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9TH GRADE CURRICULUM
ELA 1-2
IDENTITY & RELATIONSHIPS
The 9th Grade English Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum, based on the theme of allows students to explore their own identity as well as the different identities of those around them in their diverse communities. They do this while demonstrating proficiency in the SDUSD ELA Critical Concepts for 9th grade. Every unit culminates with an opportunity for students to reflect on and then share their learning. This was designed to meet the needs of ALL students --- so that students get WHAT they need, WHEN they need it, in the WAY that they need it. This course has been endorsed by the Ethnic Studies Advisory Committee and approved by the SDUSD School Board to meet the Ethnic Studies graduation requirement. For more information, check the Ethnic Studies tab and the Course Overview below.
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COURSE OVERVIEW VIDEO
UNITS OF STUDY
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UNIT 0
COMMUNITY BUILDING & INTRODUCTION TO ETHNIC STUDIES
Students will begin the course with Unit 0. They will take some time to learn more about themselves through surveys, strength-finders, and other activities. They will co-create classroom norms as they further connect with their teachers and peers and learn about some of the essential elements of Ethnic Studies. Unit 0 lessons appear at the top of the Unit 1 Unit at a Glance.
UNIT 1
WHAT MAKES YOU WHO YOU ARE?
In Unit 1, students explore the different rhetorical modes through mentor texts and then write their own texts including narrative, compare/contrast, process analysis, definition, classification/division, and cause/effect. Students will explore text structure through the lens of identity and Chimamanda Ngochi Adichie's TEDTalk, "The Danger of a Single Story." Their texts will explore their balanced identity. The unit culminates with an exhibition of learning and celebration of the varied and diverse stories of the students.
UNIT 2
HOW HAVE OTHERS SHAPED YOUR IDENTITY?
In Unit 2, students analyze author's style and learn to write analytical paragraphs. They will explore various texts including a novel and shorter texts. Students will also engage in Reciprocal Teaching and Socratic Seminar as they hone their text analysis skills. The unit will conclude with an exhibition featuring connections students have made between the class novel and their own lives based on the essential question, "How have others shaped your identity?"
UNIT-AT-A-GLANCE
Use the Unit at a Glance above to navigate to all unit materials.
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If you choose to use a different core novel, see the Unit 2 Alternate Novel Planning Chart for slides that need modification. Ideal alternate novels will have a main character who deals with different influences on their identity.
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Review the Analytical Paragraph Teaching Notes for explanation of how the writing progresses throughout the unit, an explanation of the scoring criteria as well as links to each of the passages.
UNIT 3
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF MEDIA's REPRESENTATION ON IDENTITY?
In Unit 3 students examine how identity is represented in the media. After learning about how the different identity groups are represented in TV, in ads, during the first parts of the unit, small groups will explore the representation of a specific identity group and present their findings to the class during the second part. In the third part, students will individually choose a company to make a targeted argument about how they are representing a particular identity group.
UNIT 4
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH OTHERING?
In Unit 4, students examine the concept of otherness through various texts. They will continue to analyze author's style as well as elements of narrative in preparation for writing a literary analysis essay. They will meet in Book Clubs throughout the unit. For their exhibition, students will create a zine that conveys a message about othering.
UNIT 5
SOCIAL MEDIA, SOCIAL CHANGE: WHAT'S YOUR HASHTAG?
In Unit 5, students will explore social media through the essential question: Social Media, Social Change: What's your hashtag? They will learn to read against the grain as they evaluate argument in text. Students will expand their understanding of evidence and how to evaluate its credibility, accuracy, reliability, logic, and sufficiency. Finally, they will share their own argument about social media through a podcast and social media campaign.
UNIT 6
WHAT DOES ETHNIC STUDIES MEAN TO ME?
In Unit 6, students will reflect on the essential question: What does Ethnic Studies mean to me? They have spent a whole year learning English skills through an Ethnic Studies lens. Now, it’s time to think deeply about what this means and how others can learn more about what students now know. Students will share their learning journey with others and write a reflective narrative.