English IV - Block 1 - Fall 2025 Assignments
- Instructor
- Jennifer Williams
- Term
- 25-26 School Year
- Department
- English Department
- Description
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This course is designed to build a solid foundation of knowledge, skills, and strategies that will be refined, applied, and extended as students engage in more complex ideas, texts, and tasks. Students will be introduced to various genres of classical and contemporary narrative and informational texts, while developing and enhancing their grammar and writing skills.
Upcoming Assignments
No upcoming assignments.
Past Assignments
Due:
Monday, December 1, 2025 - Friday, December 5, 2025
Monday, December 1, 2025
We will listen to "A Pair of Silk Stockings."
You will complete the questions that accompany the story.
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Write the following definitions on your own paper. You will use this paper to answer the questions that go with the story also.
1. furtive - attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically because of guilt or a belief that discovery would lead to trouble; secretive
2. rigorous - rigidly severe or harsh
3. impassive - not feeling or showing emotion
4. reverberated - a loud noise being repeated several times as an echo
5. resonance - matching a natural vibration so as to give an even larger vibration
6. subsided - to become less intense, violent, or severe
7. inexplicable - unable to be explained or accounted for
8. inert - lacking the strength or ability to move
9. puncture - a small hole
10. diminutive - extremely or unusually small
We will listen to the short story "The Feather Pillow"
You will complete the questions that go with the story
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Thursday, December 4, 2025
Civics information:
Murfreesboro Mayor - Shane McFarland
Smyrna Mayor - Derek Norton
LaVergne Mayor - Tim Hepburn
Rutherford County Mayor - Joe Carr
Governor - Bill Lee
Vice President - J.D. Vance
President - Donald Trump
Friday, December 5, 2025
Due:
Monday, November 17, 2025 - Friday, November 21, 2025
Monday, November 17, 2025
We will listen to the short story "The Hand"
You will complete the questions that accompany the story.
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
We will listen to the short story "The Demon Lover"
You will complete the questions that accompany the story.
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
You guys are taking the ACT Work Keys
Thursday, November 20, 2025
Friday, November 21, 2025
Due:
Monday, November 10, 2025 - Friday, November 14, 2025
Monday, November 10, 2025 - Friday, November 14, 2025
NOVEMBER14, 2025 IS THE DUE DATE FOR THIS PAPER
Introductory Paragraph should contain:
Hook
Background Information
Thesis
Body Paragraphs should contain at least:
Topic sentence – overview of paragraph
Important Evidence – straight from text – According to the text “Do Juvenile Killers Deserve Life Behind Bars?" it states "The U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments Tuesday in two homicide cases testing whether it is unconstitutionally cruel and unusual punishment to sentence a 14-year-old to life in prison without the possibility of parole" (p. 1).
Detailed Analysis – talk about it in your own words
Important evidence –
Detailed analysis
Ending statement
Due:
Monday, November 3, 2025 - Friday, November 7, 2025
Monday, November 3, 2025 - Friday, November 7, 2025
Introductory Paragraph should contain:
Hook
Background Information
Thesis
Body Paragraphs should contain at least:
Topic sentence – overview of paragraph
Important Evidence – straight from text – According to the text “Do Juvenile Killers Deserve Life Behind Bars?" it states "The U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments Tuesday in two homicide cases testing whether it is unconstitutionally cruel and unusual punishment to sentence a 14-year-old to life in prison without the possibility of parole" (p. 1).
Detailed Analysis – talk about it in your own words
Important evidence –
Detailed analysis
Ending statement
Due:
Monday, October 27, 2025 - Friday, October 31, 2025
Monday, October 27, 2025
We will go back to the library to wrap up with Mrs. Palmer
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 - Friday, October 31, 2025
We are going to go over citationmachine.net and easybib.com
We will also look at finding the citations for an article found on TEL
You are ready to begin finding your research and printing your sources and adding to your Works Cited page.
Your paper should be:
1" margins
Times New Roman
12 Font
Double spaced
The Works Cited page is the last page of your paper
The heading for your paper should look like the following:
Your Name
English IV
Jennifer Williams
October 28, 2025
Title (Centered)
Begin typing your paper here...
You will have your first turn in day on Monday, November 3.
You will need to show:
Thesis
Hard copy of five sources highlighted
Works Cited page with all sources on it
The Works Cited page should be double-spaced and your sources should be in alphabetical order. I will show you a sample Works Cited page
DO NOT use a header or number your pages!!!!
