English Language Arts
12th Grade
12th Grade ELA Course Summary
In 12th Grade English Language Arts, students explore the year-long topic: On Being Human. They grapple with the following overarching questions:
- What shared experiences do humans have across different times and cultures?
- How does technology impact our sense of what it means to be human?
- How do we maintain our humanity in the midst of challenging or dehumanizing circumstances?
Building upon the knowledge and English Language Arts skills they've developed in previous years, students deeply engage with complex texts through both independent reading and guided Close Reading, prepare for and engage in whole-class discussions including Socratic Seminars, and write multi-paragraph responses to Essential Questions by gathering evidence and effectively communicating their thoughts. Across the units, students will also deepen their writing skills through narrative, opinion, analytical, and informational writing tasks.
Recommended Sequence
Unit 1
25 Days
"To Be or Not To Be" and other Questions: Making Meaning of Life and Hamlet
Students explore what it means to be human by analyzing themes about revenge, authentic action, and mortality in Hamlet.
Unit 2
28 Days
Klara and the Sun: Heart, Hope and Humanity in the Age of AI
Students explore what it means to be human by analyzing themes about loneliness, love, faith, and mortality in Klara and the Sun.
Unit 3
28 Days
Beyond the Boundaries: Intersectionality, Nonconformity, and Female Friendship in Sula
Students explore how Morrison illustrates the ways in which identity can be complex. Additionally, they analyze how Morrison uses characterization to challenge gender norms as well as conventional ideas about love and morality.
Unit 4
23 Days
Crossing Borders: Migration, Identity, and Belonging in Exit West
Students explore Mohsin Hamid's depiction of the refugee experience through his novel that blends realistic fiction with elements of magical realism. They analyze the impact of migration on identity and sense of belonging while also considering migration as a universal human experience.
Unit 5
17 Days
Tragicomic Truths: Exploring Identity, Family, and Grief in Alison Bechdel's Fun Home
Students explore how Alison Bechdel develops themes of identity, grief, and truth versus artifice through her use of literary allusions and intentional visual storytelling. They also analyze how Bechdel's use of point of view and narrative structure reflects her shifting perspective on her father and their complex relationship.
