China 九年级（初三） Chinese Language and Literature

1. Sem.1 U1 Poetry (activity-inquiry)

Appreciating modern poems · Poetry recital · Trying to write poems

Coming soon

2. Sem.1 U2 Argumentative essays

Argument, evidence, reasoning · Clear viewpoint · Integrated learning: self-improvement

• Self-Improvement: Stories, Mottoes and a Short Talk – Self-improvement means working on yourself, step by step, to become better. Stories of people who practised daily, tried again after failing, or helped others show that growth comes from small repeated actions. A motto is one short line that reminds you of your aim, such as "A little every day". Small gains add up: getting 1% better every day for 365 days makes you about 38 times better, while getting 1% worse makes you almost nothing. A good short talk or argument has four blocks: a claim, a story as evidence, a reason that links the story to the claim, and a motto to end. In this project you collect stories and mottoes, choose your own motto and present a three-minute talk.

3. Sem.1 U3 Classical prose and poems

Song-dynasty prose (岳阳楼记, 醉翁亭记) · Three classical poems · Evidence-based argument

Coming soon

4. Sem.1 U4 Fiction

Modern and foreign short stories · Writing a mini-story · Whole-book: Jane Eyre (foreign novels)

Coming soon

5. Sem.1 U5 Thinking and learning essays

Essays on thinking, doubt and learning · Sound argument · Integrated learning: our digital age

• Media Literacy – Media literacy is the skill of reading, questioning and creating media: news, ads, videos, posts, films and games. Every media text is made by someone, for a purpose, for an audience, using forms, conventions and techniques that shape how we feel. A media-literate person checks the source, evidence, other coverage and the original before believing or sharing, notices bias and filter bubbles, and makes their own media responsibly.

6. Sem.1 U6 Classical historical prose

Historical narratives (曹刿论战, 出师表 …) · Five poems/ci/qu · Thinking deeply · Whole-book: 300 Tang Poems

• Thinking Deeply – Thinking deeply means not stopping at what you can see. You first notice a fact (the phenomenon). Then you ask "why?" again and again until you reach the real cause (the essence). Then you test it with evidence and say it clearly in a sentence.

7. Sem.2 U1 Poetry

Modern Chinese and foreign poems · Expanding a text

• Expanding a Text – To expand a text, keep the core sentence and add layers around it: detail (who, what, where), the five senses, and feeling. Every added piece must be about the same scene and help the reader see it. Extra words that add nothing are padding.

8. Sem.2 U2 Fiction

Chinese and foreign short stories · Choosing a theme · Integrated learning: our junior-school life

• Choosing a Theme – Choosing a theme starts with reading the prompt carefully. Find its key words, think of several ideas, then choose ONE central idea that answers the prompt. Check that every paragraph points to that idea. An idea that ignores the key words is off topic.
• Our Junior-School Life: A Memory Project – A memory project looks back at the school years and ends with a farewell. Four steps: collect memories (people, places, events), choose a form (card, song or skit), make it as a team, and share it with kindness. Good memory writing is true, specific and shows feelings.

9. Sem.2 U3 Classical prose and ci

Mencius, Zhanguoce and Ming prose · Four ci poems · Organising an essay · Whole-book: The Scholars (satire)

Coming soon

10. Sem.2 U4 Essays on reading and art

Essays on reading, art and imagination · Revising and polishing · Oral communication: debate

Coming soon

11. Sem.2 U5 Drama (activity-inquiry)

Reading plays · Rehearsal · Performance and review

• Drama: Elements, Stagecraft and Performance – Drama is a story told by actors who become characters and act it out in front of an audience. Every drama has characters who want something, a conflict when those wants clash, a plot that builds tension to a climax and then resolves, dialogue, a setting and a theme. On stage, actors use voice and body, and the production adds lighting, set, costume and sound.

12. Sem.2 U6 Classical texts

Classical prose and poems · Creative expression

Coming soon