serve as a resource for specific instructional goals. Students may be expected to attend one or more performances outside the school day to support, extend, and assess learning in the classroom.General Notes
Special Notes:
Instructional Practices
Teaching from well-written, grade-level instructional materials enhances students’ content area knowledge and also strengthens their ability to comprehend longer, complex reading passages on any topic for any reason. Using the following instructional practices also helps student learning:
- Reading assignments from longer text passages as well as shorter ones when text is extremely complex.
- Making close reading and rereading of texts central to lessons.
- Asking high-level, textspecific questions and requiring high-level, complex tasks and assignments.
- Requiring students to support answers with evidence from the text.
- Providing extensive text-based research and writing opportunities (claims and evidence).
Honors and Advanced Level Course Note: Advanced courses require a greater demand on students through increased academic rigor. Academic rigor is obtained through the application, analysis, evaluation, and creation of complex ideas that are often abstract and multi-faceted. Students are challenged to think and collaborate critically on the content they are learning. Honors level rigor will be achieved by increasing text complexity through text selection, focus on high-level qualitative measures, and complexity of task. Instruction will be structured to give students a deeper understanding of conceptual themes and organization within and across disciplines. Academic rigor is more than simply assigning to students a greater quantity of work.
English Language Development ELD Standards Special Notes Section:
Teachers are required to provide listening, speaking, reading and writing instruction that allows English language learners (ELL) to communicate for social and instructional purposes within the school setting. For the given level of English language proficiency and with visual, graphic, or interactive support, students will interact with grade level words, expressions, sentences and discourse to process or produce language necessary for academic success. The ELD standard should specify a relevant content area concept or topic of study chosen by curriculum developers and teachers which maximizes an ELL’s need for communication and social skills. To access an ELL supporting document which delineates performance definitions and descriptors, please click on the following link: https://cpalmsmediaprod.blob.core.windows.net/uploads/docs/standards/eld/si.pdf
General Information
- Honors
Educator Certifications
Student Resources
Original Student Tutorials
Study "Leisure," a poem by Amy Lowell, to determine a theme of the poem and craft a thematic statement. At the end of this interactive tutorial, you'll use what you've learned throughout this two-part series to compare and contrast a theme in "Leisure" by Amy Lowell and a theme in "Leisure" by W. H. Davies and how these themes are developed.
Make sure to complete Part One before beginning Part Two. Click to launch Part One.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn to determine a theme of a poem, craft a thematic statement, and write a summary of the poem "Leisure" by W. H. Davies.
This interactive tutorial is Part One of a two-part series. In Part Two, you'll study "Leisure" by Amy Lowell to determine a theme of the poem and craft a thematic statement. By the end of this series, you will compare and contrast a theme in each poem and how these themes are developed.
Click to launch Part Two.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
As you continue to study a chapter from The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, you'll continue to examine how the main character, Edmond Dantès, is reborn from a prisoner into a newly freed man. In Part Three of this three-part series, you should be able to explain how Dantès’ overall transformation by the end of the chapter takes the plot in a new direction.
You should complete Part One and Part Two before beginning Part Three.
- Click to launch Part One.
- Click HERE to launch Part Two.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
As you continue to study a chapter from The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, you'll continue to examine how the main character, Edmond Dantès, is reborn from a prisoner into a newly freed man. In Part Two of this three-part series, you'll continue to identify Dantès' key character traits or strengths and examine how Dantès begins to transform as he works to secure his freedom.
Make sure to complete all three parts!
- Click to launch Part One.
- Click HERE to launch Part Three.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Study a chapter from one of the most popular adventure stories of all time: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. In Part One of this three-part series, you'll identify key character traits or strengths of Edmond Dantès and determine how he draws on these strengths as he struggles to survive and avoid recapture.
Make sure to complete all three parts!
- Click to launch Part Two.
- Click HERE to launch Part Three.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Explore the poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay in this tutorial series. This tutorial is Part Three of a three-part series. In Part Three, you’ll study her poem "Recuerdo." You'll identify the topic of the poem, determine a theme of the poem, and explain how the theme is developed through specific words and phrases.
You're encouraged to complete the previous tutorials in this series before beginning Part Three.
Click to launch Part One.
Click HERE to launch Part Two.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Explore the poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay in this tutorial series. This tutorial is Part Two of a three-part series. In Part Two, you’ll study her short poem "Second Fig." You'll identify the topic of the poem, determine a theme of the poem, and explain how the theme is developed through specific words and phrases.
Make sure to complete all three parts!
Click to launch Part One.
Click HERE to launch Part Three.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Explore three short poems by the famous American poet Edna St. Vincent Millay and practice determining a theme for each poem in this three-part, interactive tutorial series. In Part One, you’ll identify the topic of the short poem “First Fig.” Then, you’ll select words and phrases from the poem that address the topic of the poem. Finally, you’ll determine a theme in the short poem. By the end of this series, you should be able to explain how a theme is developed and supported by specific words and phrases throughout a short poem.
