Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)
New Skills in italics

§110.43. English II (One Credit).

(a)  Introduction.

(1)  Students enrolled in English II continue to increase and refine their communication skills. High school students are expected to plan, draft, and complete written compositions on a regular basis. Students edit their papers for clarity, engaging language, and the correct use of the conventions and mechanics of written English and produce final, error-free drafts. In English II, students practice all forms of writing. An emphasis is placed on persuasive forms of writing such as logical arguments, expressions of opinion, and personal forms of writing. These personal forms of writing may include a response to literature, a reflective essay, or an autobiographical narrative. English II students read extensively in multiple genres from world literature such as reading selected stories, dramas, novels, and poetry originally written in English or translated to English from oriental, classical Greek, European, African, South American, and North American cultures. Students learn literary forms and terms associated with selections being read. Students interpret the possible influences of the historical context on a literary work.

(2)  For students enrolled in English II whose first language is not English, the students' native language serves as a foundation for English language acquisition.

(3)  The essential knowledge and skills as well as the student expectations for English II are described in subsection (b) of this section.

(4)  To meet Public Education Goal 1 of the Texas Education Code, §4.002, which states, "The students in the public education system will demonstrate exemplary performance in the reading and writing of the English language," students will accomplish the essential knowledge and skills as well as the student expectations in English II as described in subsection (b) of this section.

(5)  To meet Texas Education Code, §28.002(h), which states, ". . . each school district shall foster the continuation of the tradition of teaching United States and Texas history and the free enterprise system in regular subject matter and in reading courses and in the adoption of textbooks," students will be provided oral and written narratives as well as other informational texts that can help them to become thoughtful, active citizens who appreciate the basic democratic values of our state and nation.

(b)  Knowledge and skills.

(1)  Writing/purposes. The student writes in a variety of forms, including business, personal, literary, and persuasive texts, for various audiences and purposes. The student is expected to:
(A)  write in a variety of forms with an emphasis on persuasive forms such as logical argument and expression of opinion, personal forms such as response to literature, reflective essay, and autobiographical narrative, and literary forms such as poems, plays, and stories (S&S1WAE - uses English I version of this TEK); 
(B)  write in a voice and a style appropriate to audience and purpose (S&S1WAE); and 
(C)  organize ideas in writing to ensure coherence, logical progression, and support for ideas( S&S1WAE). 

(2)  Writing/writing processes. The student uses recursive writing processes when appropriate. The student is expected to:
(A)  use prewriting strategies to generate ideas, develop voice, and plan (S&S1WAE); 
(B)  develop drafts both alone and collaboratively by organizing and reorganizing content and by refining style to suit occasion, audience, and purpose (S&S1WAE);
(C)  proofread writing for appropriateness of organization, content, style, and conventions; (S&S1WU - TAKS 4/5/6) (S&S1WAE)
(D)  refine selected pieces frequently to publish for general and specific audiences ; and
(E)  use technology for aspects of creating, revising, editing, and publishing texts (S&S1WAE).

(3)  Writing/grammar/usage/conventions/spelling. The student relies increasingly on the conventions and mechanics of written English, including the rules of usage and grammar, to write clearly and effectively. The student is expected to:
(A)  produce legible work that shows accurate spelling and correct use of the conventions of punctuation and capitalization such as italics and ellipses (S&S1WAE);
(B)  demonstrate control over grammatical elements such as subject-verb agreement, pronoun-antecedent agreement, verb forms, and parallelism (S&S1IR - TAKS 5/6)(S&S1WAE);  
(C)  compose increasingly more involved sentences that contain gerunds, participles, and infinitives in their various functions (S&S1IR - TAKS 5/6)(S&S1WAE); and
(D)  produce error-free writing in the final draft (S&S1WAE).

(4)  Writing/inquiry/research. The student uses writing as a tool for learning. The student is expected to:
(A)  use writing to formulate questions, refine topics, and clarify ideas (S&S/1AR);
(B)  use writing to discover, organize, and support what is known and what needs to be learned about a topic (S&S1AR) (S&S1IR); 
(C)  compile information from primary and secondary sources in systematic ways using available technology;
(D)  represent information in a variety of ways such as graphics, conceptual maps, and learning logs;
(E)  use writing as a study tool to clarify and remember information;
(F)  compile written ideas and representations into reports, summaries, or other formats and draw conclusions; and
(G)  analyze strategies that writers in different fields use to compose (S&S1WAE).

(5)  Writing/evaluation. The student evaluates his/her own writing and the writings of others. The student is expected to:
(A)  evaluate writing for both mechanics and content (S&S1WAE); and
(B)  respond productively to peer review of his/her own work.

