KAMEHAMEHA SECONDARY SCHOOL
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
COURSE SUMMARY FOR THE WORKS OF SHAKESPEARE
FOR: MR. ALLEN VINTA
SCHOOL YEAR 2014 - 2015
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OVERVIEW
Students who study the Works of Shakespeare will develop a deeper appreciation for the plays, and enhance their understanding of Shakespeare’s themes and symbols. They will learn to recognize Shakespeare’s themes in current movies and television shows. They will reinforce previously acquired writing skills through a series of composition assignments, including a research project that will involve rewriting one of Shakespeare’s plays into more modern dialogue. In addition, they will use their creativity in a variety of assignments such as creating a modern soundtrack for the play and summarizing the plays through poetry. The students will observe Shakespearean themes as they are reflected in everyday life.
COURSE GOALS
The student will:
· strengthen their understanding of the elements of a Shakespearean play such as dramatic irony, foreshadowing, symbolism, theme, etc.
· gain a new understanding of the human psyche and what drives a person’s desires.
· strengthen current skills in writing well-supported essays.
· strengthen research skills.
· develop characterization of the tragic hero.
· analyze modern interpretations of Shakespeare’s themes.
· continue to develop skills learned in previous English classes.
COURSE MATERIALS
The Plays of William Shakespeare: Hamlet
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Taming of the Shrew
12th Night
Comedy of Errors
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Students will:
· Be responsible to purchase all required plays for the class.
· Be seated when the bell rings.
· Refrain from eating, drinking, and chewing gum in class.
· Be courteous to others.
· Bring all necessary learning materials to class.
· Take the responsibility to ask for clarification or for study help before the assignment is due.
· Complete all assignments to the best of their abilities. Homework/projects are collected or checked at the beginning of each period. No credit is given if the assignment is not completely finished.
· All final papers must be typed.
· Tend to all personal business before class.
· Turn off all electronic devices before entering class. Including laptops, unless told otherwise.
GRADING PROCEDURES
Components of grades:
Graded work is divided into three general areas:
1. Reading and daily homework or classwork, including discussion; vocabulary study.
2. Writing assignments.
3. Quizzes, tests, and projects.
The students’ assignments are weighted and various points are given to each assignment. The points are announced before each assignment. Keeping up with reading assignments is critical, and daily work is often the difference between letter grades at the end of the term.
Projects, unit exams, tests, daily work, and required reading will count 80% and the final will count 20% for the semester grade.
Late Work Policy for Writing Assignments: Major Papers and Projects.
If any major Writing Assignment (essay and research paper and/or project) is not turned in on the assigned due date, the following Late Work Policy will be put into effect.
1. For the first five days late, regardless of block days and weekends, there will be a reduction of 10% per day of the possible points available for the assignment, i.e. a 100 point assignment would lose 10 points per day it is late for 5 days. For example: paper due on Monday turned in on Wednesday earns an 82% -- the official grade will be a 62%.
2. After 5 days, it is will be worth 50% of the grade earned for the following 9 days (or the end of the quarter- whichever comes first). So you have 2 weeks (or until the end of the quarter), from the date due to turn in your paper/project.
3. After 2 weeks (or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first), the papers are no longer eligible to be turned in.
4. All work should be turned in during the class period to be considered on time.
5. Notes from parents or teachers do not circumvent the late work policy. It is the student’s responsibility to get work in on time-- not a parent, computer or teacher’s responsibility.
6. The last day of the quarter is the cut off day for all missing assignments. NO EXCEPTIONS.
If you want to find our your current grade:
Students can calculate their grade by averaging the points and knowing how each grade is weighted, which I tell them before each test, project, etc.
“Extra credit” information:
Extra credit is available in this class. I will inform you as opportunities arise.
Policy on make-up work:
Tests/projects missed due to excused absenteeism must be made up the day the student returns unless the cause of the absenteeism dictates a delay in the make-up period. The teacher and student should then work out an agreeable schedule for when the work will be completed. An unexcused absence will result in an F grade for the test, project, etc. that is missed in addition to a one letter grade drop for the quarter. No make-up will be offered.
Study Help:
I will be available upon request by the students during the following time periods:
· before homeroom.
· teacher preparation periods.
· Study Help.
IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THIS CLASS, PLEASE SEE ME,
I KNOW YOU CAN BE SUCCESSFUL!
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