Welcome to Mrs. Coleman's classes!

First Semester

Composition:  Students study parts of speech, grammar, punctuation, paragraph and essay development.

English II (Communications):  Students study and practice the elements of good communication.  They will deliver speeches to demonstrate a variety of purposes.

American Literature I:  This class examines the chronology of American literature and its connection to history, beginning with early Native American poetry.  Major authors include Poe, Twain, Crane, and Fitzgerald.  Various literary techniques are emphasized throughout the course. 

Introduction to Literature:  This is an elective class offered through Hawkeye Community College for college-bound juniors and seniors.  Short stories, poems, and plays comprise the reading material in this class.  Emphasis is on literary techniques, such as point of view, imagery, irony, theme, and characterization.  Evaluation methods include projects, critical papers, and tests.

 

Second Semester

Advanced Composition:  Composition is a prerequisite for this course.  Students are expected to have mastered basic writing and organizational skills prior to taking this course.  Creative writings, critiques, and business letters will be emphasized.

Research:  This course is designed to prepare students for the many research requirements that they will experience in college.   Research techniques will be taught, as well as how to be discriminating users of information.  Students will create research papers, projects, and presentations.

English II (Literature and Composition):  Second semester English II is designed to continue strengthening the students' abilities to understand and use language.  However, there is more focus on understanding the structure of various literary categories, as well as on reading, analyzing, and discussing literature.  Students will also make formal presentations and practice writing for various purposes and audiences.  Student evaluation is based on completion of reading, writing, and speaking assignments, as well as quizzes, tests.

American Lit. II:  This course is a continuation of American Literature I.

Advanced Reading:  This course is designed to enhance students' reading skills and vocabulary while expanding their reading interests.  Numerous novels are available in the classroom.  Students may choose to read these novels, or they may choose books independently.  Students will keep a daily log that tracks the number of minutes that they read each day.  They will also write in their reflection journals two or three times a week.  In addition, students will keep a notebook of vocabulary words they encounter in their reading, and they will practice using some of the new words in their journals.  Students will also conference with the instructor and "chat" with the other class members about the books they have read.