United States 11th Grade English/Language Arts

This course typically focuses on American literature, including both fiction and non-fiction works that have influenced American culture, intellectual thought, and government. Students engage in literary analysis, inferential reading, and develop effective communication, listening, writing, and evaluation skills. Many curricula align with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).

Common Core State Standards (CCSS)

The CCSS for 11th-12th grade ELA outline key skills in language, writing, speaking and listening, and reading:

• Language: Students demonstrate command of standard English grammar and usage. They understand how language functions in different contexts and apply this knowledge to their own writing and speaking.
• Writing: Students compose informative/explanatory texts, including narratives of historical events, scientific procedures, or technical processes. They conduct research and cite evidence to support their arguments.
• Speaking and Listening: Students prepare and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners. They integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats.
• Reading: Students read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts, citing textual evidence and making inferences. They analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.

Resources like IXL provide practice exercises aligned with these standards.

Curriculum Examples and Units

Curricula vary, but often include units centered around key texts and themes. One example curriculum covers works such as The Glass Menagerie, Things Fall Apart, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Dreaming in Cuban, and The Scarlet Letter. Other resources offer units on rhetorical analysis and the American experience. Additional resources for curriculum planning and materials can be found on sites like Teachers Pay Teachers.