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College and Career Readiness

High School and College Alignment

Sample English Language Arts Course Outlines, Assignments, Assessments, and Student Work

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I. College Level Expectations in English Language Arts

The following English work samples were collected from Massachusetts college classrooms. They are designed to illustrate the types of content that students are expected to demonstrate in first-year English courses. The work samples also illustrate the skill level that students should be developing while still in high school. This section includes sample course syllabi/course objectives, writing assignments, and samples that demonstrate the level of writing needed for placement into a credit-bearing freshman level English course.

A. Sample Course Syllabi and Course Objectives

The following freshman writing course syllabi and outline give examples of the level of reading, writing, and independent research that freshmen in college are expected to successfully complete.

	1.A1) Writing One, Course Syllabus
	1.A2) Writing Seminar - Course Objectives
	1.A3) Writing I - Course Syllabus
	1.A4) Writing I - Course Syllabus
	1.A5) Writing I- Course Syllabus

B. Writing Level 100 Assignments

The following level 100 course assignments and examples of associated student work reflect the skill level students need to demonstrate in order to successfully navigate upper-level liberal arts college courses.

	1.B1) Developing and Argument and Using Quotations to Support Claim
	1.B2) Describing and Analyzing and Advertisement's Argument
	1.B3) Summary, Paraphrase, Quotation and Perspective
	1.B4) Analyzing Literature and Revising/Developing Focus

C. College Placement - Writing

In determining the course that is most appropriate for students to take during their freshman year, some colleges give a "placement exam." The following examples show the skill level that students generally need to demonstrate in order to be placed into a credit-bearing freshman writing course.

	1.C1) Sample Question and Rubric
	1.C 2) Sample Question and Rubric
	1.C 3) Sample Exemplar, Question, Rubric, and Student Response
	1.C 4) College Board Accuplacer Test and WritePlacer Assignment

II. High School Level Expectations for College Readiness- English Language Arts

The following high school work samples were contributed by Massachusetts high school English teachers. The course syllabi, assignments, and examples of student work are aligned with appropriate grade level English language arts standards. The work samples also reflect the types of skills and content knowledge students will be expected to demonstrate as they progress through high school and continue on to postsecondary education.

A. High School Syllabi and Course Outlines

The following course syllabi demonstrate the skills, content, and expectations that align not only with the appropriate grade level English language arts (Ela) frameworks, but also with skills students generally need in order to be well prepared for college and/or the work force.

	II.A1) State Scholars Program - British Literature - Course Syllabus
	II.A2) Grade 10 English-Experiential Learning - Course Objectives
	II.A3) Advanced Placement Grade 12- Course Syllabus
	II.A4) International Baccalaureate Syllabus Grade 12
	II.A5) Advanced Placement Government Syllabus
	II.A6) Advanced Placement and College Board Materials on Syllabi Creation

B. High School Classroom Work

The following classroom materials are aligned with the grade level standards in the Ela Framework, and they demonstrate exercises and assignments that help students prepare for college. These materials also help students develop skills needed for independent learning and critical thinking.

	II.B1) Literature Project (Beowulf)
	II.B2) Oral History Assignment
	II.B3) Pre-reading Assignment
	II.B4) Reading/Pre-writing Assignment
	II.B5) Socratic Discussion
	II.B6) School-to-Career Exploration
	II.B7) Shakespeare Reading Assignment
	II.B8) Oral Commentary
	II.B9) Mock IB Exam

C. High School Writing

The following samples are classroom-based practices and assignments that help students develop writing skills such as pre-writing, organizing, editing, revising, and substantiation. These examples reflect grade level expectations articulated in the Composition Strand of Ela Massachusetts State Frameworks.

	II.C1) Career Writing- Process and Student Work
	II.C2) Academic Writing- Assignment and Student Work
	II.C3) Cross Curriculum Writing- Assignment and Student Work