1091 / TERM 2015-2016 / [YEAR]
Mr. Byers / PIONEERCENTRALHIGH SCHOOL / English
C105 / / Help is available before
716-492-9300 [EXT. / and after school, during
1305] / plan periods and
study halls; however, it is
advisable to set up a
time rather than simply
drop in.
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND GOALS
12B (Mythology) (1091)1/2 credit20weeks
Storiesfrommythologyhavefascinatedpeopleforages;thestudyofmythrevealshowmuchthepeopleoftheworldhaveincommon,regardlessoftimeandplace. In this course, we will study Greek and Roman myths, Norse tales, Celtic legends, Asian and Native American mythology, and stories about King Arthur. We will keep summaries of myths and legends studied, define and analyze literary techniques used in epics and elsewhere, and analyze mythological allusions found in literature, culture, etc. We will examine some of the major mythological archetypes, including Creation, Fertility and Hero myths. We will develop topics and write a Research Report on the Literature pertaining to ancient (BCE) civilizations. We will review periodically to solidify our understanding of the material covered. Mainly, it is a literature course. When time allows, we’ll use some documentary video and film of various myths.
LEARNING GOALS OF THE COURSE
Standard 1
Students will read, write, listen, and speak for information and understanding.
Aslistenersandreaders, students will collect data, facts, and ideas, discover relationships,concepts,andgeneralizations; and use knowledgegeneratedfromoral, written, and electronically produced texts. As speakers and writers, they will use oral and writtenlanguagetoacquire,interpret,apply,andtransmitinformation.
Standard 2
Students will read, write, listen, and speak for literary response and expression. Studentswillreadandlisten tooral,writtenandelectronically produced texts and performances,relatetexts and performances to their own lives, and develop an understandingofthediversesocial,historical, and cultural dimensions the texts and performances represent.
Asspeakersandwriters,studentswilluseoralandwritten language for self-expression and artistic creation.
Standard 3
Students will read, write, listen, and speakforcriticalanalysisandevaluation.
Aslistenersandreaders,studentswillanalyzeexperiences,ideas, information, and issues presented by others usinga variety of establishedcriteria.Asspeakersandwriters,they willpresent,inoral andwrittenlanguageand fromavarietyofperspectives,their opinions and judgments on experiences, ideas, informationandissues.
Standard 4
Students will read, write, listen, and speak forsocialinteraction.
Students will use oral and written languagefor effective social communication with a wide variety of people. Asreadersandlisteners,theywilluse the social communications ofotherstoenrichtheirunderstanding of people and their views.
COURSE TEXT(S) AND/OR RESOURCES[websites]TeacherWebpage:
Our text for much of the course is World Mythology-An Anthology of the Great Myths and Epics, 2nd Edition, Donna Rosenberg, Editor.As for your materials, please reuse or use up materials from previous years or courses. For the most part, it is not necessary to purchase new materials for my course.
GENERALEXPECTATIONS: READY, RESPECTFUL,RESPONSIBLE
Academic Honesty:The Pioneer Central High School policy will be adhered to in all casesof academic misconduct. Plagiarism is a serious offense. All work is expected to be your own, original undertaking. Using another’s work, with or without their permission and attempting to pass it off as your own is never permitted and will be severely penalized. (Consequences for academic dishonesty will be given consistent with the Code of Conduct).
Statement Regarding Student Conduct:Preparing to become a graduate of Pioneer involves more than academic preparation in the classroom. Every day you need to demonstrate positive attitudes and behaviors that are consistent with our Code of Conduct. All adults inour school will be watching to see that you are developing appropriate behavior and will provide you with feedback on your journey toward becoming world-class citizens.
Class rules:
1. Be here on time
2. Be prepared
3. Be kind to Mr. Byers, and other members of the class.
4. No hats, cell phones, other electronic devices, etc. Help is available for your device addictions.
5. No food or drinks. They become distractors to the already-distractible among you, and eventually messes on my desks and floor.
6. If you’re not passing my class, don’t ask for a pass to lav, locker or anywhere else. Passing or not, it always remains my decision whether you can go anywhere. You have no “right” to be anywhere other than in the room during class.
I can and do make use of district policies related to discipline as well as -phone calls home, conferences with guidance, discipline referrals, etc. if all else fails.