The place you should look is in the Research Portal...to find it:
Go to hhs.rcschools.net
Go to "Academics"
Go to "Library Media Center"
Click "Research Portal" on the right side in the blue section
Use "Gale Student Resources," "Gale Opposing View Points," or "Tennessee Electronic Library"
If prompted for a password for any of these: elvis
You are ready to begin finding your research and printing your sources and adding to your Works Cited page.
Introductory Paragraph should contain:
Hook
Background Information
Thesis
Body Paragraphs should contain at least:
Topic sentence – overview of paragraph
Important Evidence – straight from text – According to the text “Do Juvenile Killers Deserve Life Behind Bars?" it states "The U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments Tuesday in two homicide cases testing whether it is unconstitutionally cruel and unusual punishment to sentence a 14-year-old to life in prison without the possibility of parole" (p. 1).
Detailed Analysis – talk about it in your own words
Important evidence –
Detailed analysis
Ending statement
Due:
Monday, October 20, 2025 - Friday, October 24, 2025
Monday, October 20, 2025
You will continue working on the "Federigo's Falcon" questions
Begin coloring and decorating your hearts.
Cut the hearts out and create your falcon...extra points if it stands on its own
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
We will take the test over "Federigo's Falcon."
Finish making your falcon...falcons will be judged by freshmen classes.
Winner will receive a drink from me.
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
TEACHER ADMIN DAY - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
Thursday, October 23, 2025
We will go to the library to begin working on your research paper
Friday, October 24, 2025
We will go back to the library to continue working on your research paper
Due:
Monday, October 13, 2025 - Friday, October 17, 2025
Monday, October 13, 2025
We will begin watching Beowulf
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
ACT today...no class
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
We will finish watching Beowulf
Thursday, October 16, 2025
Senior picture day
Friday, October 17, 2025
We will finish watching Beowulf
We will watch the following video together as a class:
An Introduction to Falconry
After you have watched the video, answer the following questions on a sheet of paper. Write a small paragraph for each question. We will discuss your answers to these questions before moving on further.
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Would you consider an animal you use for hunting purposes a pet? Why or why not?
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Would there be an emotional attachment to this animal? Why or why not?
You will receive two handouts that contain questions inside hearts...answer the questions on your own paper.
You will use the hearts for a project later.
Due:
Monday, September 29, 2025 - Friday, October 3, 2025
Monday, September 29, 2025
You will also answer the 5 questions at the end of the handout.
You will complete the "Battle with Grendel's Mother" quiz
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
We will begin reading "Beowulf's Last Battle" pages 52-55
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Answer any questions that are circled and starred.
We will read "The Death of Beowulf" and "Mourning Beowulf".
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Wednesday, October 1, 2025
You will answer the five questions at the end of the last reading...here are the questions in case you cannot read them from the story.
1a. How do you think you would have reacted to Beowulf's death if you had been one of his subjects?
1b. Who is the only person to help Beowulf battle the dragon?
1c. What happens to Beowulf as a result of the battle?
1d. What happens to the dragon and its treasure?
2. How would you describe Wiglaf's character traits?
3. Beowulf is able to defeat evil in the form of Grendel and Grendel's mother, yet he loses his life. What theme does this suggest about the struggle between good and evil?
4. In your opinion, what view of youth and old age does Beowulf convey? In answering, consider not only the details in the last part of the poem but also the earlier portrayals of Beowulf and Hrothgar.
5. On the basis of your reading of Beowulf, what qualities or values do you think the Anglo Saxons admired?
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Beowulf's reputation, position, and wealth
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Beowulf's behavior before and during his battles
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the behavior of other characters
You will then complete the quiz for the last two readings
Thursday, October 2, 2025
We will test over the entire story of Beowulf
Friday, October 3, 2025
HAWK WALK - NO CLASSES TODAY
Due:
Monday, September 22, 2025 - Friday, September 26, 2025
Monday, September 22, 2025
We will continue listening to the Beowulf/Grendel reading
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Complete the "Beowulf - Grendel" review handout.
We will begin reading "Battle with Grendel" and as you read we will stop and answer the questions that are starred in the side margins as we did with the first reading.
