Reading Short Fiction and Poetry (Custom)

Introduction to Literature and Composition is a course that covers literature study, reading, writing, and language. Students read literature from around the world, including the following genres: short story, poetry, memoir, autobiography, drama, and epic. They read examples of informational writing, such as a letter, Web site, magazine article, newspaper article, speech, editorial, and movie or book review. Along the way, they acquire and practice reading skills and strategies that are directly applicable to these literary and informational reading materials. Summaries and annotations support fluency and comprehension of all reading material. Robust scaffolding in the form of process guides and graphic organizers helps reluctant writers to internalize strategies and develop communication skills. Select activities target text-handling skills and promote improved performance on commonly assessed literary analysis and response standards. Study sheets support engagement with direct instruction and develop note-taking and study skills. In addition, students develop and practice writing and language skills. They employ the writing process to create narrative, expository, and persuasive compositions. The content is based on the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) standards and is aligned to state standards.