(6)  Reading/word identification/vocabulary development. The student acquires an extensive vocabulary through reading and systematic word study. The student is expected to :
(A)  expand vocabulary through wide reading, listening, and discussing (S&S1V) (S&S1IR) (S&S1CoC) (S&S1PWSR) (S&S1IRMSP); 
(B)  rely on context to determine meanings of words and phrases such as figurative language, idioms, multiple meaning words, and technical vocabulary (S&S1AR - TAKS1) (S&S1V) (S&S1CoC - TAKS 1 );
(C)  apply meanings of prefixes, roots, and suffixes in order to comprehend (S&S1V; )
(D)  research word origins as an aid to understanding meanings, derivations, and spellings as well as influences on the English language (S&S1V); 
(E)  use reference material such as glossary, dictionary, thesaurus, and available technology to determine precise meanings and usage(S&S1V); 
(F)  discriminate between connotative and denotative meanings and interpret the connotative power of words (S&S1V); and 
(G)  read and understand analogies (S&S1V). 

(7)  Reading/comprehension. The student comprehends selections using a variety of strategies. The student is expected to:
(A)  establish a purpose for reading such as to discover, interpret, and enjoy; (S&S1AR) (S&S1IR) (S&S1CoC) (S&S1PWSR) (S&S1IRMSP)
(B)  draw upon his/her own background to provide connection with texts; (S&S1AR) (S&S1CoC) (S&S1PWSR)
(C)  monitor his/her own reading strategies and make modifications when understanding breaks down such as by rereading, using resources, and questioning; (S&S1AR)  (S&S1IR) (S&S1CoC) (S&S1PWSR) (S&S1IRMSP)
(D)  construct images such as graphic organizers based on text descriptions and text structures; (S&S1CoC) (S&S1PWSR)
(E)  analyze text structures such as compare and contrast, cause and effect, and chronological ordering for how they influence understanding;
(F)  produce summaries of texts by identifying main ideas and their supporting details; (S&S1AR - coded 7G - TAKS1) (S&S1IR - TAKS1) (S&S1CoC - TAKS 1) (S&S1PWSR - TAKS 1) (S&S1IRMSP)
(G) draw inferences such as conclusions, generalizations, and predictions and support them with text evidence and experience; (S&S1AR - coded 7H - TAKS3) (S&S1CoC - TAKS 3) (S&S1PWSR - coded 7H - TAKS 3)
(H)  use study strategies such as skimming and scanning, note taking, outlining, and using study-guide questions to better understand texts; and
(I)  read silently with comprehension for a sustained period of time. (S&S1AR - coded 7J) (S&S1IR - coded 7J) (S&S1CoC - coded 7J) (S&S1PWS - coded 7J) (S&S1IRMSP - coded 7J)
(?) summarize tests (S&S1PWSR - From Eng 1 TEKS)

(8)  Reading/variety of texts. The student reads extensively and intensively for different purposes in varied sources, including world literature. The student is expected to:
(A)  read to be entertained, to appreciate a writer's craft, to be informed, to take action, and to discover models to use in his/her own writing; (S&S1IR - coded 8B) (S&S1CV)
(B)  read in varied sources such as diaries, journals, textbooks, maps, newspapers, letters, speeches, memoranda, electronic texts, and other media;
(C)  read world literature, including classic and contemporary works; and
(D)  interpret the possible influences of the historical context on a literary work.

(9)  Reading/culture. The student reads widely, including world literature, to increase knowledge of his/her own culture, the culture of others, and the common elements across cultures. The student is expected to:
(A)  recognize distinctive and shared characteristics of cultures through reading; and (S&S1PWSR)
(B)  compare text events with his/her own and other readers' experiences.

(10)  Reading/literary response. The student expresses and supports responses to various types of texts. The student is expected to:
(A)  respond to informational and aesthetic elements in texts such as discussions, journals, oral interpretations, and enactments; (S&S1AR) (S&S1CoC) (Eng I TEKS say "dramatizations")
(B)   use elements of text to defend his/her own responses and interpretations; and (S&S1IR - TAKS 2/3) (S&S1CoC - TAKS 2/3) (S&S1PWSR)
(C)  compare reviews of literature, film, and performance with his/her own responses.

(11)  Reading/literary concepts. The student analyzes literary elements for their contributions to meaning in literary texts. The student is expected to:
(A)  compare and contrast varying aspects of texts such as themes, conflicts, and allusions; (S&S1PWSR)
(B)  analyze relevance of setting and time frame to text's meaning; (S&S1CoC - TAKS 2)
(C)  describe and analyze the development of plot and identify conflicts and how they are addressed and resolved; (S&S1CoC - TAKS 2) (combines Eng I C&D, adds new dimension)
(D)  analyze the melodies of literary language, including its use of evocative words and rhythms;
(E)  connect literature to historical contexts, current events, and his/her own experiences; and
(F)  understand literary forms and terms such as author, drama, biography, autobiography, myth, tall tale, dialogue, tragedy and comedy, structure in poetry, epic, ballad, protagonist, antagonist, paradox, analogy, dialect, and comic relief as appropriate to the selections being read. (S&S1CoC - TAKS 2) (S&S1PWSR - coded 11H) ) (S&S1PWSR - ADD personal essay & vignette - TAKS 2 - Coded 11 F & H)
(?) analyze characters and identify time and point of view (S&S1PWSR - coded 11C - TAKS 2) (from Eng I TEKS 11C)

(12)  Reading/analysis/evaluation. The student reads critically to evaluate texts and the authority of sources. The student is expected to:
(A)  analyze the characteristics of clearly written texts, including the patterns of organization, syntax, and word choice;
(B)  evaluate the credibility of information sources, including how the writer's motivation may affect that credibility; and
(C)  recognize logical, deceptive, and/or faulty modes of persuasion in texts (a focus of English I).

