EpicEd

English I Semester A introduces 9th-grade students to the foundational reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills essential for high school success. Students develop active reading and listening strategies, practice summarizing and paraphrasing, and build confidence in collaborative discussions and presentations. A focused study of grammar, punctuation, and sentence mechanics, including modifiers, voice, parallel structure, and phrase types, equips students to write with clarity and precision.
Students then expand their vocabulary through the study of context clues, connotation, word parts, and precise language use. The semester moves into the characteristics of fiction, where students analyze literary elements, figurative language, sound devices, and authors' cultural and historical perspectives. The course culminates in an extended narrative writing project and an independent reading unit, where students apply their analytical skills to a self-selected text and produce a critical book review. ACT-aligned practice is woven throughout to support college and career readiness.

English I Semester B shifts students toward argument, research, and classic literature. Students explore the characteristics of nonfiction and the elements of rhetoric, learning to analyze text structures, evaluate evidence, identify logical fallacies, and detect author's bias. Through study of the rhetorical triangle and appeals, students craft a polished op-ed featuring a clear thesis, integrated evidence, counterclaims, and intentional style and tone.
Students then complete a research unit focused on developing research questions, evaluating source credibility, citing sources, and synthesizing information into an original project. The second half of the semester immerses students in classic literature, beginning with Greek mythology and Homer's The Odyssey, where students examine the hero's journey and produce multimodal projects that blend narrative, argumentative, and informative writing. Students then study the elements of drama through Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, decoding Shakespearean language, analyzing iambic pentameter, and creating a performance critique. The semester concludes with a capstone writing portfolio showcasing students' growth across genres and purposes, alongside continued ACT preparation.

English II Semester A guides 10th-grade students through the study of language, literary analysis, and argument writing. Students begin by sharpening their command of vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure, learning to use context clues, word parts, connotation, and precise diction to communicate with clarity and intention. From there, students explore the structure of storytelling, analyzing characterization, setting, plot, conflict, point of view, tone, mood, and literary devices through a rich collection of short stories. The semester centers on a guided study of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, where students examine theme, author's perspective, and the social commentary embedded in dystopian fiction. The course concludes with an in-depth argument unit, in which students analyze rhetorical appeals, evaluate evidence, identify logical fallacies and bias, and write an original argumentative essay. ACT-aligned reading and English practice is woven throughout the semester to support college and career readiness.

English II Semester B builds on Semester A by shifting students toward personal narrative, research, career readiness, and dramatic literature. Students begin by exploring the memoir genre, analyzing historical, cultural, and global perspectives in works by authors such as Amy Tan and George Takei before crafting an original memoir of their own. The course then moves into a career-focused research unit, where students develop research questions, evaluate sources, synthesize information, and produce a career research paper using MLA citation.
Students next apply these skills to real-world writing tasks, drafting professional resumes and cover letters and practicing interview techniques rooted in effective speaking, listening, and collaboration. The semester continues with a study of drama through George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, examining dialect, characterization, and identity alongside paired poetry and nonfiction texts. The course concludes with an independent reading and writing unit that allows students to apply their analytical and compositional skills to a self-selected text. ACT preparation continues throughout the semester.

English III Semester A guides 11th-grade students through the foundational skills of reading, writing, listening, and speaking that anchor an advanced study of American literature. Students begin by developing strong listening and speaking skills, learning to evaluate speakers' messages, collaborate effectively in diverse groups, and deliver impactful presentations. From there, students explore the reading process through close engagement with American literary works, contemporary essays, and influential speeches that span the historical foundations of American thought to modern perspectives.
The semester continues with a focused writing process unit, where students develop the prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing skills needed to produce polished essays. Students then move into critical reading, sharpening their ability to analyze themes, motifs, character development, and rhetorical strategies in complex texts. A critical writing unit follows, where students craft sophisticated argumentative and analytical essays grounded in textual evidence. The course closes with a multimodal literacies unit that challenges students to interpret and create content that blends written, visual, and digital forms of communication. Students will engage in rigorous discussions, writing workshops, and comprehensive projects that promote critical thinking and effective communication aligned to Oklahoma Academic Standards.

English III Semester B builds on the foundational skills of Semester A by deepening students' mastery of vocabulary, language, and research as they continue their study of American literature and influential voices. Students begin with a focused vocabulary unit that expands their command of language and prepares them to engage with the sophisticated diction of advanced texts. From there, students study language for reading, examining how syntax, style, and authorial choices shape meaning in complex literature.
The semester continues with a language for writing unit that refines students' grammatical precision, sentence variety, and stylistic control to support clear and persuasive composition. Students then move into a research sequence that develops the skills needed to formulate research questions, evaluate sources, synthesize information, and integrate evidence with academic integrity. A reading research unit prepares students to investigate complex topics, while a writing research unit guides students through the production of a polished research-based composition. The course concludes with an independent reading and writing experience that invites students to explore their interests, articulate nuanced viewpoints, and demonstrate the analytical and compositional skills they have cultivated throughout the year. Students will continue to encounter diverse American voices and themes designed to deepen their appreciation of the American literary canon and prepare them for academic challenges beyond high school.