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Tuesday, September 23, 2025
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You will also answer the 4 questions at the end of the handout. You will answer the four questions in complete sentences and provide textual evidence for each question in order to receive credit for them. Answer these questions on the same paper as the chunking assignment.
You will complete the handout that goes with this reading.
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
OSHA TRAINING
Thursday, September 25, 2025
OSHA TRAINING
Friday, September 26, 2025
Watch the video "Classics Summarized: Beowulf" and write a paragraph summary to answer the following questions:
Why did Beowulf choose to fight Grendel with no weapon? What does this say about the values of Anglo-Saxon culture?
Begin reading "Grendel's Mother" page 45-46
You will continue to answer the side questions that are circled and starred.
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We will also read "The Battle with Grendel's Mother" from pages 47-51. You will answer any questions circled and starred as we read.
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Due:
Monday, September 15, 2025 - Friday, September 19, 2025
Monday, September 15, 2025
Use a computer to complete the Kennings Practice handout...some of the information is in your notes from last week.
Get the vocabulary sheet and begin defining the definitions on the list.
You will use the definitions for a quiz
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Teacher Admin Day - No School for Students!!!
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
We will take the quiz over the Beowulf Vocabulary
We are going to listen to and read the lyrics to the song, "I Need a Hero"
Write a paragraph telling what a hero is to you, who your hero is and why...everyone will share.
Thursday, September 18, 2025
We are going to listen to the song "Beowulf: 99 Luft Balloons" and talk about it before we begin reading.
We will begin reading "Grendel" pages 33-35 from the handout provided. We will also answer the starred questions in the margins of the paper as we discuss.
Summarize the following in plain words:
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Friday, September 19, 2025
Watch the video "Research Writing: Choosing a Managable Topic" and take notes as you watch.
Pick a topic from the list provided:
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Why do people have the want to post everything online?
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How can cyber-bullying be prevented?
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Why are world-famous musicians more prone to becoming drug abusers?
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How has the rise of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies impacted the global economy?
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How has the invention of drones changed surveillance and warfare methods?
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What is Artificial Intelligence and what are its pros and cons?
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What are the traits of team leaders, and how do you become one?
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What are the cons of genetically modified foods?
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Why has the number of natural disasters increased in the past few decades?
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Rise of anime: what made anime admired worldwide?
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What causes people to change their leisure time activities as they get older?
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Can technology cause a gap between generations?
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What is the proper punishment for serial killers and rapists?
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Has frequent texting reduced teen literacy rates?
Write down the guiding question for the topic you choose.
Watch the following video "Selecting a Research Topic and Formulate a Research Question" and create a Bubble Chart for your topic (the bubble chart is somewhere after the 2 minute mark of the video). You must create the bubble chart specific to your topic...these five questions are the questions you will be answering to get your research paper completed.
Familiarize yourself with the topic...provide a written summary of the issues surrounding your topic. Make sure to discuss from both viewpoints. All notes will need to be on the same sheet of paper or you should staple your sheets together. Turn this in before you leave class today.
I should be able to see very clearly your research question and the five guiding questions that you will use.
Due:
Monday, September 8, 2025 - Friday, September 12, 2025
Monday, September 8, 2025
You guys will present your characters to the class
We will read "The Wife of Bath's Tale" and discuss it as we read
You will answer the questions over the reading for today
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
We will read "The Pardoner's Tale" and discuss it as we read
You will answer the questions over the reading for today
Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Complete the "Internet Search" on Beowulf
Literary Epic Notes from PowerPoint
Beowulf -The Manuscript Notes from PowerPoint
Thursday, September 11, 2025
ASVAB Testing - You will not be in my class today
Friday, September 12, 2025
We will take notes on "Kennings and Alliteration"
You will quiz over the following notes:
1. The Literary Epic
2. Beowulf - The Manuscript
3. Kennings and Alliteration
Due:
Monday, September 1, 2025 - Friday, September 5, 2025
Monday, September 1, 2025
Labor Day - No School!!!
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Watch a video interpretation of "A Wife of Bath"
We will begin reading the Prologue of The Canterbury Tales as a class and we will discuss the lines we are going to read. We are only going to read the following lines from the Prologue 1-41 and 767-856.
You will also receive the "Who Are You?" Handout. You will use the handout to guide your research. You will turn in the handout and your paragraphs after you present.
You will receive the Mask to go with your character and directions for completing it.
We will begin the research for the presentation.
You will be given your pilgrim assignments: