Setting Sail into the Final Term

Term 4 is underway with some new developments. All students in grades 9-12 are now required to make a 3-5 minute oral presentation with visual aids (slide show, poster, glogster, etc.) which will be evaluated using PSHS's speaking and listening rubric. For students in grades 9-11, the score on this presentation, which will be made sometime during fourth term, will be calculated as 20% of each student's final exam grade. For seniors, this presentation will be part of the Term 4 grade.

The following units of study are underway at present:

American Literature students are working on a close reading passage analysis, choosing a narrative passage from Huck Finn and delving deeply into it, word by word. During vacation, students will be reading three literary criticisms on Huck Finn and preparing for a Socratic Dialogue to discuss their findings, agreements or disagreements with each critical essay.  They will then write their own analysis, incorporating criticism to support their theses.

World Literature students are finishing up with Oliver Twist. They will be choosing a passage from one of the final chapters to complete a close reading analysis on. 

Poetry students are reading October Morning: A Song for Mathew Sheppard. In addition to the various poetic forms presented, students are noting one poet's ability to write a story in verse through numerous voices, weaving a troubling, resonating literary piece. They will locate a news story and tell one aspect of the story through the voice of one element of the story, choosing one of the forms of poetry used in October Morning.