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MR. ROETS' WHS ENGLISH 
Courses

11th Grade American Literature, UConn ECE Composition and Rhetoric,, WHS Boys' Tennis, WHS Drama

Wethersfield Public Schools

On this site you will find course pages, composition aids, whs drama, and the WHS Boys' tennis page (see More...).

"The Play's The Thing" Hamlet 

All of my classes rest on the idea that playing with language is the best way to improve language skills. And it's way more fun than NOT playing with language. To play with language is to explore syntax and diction, to experiment with the same, to laugh, to take risks, to fail, to push boundaries, to pun, to riff, to rant, to actually enjoy using the English language. This is what we do in the American Literature courses and the UConn ECE Composition and Rhetoric course. On this website you can find curricular documents, links to youtube videos, cool photos, and assignments.

To totally stereotype, the Irish are the best in the world at playing with language and their artists are great examples for the rest of us. The background photo above is of the Trinity College Library Long Room in Dublin, and the inset is of the Samuel Beckett Bridge over the River Liffey, also in Dublin. And yes, I've been to Ireland and want to live there.
A running list of writing tips, including a definition of plagiarism and resources for responsible citations, is on the Composition Tips page! Check it out.
The Immutable and Irrefutable
(Rules of the class)

​  
1. Courtesy and commonsense rule. Don’t be a jerk.
 
2. Respect the right to learn – do not disrupt the class in any way, shape or form. (eg. Talking/texting/playing on your phone, walking about, private conversations, sleeping, throwing, etc.)
 
3. Whining is forbidden – if you have a legitimate complaint, put it in writing and see me after class.

Summer Reading

WHS Media Center Summer Reading Page
 
FOR CLASS OF 2024 - JUNIORS
For honors students: we begin the year looking at American Literature through the lens of race - something always appropriate in our country, and this year even more poignant. The last few years we have used classic texts like Uncle Tom's Cabin and Huck Finn as summer reading material. You'll still read those, but instead of starting with the perspectives of white American authors, we will start this year with classic texts written by African American authors. Both of these texts (already in our curriculum) have been making the lists of books on race that need to be read by every American. (I've added an example of such a list here, in case you would like to read further.) Baldwin's The Fire Next Time is a 1963 best seller which is comprised of two letters to America; Coates' Between the World and Me, a 2015 best seller, is also epistolary in form (that means it is a letter), in this case a letter to his black son. These will be challenging reads. Pay attention.
Amazon.com link to How to Read Literature Like a Prof.
Amazon.com link to Between the World and Me
Amazon.com link to ​The Fire Next Time
Thriftbooks.com Anti-racism page
Picture
FOR CLASS OF 2023 - SENIORS
Summer Reading for English507AP- ECE 1007.pdf
File Size: 138 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Amazon.com link to 2009 edition of They Say, I Say
Amazon.com link to 4th Edition of They Say, I Say (2018)
Amazon Link to 5th Edition of They Say, I Say with readings
Amazon.com link to Thank You for Arguing
In case you got a copy of They Say, I Say without readings, you can use the pdf below.
They Say/I Say Summer Essay Links and Questions 2009 Edition
File Size: 3502 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Find an audiobook or print version to borrow in WPS Sora:
They Say, I Say (audio)
The Fire Next Time (ebook)
Thank you for Arguing (ebook)
Between the World and Me (ebook)
How to Read Literature like a Professor (ebook)
Find a copy in print or audio at the Wethersfield Library (requires a Wethersfield Library card)
They Say, I Say (audiobook and ebook)
The Fire Next Time (audiobook and ebook)
Thank you for Arguing (ebook)
Between the World and Me (ebook and audiobook)
How to Read Literature Like A Professor (ebook and audiobook)

Notes for ECE

Steps to Increased Credit Transfer Success.pdf
File Size: 430 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

College Prep/college application essay

Prepare for New PSAT.pdf
File Size: 2589 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

SAT question of the day
Link to new SAT Essay rubric
Khan Academy Link - SAT practice
"You Are Not Special" 2012 Graduation Speech
Common App Essay topics 2022-2023
Top Ten Tips for College Essay
This I Believe - writing guidelines
Essays that Worked - Conn College
The Essay, An Exercise in Doubt
Essays that Worked - JHU
Essays that Worked - Tufts
Argue Lab - College Essay
Argue Lab Blog - college essay writing
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