Grade-Level Focus
In Grade 11, students are expected to:
Analyze classic and contemporary American texts
Master argumentative, rhetorical, and research writing
Evaluate complex claims, bias, and rhetorical strategies
Engage in academic discussions and persuasive presentations
Strengthen grammar and style for college-level writing
Focus is on American literature, helping students understand the evolution of U.S. culture, language, and values through fiction and poetry.
Objectives:
Analyze how American authors use literary devices to develop theme and tone
Examine how literature reflects or challenges historical and cultural contexts
Evaluate narrative structure, character development, and symbolism
Compare works across time periods, authors, or genres
Interpret literary allusions, motifs, irony, and rhetorical choices
Genres Studied:
Novels, short stories, plays
Historical fiction
Gothic and Realist literature
Poetry (including Harlem Renaissance, Transcendentalism)
Core Texts Often Included:
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Crucible by Arthur Miller
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Poetry by Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, Langston Hughes, and Gwendolyn Brooks
Students read foundational U.S. documents, essays, and speeches, with a focus on rhetoric and argument analysis.
Objectives:
Evaluate an author’s argument, evidence, and persuasive techniques
Analyze how rhetoric (ethos, pathos, logos) influences an audience
Compare texts with differing perspectives on the same issue
Identify logical fallacies and bias
Examine tone, diction, structure, and point of view
Common Texts:
Declaration of Independence
The Bill of Rights
Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr.
Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau
Presidential speeches (e.g., Lincoln, Kennedy, Obama)
Modern opinion articles and Supreme Court cases (excerpts)
Writing in Grade 11 becomes college-level in both structure and depth. Focus areas include argument, literary analysis, synthesis, and research.
Types of Writing:
Argumentative Writing
Compose claims with clear reasoning and strong evidence
Address counterarguments fairly
Maintain formal tone, structured paragraphs, and transitions
Example: “Should the Electoral College be abolished?”
Rhetorical & Literary Analysis
Evaluate how authors use rhetorical/literary techniques
Analyze tone, structure, syntax, figurative language, and theme
Example: “How does MLK use repetition and metaphor in ‘I Have a Dream’?”
Synthesis/Research Writing
Combine sources into a cohesive essay with citations (MLA format)
Analyze multiple perspectives
Example: “Does technology improve or harm human connection?”
Narrative & Reflective Writing
Personal statements (often for college prep)
Creative stories with conflict, setting, and figurative language
Memoirs, anecdotes, and descriptive passages
Key Writing Skills:
Strong thesis and topic sentence development
Source integration and MLA citation
Transitions between ideas and paragraphs
Revision for structure, tone, grammar, and word choice
Students focus on academic speaking, argument presentation, and discussion leadership.
Objectives:
Initiate and sustain complex academic discussions
Deliver persuasive speeches with structured arguments and visuals
Use logical reasoning and evidence in oral presentations
Analyze and critique the arguments of peers and public figures
Adjust tone and delivery for audience and purpose
Activities Include:
Formal debates
Socratic seminars
TED Talk-style presentations
Collaborative group projects
Oral interpretations of poetry or monologues
Instruction emphasizes grammar for writing sophistication, and vocabulary for comprehension, tone, and clarity.
Grammar Focus:
Sentence variety (compound-complex, fragments, parallelism)
Punctuation for effect (dash, semicolon, colon, ellipsis)
Style elements: tone, mood, voice
Pronoun clarity, agreement, and conciseness
Academic voice (avoiding informal and vague words)
Vocabulary Focus:
Greek/Latin roots (e.g., dem, cred, dict, path)
Domain-specific vocabulary for rhetoric, analysis, and argument
Vocabulary from texts and SAT/ACT prep
Figurative language and connotation
Vocabulary through context clues and morphology
| Day | ELA Components |
|---|---|
| Monday | Close reading of literature or nonfiction, analysis discussion, vocabulary in context |
| Tuesday | Writing workshop (argument or analysis focus), grammar or SAT-style writing |
| Wednesday | Socratic seminar or peer review, speaking/listening focus |
| Thursday | Nonfiction synthesis, rhetorical analysis, editing and revision strategies |
| Friday | Timed writing prompt, grammar quiz, or creative narrative writing task |
Assessments & Monitoring
Reading Assessments:
Text-based questions requiring multiple sources
Thematic analysis and close reading activities
Comparative literary or rhetorical essays
SAT/ACT-style reading comprehension passages
Writing Assessments:
Extended essays (argument, rhetorical, literary)
Timed essays (SAT-style or DBQs)
MLA-formatted research reports
College application essays (personal narratives)
Speaking & Listening:
Formal presentation rubrics
Group discussion assessments
Debate and speech performance evaluations
Grammar & Vocabulary:
Vocabulary-in-context quizzes (Tier 2 & Tier 3 words)
Sentence editing and syntax exercises
SAT/ACT vocabulary practice
Technology Integration
Google Docs/Slides – Collaborative writing and presentations
Turnitin – Plagiarism checking and digital peer reviews
CommonLit / Newsela – Argument and nonfiction analysis
NoRedInk – Grammar and sentence structure practice
Khan Academy – SAT reading and writing prep
Flip / Padlet – Discussion, presentation, or feedback forums
Reading Benchmarks by End of Grade 11
Students should be able to:
Analyze how themes, tone, and structure convey meaning in complex texts
Evaluate the strength of arguments and rhetorical appeals
Synthesize multiple sources on a single topic
Read independently and critically across disciplines
Prepare for standardized tests like the SAT and ACT
Writing Benchmarks by End of Grade 11
Students should be able to:
Write multi-page, college-ready argumentative and analytical essays
Use MLA format and proper in-text citation
Effectively revise for clarity, grammar, and style
Express ideas with academic vocabulary and sentence variety
Plan and deliver polished oral presentations with visuals
Recommended Texts and Authors
Literature:
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Crucible by Arthur Miller
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Beloved (excerpts or full) by Toni Morrison
Poetry by Walt Whitman, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Langston Hughes
Informational & Rhetorical Texts:
Letter from Birmingham Jail – MLK Jr.
Civil Disobedience – Henry David Thoreau
Self-Reliance – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Supreme Court rulings (e.g., Brown v. Board excerpts)
TED Talks, NY Times Op-Eds, The Atlantic, NPR transcripts
Support at Home
Parents can help by:
Discussing themes and historical connections in assigned literature
Encouraging structured writing at home (college essays, blogs, reflections)
Supporting time management during research and multi-draft essays
Reading editorials or nonfiction together and discussing bias or structure
Providing vocabulary practice via SAT/ACT tools
Social and Cultural Learning in ELA
Themes often explored:
Justice, morality, and freedom
The American Dream and societal change
Identity, race, and gender in American history
Civil rights, resistance, and cultural shifts
Self-reliance, truth, and power of the individual