Class Attendance and Active Participation:On the few major (100 point) assignments-formal literary essays, research projects, etc. if you do not complete the assignment, your grade for the marking period will be Incomplete. If the major assignment is not turned in by the five week point of the following marking period (not an option in July and August), then the 10 week grade becomes a 50. If you miss a day, or a number of days due to legal absence, you will have an equal number of days in which to make up the work you missed during your absence. If more than an equal number of days pass, I may require you to do the missed assignment after school. I cannot always reteach back work while at the same time teaching the current assignment.
If you miss a day, or a number of days due to legal absence, you will have an equal number of days in which to make up the work you missed during your absence. If more than an equal number of days pass, I may require you to do the missed assignment after school. I cannot always reteach back work while at the same time teaching the current assignment.
I am not obligated to allow students to make up work missed due to unexcused absences. Extra credit is possible for meeting deadlines on rough drafts, final drafts, etc. Extra credit is not usually permitted to make up failing or incomplete assignments. You can ask, but it remains my choice.
Again-I am not obligated to allow students to make up work missed due to unexcused absences.
GRADING
All assignments will be evaluated either for a grade based on accuracy or for a satisfactory level of completion.
Typically, I collect an average of 15-20 grades each marking period. The value of these grades ranges from 5 to 100 points. I determine the value based on the length and difficulty of each assignment. Grades are weighted as follows: Homework and Class Participation = 20%; Quizzes = 20%; Writing = 30%; Projects, Tests, Benchmarks, SLO’s = 30%. Penalties for late work vary from one assignment to another.
GeneralTimelineforEnglish12Mythology
Week(s)Topic(s)Readings & Pages
ArchetypeCulture/RegionTitlePage
Weeks 1-2
Creation-AGreeceThe Creation of Human Beings12
IndiaThe Creation, Death, and
Rebirth of the Universe326
Guatemala(Maya)The Creation of the
Universe and Human Beings479
Creation-BGreeceThe Creation of the Titans
and Gods4
BabyloniaThe Creation of the Universe149
(The Enuma elish)
Creation-CNorthern Europe(Norse)The Creation, Death and
Rebirth of the Universe205
EgyptThe Origin of Immortality
(Osiris, Isis and Horus)159
Creation-DIrelandThe Creation of Ireland:
The Ages of the World256
JapanThe Creation of the Universe,
Gods and Japan369
NigeriaThe Creation of the Universe,
Ife and Human Beings402
PeruThe House of Origin470
United States(Navajo)The Emergence497
Weeks 3-6
Report on the Literature-Ancient(BCE) Civilizations
Weeks 7-9
Fertility-AGreeceDemeter and Persephone14
HittiteTelepinu168
Africa/Dahomey(Fon)Sagbata and Sogbo408
Fertility-BIndiaIndra and the Dragon330
ChinaYi the Archer and the Ten Suns362
United States(Zuni)Ahaiyuta and the Cloud Eater503
Canada(Haida/Tlingit)Raven and the Sources of Light517
Fertility-CGreeceThe Flood Cycle20
Sumer/BabyloniaThe Flood196
Nigeria(Yoruba)The Creation of the Universe*402
Weeks 10-20
Hero Myths-AGreeceThe Labors and Death
of Heracles26
Sumer/BabyloniaGilgamesh172
RomeRomulus and Remus110
Northern EuropeSigurd the Volsung226
England/ScandanaviaBeowulf267
England/FranceKing Arthur288
IndiaThe Ramayana333
ChinaThe Quest for the Sun364
JapanKotan Utunnai376
Africa-ZaireMwindo452
Mexico(Toltec/Aztec)Quetzalcoatl492
United States(Crow)Lodge-Boy and Thrown-Away506
Hero Myths-BGreeceThe Iliad31
The Odyssey75
RomeThe Aeneid113
England/ScandinaviaBeowulf*
JapanKotan Utunnai*
Africa(Faraka)Gassire’s Lute410
Hero Myths-CNorthern Europe(Norse) The Theft of Thor’s Hammer223
Canada(Haida/Tlingit)Raven and the Sources of Light517
Please sign below to indicate that you have read and understood the English 12 Mythology Syllabus. Thanks!
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