Make sure to complete all three tutorials in this series!
Clickto launch Part Two.
Click HERE to launch Part Three.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Practice identifying faulty reasoning in this two-part, interactive, English Language Arts tutorial. You'll learn what some experts say about year-round schools, what research has been conducted about their effectiveness, and how arguments can be made for and against year-round education. Then, you'll read a speech in favor of year-round schools and identify faulty reasoning within the argument, specifically the use of hasty generalizations.
Make sure to complete Part One before Part Two!
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn to identify faulty reasoning in this two-part interactive English Language Arts tutorial. You'll learn what some experts say about year-round schools, what research has been conducted about their effectiveness, and how arguments can be made for and against year-round education. Then, you'll read a speech in favor of year-round schools and identify faulty reasoning within the argument, specifically the use of hasty generalizations.
Make sure to complete both parts of this series! Click to open Part Two.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Examine the topics of transformation and perfection as you read excerpts from the “Myth of Pygmalion” by Ovid and the short story “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne. By the end of this two-part, interactive tutorial series, you should be able to explain how the short story draws on and transforms source material from the original myth.
This tutorial is the second in a two-part series.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Examine the topics of transformation and perfection as you read excerpts from the “Myth of Pygmalion” by Ovid and the short story “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne. By the end of this two-part, interactive tutorial series, you should be able to explain how the short story draws on and transforms source material from the original myth.
This tutorial is the first in a two-part series. .
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Study the poem “We Grow Accustomed to the Dark” by Emily Dickinson and view the painting The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh to explain how each medium represents the subjects of light and darkness similarly and differently, as you complete this interactive tutorial.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Explore and explain multiple points of view in the story "The Overcoat" by Nikolai Gogol, which is set in 19th century St. Petersburg, Russia. In this interactive tutorial, you'll also observe the culture of this society from multiple angles.
This is the second tutorial in a two-part series.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn multiple points of view in the story "The Overcoat" by Nikolai Gogol. In this two-part interactive tutorial, you’ll study excerpts from this story set in 19th century St. Petersburg, Russia. By the end of this tutorial series, you should be able to explain how the multiple points of view within the story allows readers to observe the culture of this society from multiple angles.
Make sure to complete both parts of this series! Click to launch Part Two.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Examine President John F. Kennedy's inaugural address in this interactive tutorial. You will examine Kennedy's argument, main claim, smaller claims, reasons, and evidence.
In Part Four, you'll use what you've learned throughout this series to evaluate Kennedy's overall argument.
Make sure to complete the previous parts of this series before beginning Part 4.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Examine President John F. Kennedy's inaugural address in this interactive tutorial. You will examine Kennedy's argument, main claim, smaller claims, reasons, and evidence. By the end of this four-part series, you should be able to evaluate his overall argument.
In Part Three, you will read more of Kennedy's speech and identify a smaller claim in this section of his speech. You will also evaluate this smaller claim's relevancy to the main claim and evaluate Kennedy's reasons and evidence.
Make sure to complete all four parts of this series!
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Want to learn about Amelia Earhart, one of the most famous female aviators of all time? If so, then this interactive tutorial is for YOU! This tutorial is Part Two of a two-part series. In this series, you will study a speech by Amelia Earhart. You will practice identifying the purpose of her speech and practice identifying her use of rhetorical appeals (ethos, logos, pathos, Kairos). You will also evaluate the effectiveness of Earhart's rhetorical choices based on the purpose of her speech.
Please complete Part One before beginning Part Two. Click to view Part One.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Want to learn about Amelia Earhart, one of the most famous female aviators of all time? If so, then this interactive tutorial is for YOU! This tutorial is Part One of a two-part series. In this series, you will study a speech by Amelia Earhart. You will practice identifying the purpose of her speech and practice identifying her use of rhetorical appeals (ethos, logos, pathos, Kairos). You will also evaluate the effectiveness of Earhart's rhetorical choices based on the purpose of her speech.
Please complete Part Two after completing this tutorial. Click to view Part Two.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Practice analyzing word choices in "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe in this interactive tutorial. In this tutorial, you will examine word meanings, examine subtle differences between words with similar meanings, and think about emotions connected to specific words. You will also analyze the impact of specific word choices on the meaning of the poem. This tutorial is Part Two of a two-part series on Poe's "The Raven."
Part One should be completed before beginning Part Two. Click to open Part One.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Practice analyzing word choices in "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe in this interactive tutorial. In this tutorial, you will examine word meanings, examine subtle differences between words with similar meanings, and think about emotions connected to specific words. You will also analyze the impact of specific word choices on the meaning of the poem.
