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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 will grapple with 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.

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12th Grade Book List

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Recommended Sequence


Unit 1

24 Lessons

"To Be or Not To Be" and other Questions: Making Meaning of Life and Hamlet

Students will explore what it means to be human by analyzing themes about revenge, authentic action, and mortality in Hamlet.

Unit 2

27 Lessons

Klara and the Sun: Heart, Hope and Humanity in the Age of AI

Students will explore what it means to be human by analyzing themes about loneliness, love, faith, and mortality in Klara and the Sun.

Unit 3

28 Lessons

Beyond the Boundaries: Intersectionality, Nonconformity, and Female Friendship in Sula

Students will explore how Morrison illustrates the ways in which identity can be complex. Additionally, they will analyze how Morrison uses characterization to challenge gender norms, as well as conventional ideas about love and morality.

 

Unit 4

23 Lessons

Crossing Borders: Migration, Identity, and Belonging in Exit West

Students will explore Mohsin Hamid's depiction of the refugee experience through his novel that blends realistic fiction with elements of magical realism. They will analyze the impact of migration on identity and sense of belonging while also considering migration as a universal human experience.

 

Unit 5

Fun Home

New unit focused on Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel

Coming Summer 2025

 

Coming Soon
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Visit our archives to find units that we've retired from our core curriculum.

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