Reading 1A (Coming Soon)

Reading 1A is the first semester in a two-semester series designed to enhance students' reading skills, foster a love for literature, and develop critical thinking abilities. In Reading 1A, students will engage with a wide range of literary genres, including novels, short stories, poems, plays, and non-fiction texts. Emphasis will be placed on improving reading comprehension, expanding vocabulary, and honing analytical and interpretive skills. The course will focus on developing essential reading strategies such as active reading, annotation, and text analysis. Students will learn to identify and analyze literary elements, such as plot, character, setting, theme, and symbolism, allowing them to better understand the texts they encounter. They will also explore various literary devices and techniques used by authors to convey meaning and evoke emotions. 

Upon completing this course, you will be able to—

• comprehend texts using effective strategies;
• generate questions before reading to activate curiosity and preview the text;
• use summarizing strategies to identify the main ideas or central themes in a text;
• assess the relevance of informational sources to the topic or subject being studied, and determine the credibility of informational sources;
• evaluate the strength and quality of the evidence used by the author;
• identify and evaluate an author's motivation, stance, or position on the topic;
• identify the intended audience of a text.

Please visit the Computer Requirements page to view minimum device, internet, and application requirements for all UT High School courses. Generally, a desktop or laptop device five (5) years or newer with access to an office suite, such as Microsoft Office or Google Workspace, will be adequate to participate in most UTHS courses.  

Unless otherwise noted, students are responsible for purchasing or securing all the following course materials:

• Textbook (eBook Included): Mirrors & Windows: Connecting with Literature – American Tradition (Grade 11), edited by Brenda Owens
  • Publisher: Carnegie Learning Inc., 2021
  • ISBN#: 978-1-53383-668-7
• Novels: Please select one from the list below.
  • Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
  • Kindred by Octavia Butler
  • House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros 
• Interactive Notebook: A paper or digital composition book is acceptable. For paper composition books, please also have the following items on hand:
  • Pens or Pencils
  • Tape or Glue 

This course contains 3 units and one final exam. 

Each Unit contains: 

• 4 to 5 lessons. Each lesson includes some or all of the following components: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate. 
• Self-assessments to help you check your own understanding of the material covered in each lesson. You must complete these assessments in order to advance in the course. 
• 3 graded assignments.

The final examination is comprehensive; it covers the material from all 9 units. To pass the course, you must receive a grade of 70 percent or better. You can apply to take the Final Exam after 100 percent of your graded assignments have been submitted, and at least 70 percent have been graded and returned to you. 

Format: Multiple-choice and essay, online
Time Allowed: 3 hours 
Materials Allowed: none 

• Unit 1: Active Reading
• Unit 2: Credible Sources
• Unit 3: Literary Circles