English IV Semester A guides 12th-grade students through an advanced study of language, style, and argumentation as they prepare for life beyond high school. Students begin by sharpening their command of vocabulary and word study, working with word parts, analogies, context clues, connotation, and precise diction to communicate with clarity and intention. From there, students explore the evolution of the English language and the impact of syntax, examining how active and passive voice, parallelism, and phrase types shape meaning and style. A focused punctuation unit reinforces the technical precision needed for college-level writing.
The semester then turns to argument analysis, where students summarize and paraphrase complex texts, evaluate text structures and author's purpose, and examine rhetorical appeals, strategies, fallacies, and bias. Students continue with a dedicated speaking and listening unit, applying active listening, group collaboration, and presentation skills to craft an impactful TED Talk. The course closes with an independent reading and writing experience, where students apply their analytical and compositional skills to a self-selected text and a personalized writing project. ACT-aligned practice is woven throughout to support college and career readiness.

English IV Semester B builds on Semester A by guiding students through dramatic literature, research-based argument writing, literary analysis across genres, personal narrative, and a culminating capstone project. Students begin with a study of Reginald Rose's 12 Angry Men, examining characterization, plot structure, setting, theme, archetypes, and multimodal performance, before producing an informative report grounded in the play's exploration of justice and ethics.
Students then move into a research-intensive op-ed unit, where they formulate research questions, evaluate and synthesize sources, develop a defensible thesis, integrate evidence, address counterclaims, and publish for an authentic audience using proper citation. A literary devices and genre unit follows, with students analyzing figurative language, sound devices, irony, and the characteristics of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry through excerpts from Frankenstein, Friday Night Lights, and The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. Students next craft an original personal narrative that demonstrates voice, sequencing, precise language, and varied syntax. The semester concludes with a capstone Senior Scrapbook project that blends informative, argumentative, and narrative writing with multimodal elements to reflect on students' high school journey and prepare them for the future.

Honors English I Semester A challenges 9th-grade students to engage in rigorous study of foundational reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills at an accelerated pace. Students develop sophisticated active reading and listening strategies, applying them to texts of increasing complexity while leading and contributing to evidence-based collaborative discussions. A thorough study of grammar, punctuation, and sentence mechanics builds the technical precision students need for advanced composition, with attention to modifiers, voice, parallel structure, and phrase types. Students sharpen their vocabulary through close study of context, connotation, word parts, and stylistic word choice, learning to wield language with intention and nuance. The semester deepens with an analytical exploration of fiction, where students dissect literary elements, figurative language, sound devices, and the historical, cultural, and global perspectives that inform an author's craft. Honors-level work culminates in an original narrative writing project that emphasizes voice, structure, and sensory craft, followed by an independent reading study in which students produce a critical book review demonstrating thoughtful analysis and academic argument. ACT-aligned practice is integrated throughout to prepare students for advanced coursework and college readiness assessments.

Honors English I Semester B advances students into rigorous study of argument, research, and canonical literature. Students examine the characteristics of nonfiction and the elements of rhetoric in depth, analyzing complex text structures, weighing the strength of evidence, identifying logical fallacies, and uncovering author's bias. Building on this foundation, students apply the rhetorical triangle and rhetorical appeals to craft a polished op-ed featuring a defensible thesis, well-integrated evidence, sophisticated counterclaims, and a deliberate command of style and tone.
A focused research unit asks students to formulate substantive research questions, rigorously evaluate source credibility, cite sources with academic integrity, and synthesize multiple perspectives into an original honors-level project. The semester then immerses students in canonical literature, beginning with Greek mythology and Homer's The Odyssey, where students analyze the hero's journey, paired texts, and the cultural significance of epic poetry while producing multimodal work that blends narrative, argumentative, and informative writing. Students continue with Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, decoding Elizabethan language, analyzing iambic pentameter, and developing a performance critique that demonstrates close reading and interpretive skill. The course concludes with a capstone writing portfolio showcasing students' growth as perceptive analysts and confident writers, accompanied by sustained ACT preparation to support readiness for advanced coursework beyond high school.

Honors English II Semester A challenges 10th-grade students to engage in rigorous study of language, literary analysis, and argumentation. Students begin with an advanced examination of vocabulary, grammar, and stylistic word choice, building the precision and sophistication required for college-level writing. From there, they conduct close analysis of short fiction, dissecting characterization, setting, conflict, point of view, tone, mood, and literary devices, with particular attention to how authors craft meaning through deliberate stylistic choices.
The semester features an in-depth study of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, where students examine theme, authorial perspective, and the cultural and historical context of dystopian fiction. Students conclude the semester with an extended argument unit, applying their understanding of rhetoric, evidence, and fallacy to produce a polished argumentative essay. Honors-level projects throughout the semester invite students to apply their learning to real-world contexts, sharpening the critical thinking, analytical writing, and problem-solving skills needed for advanced coursework. ACT-aligned practice is integrated throughout.

Honors English II Semester B advances students into rigorous study of memoir, research, career readiness, and dramatic literature. Students begin by analyzing memoirs from a range of historical, cultural, and global perspectives, then craft an original memoir that demonstrates sophisticated narrative voice, structure, and stylistic command. The course then moves into a research-intensive unit, where students develop substantive research questions, rigorously evaluate sources, synthesize multiple perspectives, and produce a polished career research paper using MLA citation.
Students apply their writing and communication skills to authentic professional tasks, including resumes, cover letters, and interview practice rooted in effective speaking, listening, and collaboration. The semester continues with an in-depth study of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, paired with poetry and nonfiction selections that deepen students' analysis of dialect, identity, and transformation. An independent reading and writing unit closes the course, accompanied by honors-level projects designed to challenge students to apply their skills to real-world writing and problem-solving tasks. Sustained ACT preparation supports readiness for advanced coursework beyond high school.