Senior Literature
Mrs. Cleveland
H114—Ext. 2114
Course Description: This course shall be comprehensive in nature, although British Literature will be the core of the course. Writing, both formal and informal, shall be integrated throughout the entire year. Poetry shall be given ample coverage, as well as grammar, vocabulary and oral communications.
Objectives: Each student will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of concepts and effective practice of the senior literature curriculum. All content is constructed under the English Language Arts Common Core State Standards in preparation for college and career readiness. All students will:
*Define, analyze and interpret various forms of genera
* Make logical inferences; cite specific textual evidence for support
*Determine central ideas and themes of a text and analyze their development
*Analyze the structure of texts; compare and contrast the structure of two
or more texts
*Assess how point of view, tone and purpose shape the content and style of a text.
*Analyze multiple interpretations of a story, drama, or poem
*Conduct research and form a thesis-based paper/presentation
*Compose creative writing based on the study of selected literature
*Achieve communication skills through debates and class discussion
*Accomplish proper use of technology and presentation skills
*NOTE: these are only a few of the standards students will be practicing.
Course Requirements and Grades:
*Completion of ALL papers, projects, and tests.
You will be responsible for a research paper, along with other various writing pieces. If these, or any other required project is not completed you will receive a zero.
*Plagiarism will result in a zero.
*Active participation during in-depth class discussions (you will receive a
participation grade at the end of the nine weeks)
*To receive a passing grade in this class, a 90% attendance rate is required.
Procedures:
*Be Respectful and Responsible
*NO foul language in the classroom.
*Come to class prepared. EVERY DAY!
*Late work is late work….you are big kids now—it is simply a zero.
*NO touching of class computers, phone, or other electronics unless you are given permission!
*NO cell phones, IPods, I Pads or other personal electronics…unless you are feeling charitable and would like me to have them J
*Follow all guidelines in the student handbook.
Homework:
*Homework is meant to enhance particular skills and build sound study habits for a successful future.
*HW will not always be a graded.
We may go over it in class, turn it in for a grade or it may be used as a completion grade; regardless, all homework is expected to be done and with you when assigned.
*All students should be responsible and are encouraged to do the assignment given.
Please understand that homework is “time on practice” and is meant to enhance reading comprehension skills and the objectives being taught during the unit/week. It is only in the students’ best interest to practice their skills and master them prior to graduating.
Entry/Exit Slips:
*Entry and exit slips are similar to a “pop quiz” but do not hold the value of a quiz grade.
*They will be used throughout the course of the year to assess students’ prior knowledge of a subject, comprehension and understanding of a lesson or unit, as well as mastery of a concept or skill.
Special Note: Remember, as a senior you must have a passing grade in this class in order to graduate. Please do not let immature, childish behavior deny you from that great achievement.
Class Syllabus
**Changes may be made throughout the year; this is a rough guide for the course. If you have any suggested reading/writing please let me know!
August
Back-to-school procedures—Books, rules, what you need to have etc… Syllabi/Signed Procedures
Goal setting/Academic Strengths and Weakness Note cards
Pre-test/Writing Sample
College/Career Bound discussion—Resume/Applications…??? handout/notes
THEME FOR THE YEAR: CHOICES!
13 Reasons Why Independent reading/work
Journaling / reader response
WRITING PHASE I—Presentation/Future Planning
Basic Refresher—grammar/writing rules/5 para. Essay (traditional/evolved) handout/notes
Personal Statement / Evaluation of a significant experience OR defining moment Writings
Influences –Who influences you? Who do you influence? How/Why? Break-out sessions
September
Personal Statement Cont.
College Check List/ Resume packet handouts
OCIS—Interest Survey
Create College Portfolio Notes/Lab/Web
Career PowerPoint Project rubric/notes
WRITING PHASE II—Research Based
Short excerpt on A Thousand Splendid Suns / Act of Vengeance handout/novel/notes
Literary Analysis handout/notes/labs
MLA Guidelines handout/notes
Mid-October
Greek Mythology Unit PowerPoint/notes
Oedipus Rex
Antigone individual book/notes
Analyze, compare/contrast two pieces
How do the choices that they make define their overall character?
MLA Guidelines/essay Rubric/handout
Re-visit College App. Process/check-list handout/instruction
November/December
**Literature books will be needed at this point**
Anglo-Saxons The Emergent Period (450-1066)
Time period introductions / connections pp.2-11/notes
Beowulf pp.12-38
Fantasy Fiction: Background notes and connection to Beowulf notes—Prologue reading
J.R.R. Tolkien: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring EXCEPT READING
CHOICES: Cross connections to previous novels and characters. Breakout session/
group analysis/writing
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM 1: AUGUST THRU DECEMBER MATERIAL
January/February
WRITING PHASE III—Scholarship Writing/Research college/essay requirements
Local and college scholarship applications Miss Zellner
Scholarship writing/essays
Recommendations round two
Research Paper PP/notes and handouts
Poetry/Prose
The Middle Ages (1066-1485)
Introduction/Power Point pp.68-75
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight pp.133-146
Geoffrey Chaucer The Canterbury Tales
Prologue-group introductions (presentation) pp.89-108
The Nun’s Priest’s Tale pp.110-121
The Pardoner’s Tale pp.122-130
March
The Renaissance (1485-1660) pp.166-183
William Shakespeare Unit pp.235-253
Group introductions/PowerPoint
Othello/Macbeth/Hamlet individual play/text
Sonnet Unit
Individual Sonnet writing/project notes/rubric
April
The Romantic/Victorian Periods (1798-1832) (1832-1901) pp.600-610/ 760-771
Poetry Unit notes/selected pieces
William Blake’s Poetry pp.617-628
Additional Poets selection reading
The Modern Century notes/handouts
Jay Asher: Thirteen Reasons Why individual novel
Reader-response pieces (x4) rubric
Lit Analysis
May
Fiction vs. Nonfiction p. 914
Fiction
Joseph Conrad: The Secret Sharer p. 921
D.H. Lawrence: The Rocking-Horse Winner
Non-fiction
Virginia Woolf: The Death of the Moth
Goal/Strength/Weakness evaluation criteria sheet
Reflection Essay handout/rubric
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM II: MATERIAL FROM JANUARY THRU MAY