English II 2025-2026

For Monday 9/29:
Bring D#1 of your opinion piece with 3 leads and 3 supporting anecdotes.
You may bring laptops to class so we can work on the pieces during class.

ALSO >>> Requirement this year: to publish a piece or win an award in a writing competition in an official (not McCall) publication or contest OR to get three rejection/participation letters after entering. I will also accept a letter to the editor at The Star News about an important (to you) topic.

Link HERE to make an account for The Scholastic Writing Awards (Idaho region) — Entries are open from October 1-December 15, 2025. Let’s discuss in class.

For Wednesday 10/1:
Vocab test >>> all words, including: enjambment-furtive

For Thursday 10/9:
Read The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger >>> chapters 1 through 7

Grammar, key terminology, and vocabulary items that we have discussed in class are on the AP Language & Composition Vocabulary Archive. While most of you will not take the AP Language exam until next year, it always helps to become familiar with these terms now (rather than cramming next year). The sooner you get started, the sooner (comparative degree) you will know all your terms.

LEARN THESE: Part IV Elements of Style: Words and Expressions Commonly Misused learn ALL WORDS/ERRORS.

Find Honors World Literature vocabulary HERE OR play to study on Quizlet!

Student Resources: English II

Check every piece for THESE SKILLS before turning anything in for an edit.
Check ALL CITATIONS (quotes) with these formatting rules before turning anything in for an edit.

Click HERE for directions for email editing

Summer reading list for High School students

Access English II class writing archives to see what our readings and assignments are for this year, and to read sample pieces written by previous English II students.

QUARTER GRADING:

Participation = 30% (purely subjective, based on my perceptions of your initiative, interest, self-motivation, & tenacity)

Assignments = Revisions (20%)
Edits (20%)

Vocab/Multiple Choice tests= 15%
Timed essay grades= 15%

SEMESTER GRADING

Participation = 30% (purely subjective, based on my perceptions of your initiative, interest, self-motivation, & tenacity)
Assignments = Revisions & edits (20%)
Vocab/Multiple Choice tests = 15%
Timed essay grades = 10%
Exam = 25%

“The great skill of a teacher is to get and keep the attention of his scholar... To attain this, he should make the child comprehend...the usefulness of what he teaches him and let him see, by what he has learned, that he can do something which gives him some power and real advantage over others who are ignorant of it.”

— John Locke (1632-1704), on Education

Unfinished Pieces: Q1
(updated 9/25/25)

Everett
Revisions = 13/36
Edits = 3/6

1st Person Narrative: Injury
new free verse poem
Bobby’s Room paragraph: advice
Opinion piece:

Green & Blue Poetry: Tanka, Ballad, Narrative

Winston
Revisions = 12/36
Edits = 3/6

1st Person Narrative: 1st week of HS
EOS: rules #12-#22
new free verse poem
Bobby’s Room paragraph: crisis
Opinion piece:

Blue Poetry: Ballad, Narrative

Ari
Revisions = 17/36
Edits = 2/6

1st Person Narrative: Golf
Pictures w/words: free verse poem
Bobby’s Room paragraph: 14-year-old
Opinion piece:

Pink Poetry: Poem of Feeling; General to Specific; The Right Words

Georgia
Revisions = 16/36
Edits = 4/6

1st Person Narrative: Mexico
EOS: rules #12-#22
Poem of Feeling: free verse poem
Bobby’s Room paragraph: crisis
Opinion piece:

Pink Poetry: Poem of Feeling; General to Specific; The Right Words

Scout
Revisions = 13/36
Edits = 3/6

1st Person Narrative: Center for Talented Youth
Pictures w/words: free verse poem
Bobby’s Room paragraph: crisis
Opinion piece:

Pink Poetry: Poem of Feeling; General to Specific; The Right Words