Trustees Approve New Books for a New Course
Huntington School Board members approved a pair of textbooks for the new Advanced Placement English Language and Composition course at Huntington High School. The Riverside Reader and Writing with a Purpose had earlier been scrutinized by the district’s Educational Development Committee, which put its imprimatur on them.
Trustees were told The Riverside Reader offers students a selection of “non-fiction essays and short stories by a variety of classic and contemporary authors. The topics are culturally relevant and reflect the diversity of academic writing. While the works are arranged according to rhetorical mode, a thematic table of contents is also available for students who wish to make more topic-centered connections.”
According to a supporting document that was submitted to trustees, the book will provide students with “a glossary of rhetorical terms, a mini-biography on each author, guidelines for critical reading, writing and documentation, two sample annotated student essays, study questions and writing assignments for each rhetorical chapter, a short story in each chapter to support Regents exam preparation and a website with a usage handbook, links and supplemental writing materials.” An instructor’s manual will also be provided.
Writing with a Purpose “provides a framework for teaching advanced, college level writing,” states the textbook approval form given to trustees. “It is organized into six parts: the writing process, writing structure, research, readings with a purpose, grammar and writing for special assignments.”
The book also includes, “Focused writing assignments, projects and exercises, relevant, practical references to computer usage, guidelines, samples and exercises for a variety of structures, development of meaning at the paragraph and sentence levels, emphasis on style, diction and syntax, direct essay exam prep (supporting both Regents and AP tests), a student website with extended activities and other supplements, student essays juxtaposed with professional essays, a research unit to support a required 11th grade research paper project, online student resource guide with self-quizzes on grammar and writing and an instructor’s manual.”
For more information about either of the books or the course, contact Director of Humanities Joseph Leavy at jleavy@hufsd.edu.
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