The major purpose of this intervention elective course is to provide simultaneous support for students enrolled in English 9AB and English 10AB and is aligned to the corresponding grade level core English course. It provides strategic instruction that supports student access to rigorous grade level English/ Language Arts content. Using content-specific, research-based instructional methodologies, including culturally relevant and responsive pedagogy, these elective courses advance student proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and thinking as measured by grade level ELA California Standards Tests and ELA periodic assessments. The standards require that by the end of middle school, students will have read one million to one-and-a-half million words annually on their own, including a good representation of classic and contemporary literature, magazines, newspapers, and online articles. The CA Reading/Language Arts Framework highlights that ninth and tenth grade students are expected to write narrative, expository, persuasive, and descriptive texts (responses to literature and research reports) of at least 1,500 words each. These courses do not replace the grade level core English course and are recommended for students who are below proficiency as measured by grade level CSTs. Students programmed into this course may need additional instruction that supports their ability to read and understand grade-level text and demonstrate proficiency on assessments such as CAHSEE, the California Standards Tests, and LAUSD Periodic Assessments. The curriculum and instructional materials for this course parallel that of English 9AB; this course does not replace English 9AB. This intervention course earns graduation credit only (non A-G course).

Scope and Sequence

Component 1: Persuasion – Students will read persuasive texts, with a focus on the credibility of an author’s
argument, the relationship between generalizations and evidence, the comprehensiveness of evidence, and the way in which the author’s intent affects the structure and tone of the text, and extend ideas through original analysis, evaluation, and elaboration. Students will also write persuasive essays and deliver persuasive presentations.

Component 2: Exposition – Students will read expository texts, with a focus on synthesizing and extending ideas presented in primary and secondary sources, including works by a single author dealing with a single issue. In addition, students will write expository essays and deliver expository presentations.

Component 3: Literary Analysis – Students will read literary texts, with a focus on analyzing central themes in multiple works as well as analyzing themes in relation to issues of a historical period. Students will write responses to literature and deliver oral responses to literature.