AMC 11th Grade English 08-09

Throughout Los Angeles Unified, the 11th grade English curriculum is typically American Literature. (Interestingly, this is not true in all private schools or other schools in other states.) This year, our study of American Literature will be influenced by the organization of English and History classes into academies. We will have a special emphasis on Arts_Media_ and Communication.

A good way to explain the way our academy will impact the coursework is to look at our first unit of study, “Banned Books and Censorship.” This will be our opening unit and will connect classes within our academy in activities and interactions. Throughout the U.S. in the last ten years. censorship has grown in public schools and libraries. As a result, the American Library Association has sought support from schools to explain and teach students about the effects of censorship and the importance of the first amendment. Some of our students in high school take for granted the right to read, view, and discuss controversial material. As adults, however, we know how precious the first amendment protections are to a democracy. In the past few years, we have been fortunate enough to collaborate with CSUN on this important topic. This year, we hope to expand interactions and activities further still.  One of the activities planned is a book sale that will include contemporary, popular, and classic titles that have been banned in the United States. Did you know, for example, that some school districts ban the popular Harry Potter books?
Also, in the course of this unit, students will read texts that are classic (and have been banned), and will examine arguments for and against censorship. As we enter our year-long investigation of Arts, Media, and Communication, we hope that all of the students will apply the lessons from this first unit to what follows.

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