Welcome to Ninth Grade Honors English! This year, we will be focusing on different ways of “storytelling” and the power stories have to shape individuals, including ourselves. We will read a variety of literature that focuses on the individual’s personal journey through life. We will discuss questions of identity and how individuals establish identity through their struggles and experiences, as well through their personal relationships. Perfect theme for Freshman year, right? As we relate this literature to our lives, we will undoubtedly examine our own life journey—where we’ve been and where we want to go—as well as our own sense of identity and who we want to become. We will explore our personal story as we live it.
Some of the things we will examine include: the different reasons for why people tell “their” stories; different modes of storytelling; the elements of storytelling; our ideas regarding what makes a “good” story; how to better analyze different stories; and how we can better tell our own story using some of the skills we’ve mastered. Importantly, in this course, we will also be working to establish a firm foundation of knowledge and skills that will help you through the journey that is high school.