(13)  Reading/inquiry/research. The student reads in order to research self-selected and assigned topics. The student is expected to:
(A)  generate relevant, interesting, and researchable questions;
(B)  locate appropriate print and non-print information using text and technical resources, including databases and the Internet;
(C)  use text organizers such as overviews, headings, and graphic features to locate and categorize information;
(D)  produce reports and research projects in varying forms for audiences; and
(E)  draw conclusions from information gathered.

(14)  Listening/speaking/critical listening. The student listens attentively for a variety of purposes. The student is expected to:
(A)  focus attention, interpret, respond, and evaluate speaker's message; and (S&S1CV)
(B)  engage in critical, empathic, appreciative, and reflective listening. (S&S1CV - coded 14A)

(15)  Listening/speaking/evaluation. The student listens to analyze, appreciate, and evaluate oral performance and presentations. The student is expected to:
(A)  listen and respond appropriately to presentations and performances of peers or published works such as original essays or narratives, interpretations of poetry, and individual or group performances of scripts;
(B)  identify and analyze the effect of artistic elements within literary texts such as character development, rhyme, imagery, and language;
(C)  evaluate informative and persuasive presentations of peers, public figures, and media presentations;
(D)  evaluate artistic performances of peers, public presenters, and media presentations; and
(E)  use feedback to evaluate his/her own effectiveness and set goals for future presentations.

(16)  Listening/speaking/purposes. The student speaks clearly and effectively for a variety of purposes and audiences. The student is expected to:
(A)  use the conventions of oral language effectively;
(B)  use informal, standard, and technical language effectively to meet the needs of purpose, audience, occasion, and task;
(C)  prepare, organize, and present a variety of informative and persuasive messages effectively with an emphasis on persuasion;
(D)  use effective verbal and nonverbal strategies in presenting oral messages;
(E)  ask clear questions for a variety of purposes and respond appropriately to the questions of others; and
(F)  make relevant contributions in conversations and discussions.

(17)  Listening/speaking/presentations. The student prepares and presents informative and persuasive messages. The student is expected to:
(A)  present and advance a clear thesis and logical points, claims, or arguments to support messages;
(B)  choose valid proofs from reliable sources to support claims;
(C)  use appropriate appeals to support claims and arguments;
(D)  use language and rhetorical strategies skillfully in informative and persuasive messages;
(E)  use effective nonverbal strategies such as pitch and tone of voice, posture, and eye contact; and
(F)  make informed, accurate, truthful, and ethical presentations.

(18)  Listening/speaking/literary interpretations. The student prepares, organizes, plans, and presents literary interpretations. The student is expected to:
(A)  make valid interpretations of a variety of literary texts; (S&S1IR) (S&S1IRMSP)
(B)  justify the choice of verbal and nonverbal performance techniques by referring to the analysis and interpretations of the text; and
(C)  present interpretations by telling stories, performing original works, and interpreting poems and stories for a variety of audiences (developed from English 18A).

(19)  Viewing/representing/interpretation. The student understands and interprets visual representations. The student is expected to:
(A)  describe how meanings are communicated through elements of design such as shape, line, color, and texture; (S&S1CV)
(B)  analyze relationships, ideas, and cultures as represented in various media; and (S&S1CV)
(C)  distinguish the purposes of various media forms such as informative texts, entertaining texts, and advertisements. (S&S1CV)

(20)  Viewing/representing/analysis. The student analyzes and critiques the significance of visual representations. The student is expected to:
(A)  investigate the source of a media presentation or production such as who made it and why it was made; (S&S1CV)
(B)  deconstruct media to get the main idea of the message's content; (S&S1CV)
(C)  evaluate and critique the persuasive techniques of media messages such as glittering generalities, logical fallacies, and symbols; (S&S1CV)
(D)  recognize how visual and sound techniques or design convey messages in media such as special effects, editing, camera angles, reaction shots, sequencing, and music; (S&S1CV)
(E)  recognize genres such as nightly news, newsmagazines, and documentaries and identify the unique properties of each; and (S&S1CV)
(F)  compare, contrast, and critique various media coverage of the same event such as in newspapers, television, and on the Internet. (S&S1CV)

(21)  Viewing/representing/production. The student produces visual representations that communicate with others. The student is expected to:
(A)  examine the effect of media on constructing his/her own perception of reality;
(B)  use a variety of forms and technologies such as videos, photographs, and web pages to communicate specific messages (S&S1CV);
(C) use a range of techniques to plan and create a media text and reflect critically on the work produced; (S&S1CV)
(D)  create media products to include a five- to six-minute documentary, a print ad, an editorial, a flier, a movie critique, or an illustrated children's book to engage specific audiences; and
(E)  create, present, test, and revise a project and analyze a response using data-gathering techniques such as questionnaires, group discussions, and feedback forms.

Source: The provisions of this §110.43 adopted to be effective September 1, 1998, 22 TexReg 7549.