This tutorial is Part One of a two-part series on Poe's "The Raven." Click to open Part Two.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
This is Part Two of a two-part series. In this tutorial, you'll practice using textual details and connotative meanings to help you determine a speaker/narrator's tone. You'll also analyze the impact of word choices on the meaning and tone of a text. This tutorial series features excerpts from Ayn Rand's dystopian novella Anthem.
Make sure to complete Part One before you begin Part Two. Click to view Part One.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Practice using textual details and connotative meanings to help you determine a speaker/narrator's tone in this two-part, interactive tutorial. You'll also analyze the impact of word choices on the meaning and tone of a text. This tutorial series features excerpts from Ayn Rand's dystopian novella Anthem. Part One should be completed before beginning Part Two.
Click to launch Part Two.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn how a speaker uses rhetoric to advance his purpose in this interactive tutorial. To achieve the final objective, you will learn how to determine a speaker’s purpose, identify different uses of rhetoric, and explain the impact of rhetoric on the speaker’s purpose. This tutorial will use excerpts from President Wilson's "War Message to Congress" from 1917.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn to define and identify several literary elements, including theme, topic, and plot summary, and explain the differences between them as you focus on Scout—one of the main characters from the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. In this interactive tutorial you'll also analyze how her words, thoughts, and actions develop important themes of the novel and use your skills to develop a theme statement.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
By the end of this tutorial, you should be able to identify a concept addressed in texts from two different time periods in U.S. history and distinguish the similarities and differences between the ways the texts treat this concept. The texts featured in this tutorial are the Bill of Rights and an excerpt from the "Four Freedoms" speech by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Explore types of figurative language, specifically personification and hyperbole, in the prologue of the novel The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. In this interactive tutorial, you'll analyze the effect those figurative language elements have on the beginning of the story.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn to identify explicit evidence and understand implicit meaning in a text, including common allusions and archetypes, with this interactive tutorial. You'll examine examples from the novel A Separate Peace and the story of Cain and Abel from the Bible.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn to analyze how a subject can be represented in a variety of different mediums, both visual, or artistic, and written, or literary. You will learn about some of the common composition features used in visual mediums, such as photographs or paintings. Then, you will learn how to analyze artistic and literary mediums by collecting evidence, making inferences, and using this information to determine the overall message. By the end of this tutorial, you should be able to distinguish compositional and literary features in three different artistic mediums including a poster, photograph, and excerpt from a novel. The mediums featured in this tutorial were created during the 1930s and 40s.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Analyze a complex character’s development in text excerpts from the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and explain how interactions with other characters influenced this development, in this interactive tutorial.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Examine the organizational patterns authors use in fictional works. These patterns are also known as text structures. You will also analyze excerpts from the story "Ylla", from The Martian Chronicles, to see how author Ray Bradbury uses these structures and other literary techniques to create certain effects, such as mystery, tension, and suspense.
First you will review common text structures. Next, you will learn how to recognize how an author's use of text structures creates certain effects in writing. Then, you will determine the choices author Ray Bradbury made in structuring portions of the text "Ylla" from The Martian Chronicles. Finally, you will analyze how these structural choices create dramatic effects in "Ylla" such as mystery, tension, or suspense.
Learn how to identify and examine common text structures and analyze how Bradbury successfully uses these structures in several excerpts from "Ylla" from The Martian Chronicles.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn how to identify some of the key ways through which authors create mystery, tension, and suspense within a story. You will learn how authors use exposition, foreshadowing, pacing, and the manipulation of time to build tension and suspense.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn to define the term theme and use some key literary elements such as characters, character traits, and plot to help you determine a theme. This interactive tutorial will also help you distinguish the difference between themes and topics in a work of literature and how to use topics in a story to help you determine themes. Then you'll work to determine a theme in a an excerpt from Book 12 of The Odyssey and then write a theme statement based on the evidence in the text.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Tutorials
In this very engaging animated video from TEDed, you will learn about antiheroes. Antiheroes can be hard to distinguish from typical heroes. However, through this video you will be able to identify what an antihero is and understand how these complex characters with often unclear motivations play such important roles in great literature.
Type: Tutorial
A great way to understand literature from epic poetry to literary series is to understand what makes a hero. In this very engaging animated video from TEDed, you will learn about the hero cycle, a common literary trope that can been found in many works like Harry Potter, The Hunger Games and even The Odyssey!
Type: Tutorial
In this animated video from TEDed, you will learn about the power of metaphors in your reading and in your writing. The video explores questions like: "How do metaphors help us better understand the world?", as well as "What makes a good metaphor?"
Type: Tutorial
Video/Audio/Animation
View a 10-part video on the Battle of Yorktown, the culminating battle of the Revolutionary War. With French aid, George Washington led American troops to a victory that ensured American independence.
In addition to the video, you will find primary source documents and a graphic organizer to help you analyze the Battle of Yorktown in greater detail.
Type: Video/Audio/Animation