Scope and Sequence Book List – BRITISH LITERATURE

Summer Reading

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Reading List

Brave New Worldby Aldous Huxley

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Paradise Lost by John Milton

2016-2017English Language Arts Scope and Sequence

Teachers: Mrs. Melissa Spillman-Fadul

Subject: ELA

Grade: 12th

Unit:British Literature

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9/8-9/9/16

Students willreceive Ms. Fadul’s syllabus and contract and Ms. Fadul’sexpectations for the year. Students will hand in their summer assignments. Students will take a multiple choice test based on The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Introduction to Craft & Rhetorical Analysis

9/13-9/16/16.

The class will begin with Joyce Carol Oates’ short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Through the analysis of the short story’s craft, structure, language, and hidden meanings, students will learn that “in serious literature, there are no mistakes.”

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Poetry Unit 1

9/19-9/30/16.

The first poetry unit of the year will introduce students to the variety of the use of language (diction) to establish tone, mood, and atmosphere. The poetry under close examination will also provide students with a wide range of aesthetic language and sophisticated syntax, both of which students will be expected to learn, analyze, and apply in their own writing throughout the year.

Poems will be selected from Pat Mora, Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson.

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College Essay Unit

10/3-10/7/16.

With college applications due by the end of the year, students will be expected to write college essays and supplementals. Students will be given model college essays and will be taught two different types of structures for college essays.

A Brave New Worldby Aldous Huxley

10/8-11/23/16.

Students will enhance their intellect of the utopian /Arcadian ideal which inexorably will lead to a population’s dystopia and demise. Students willread, study and analyze a text which is framed by the theme of Eugenics. Eugenics was a concept originated by Darwin’s half-cousin, Francis Galton. The word stems from the Greek. Its prefix is defined as “good” and its suffix for “generation” or “origin.” Through Eugenics, scientists aim to “improve” organic traits of those people which are/were deemed mediocre. Two of the most apparent uses of historical Eugenics are: Hitler’s attempt to eliminate everyone in the world that wasn’t of Aryan descent. This was his way of establishing a sovereign human race.

In A Brave New World, The idea of the superlative fantasy had to with the following idea: If you were not Anglo-Saxon you were to be “fixed.” Moreover, as the novel takes a dismal spin into dystopia dysfunction, the reader will come to the epiphany and have to decide whether or he or she can and should or shouldn’t and cannot take the place of a deity—assuming one exists.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

11/28-1/10/17.

Students will embark on this novel which is particularly unique to the early part nineteenth century due to the fact that its author is a woman. This was not a great time to be female and to be a writer. Nevertheless, Shelley persevered through. Thus, Frankenstein became the first real horror story while becoming part of the Gothic genre. In many ways, the gothic genre was a reaction to the Age of Reason which some believe was perpetuated by the English romantic poet, John Keats’ and his young death. Frankenstein was a reaction against the romantic and humanistic and rationalistic period which Keats spear-headed. For many, the release of Frankenstein seem to straddle the romantic period and the gothic period. Thus, coalescing the two. By blending this compromise, the two periods of literature “outed” themes and motifs in Frankenstein which were never really discussed before. They include but aren’t limited to:

1) Hubris from the Promethean Perspective

2) The Manifestations and Ideology of Blame- A. Who is to blame for Dr. Frankenstein’s motivations to create the monster? A: Father for scoffing at Victor’s dreams of alchemy?

B. Who does the reader blame for the monster’s deformities and neglect?

C. Who does the monster blame for his monster’s deformities and neglect?

3) The influence of Thomas’ Aquinas and John Locke and other writes and philosophers while analyzing the efficacy of Natural law(using reason and nature to deduce moral principles and implement them) (supposedly, though debatable, moral values stemming from natural law are universal)and altruism on our contemporary society.

4) Predatory Nature of Human Existence

5) Fate vs. Free Will

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Creative Writing Unit

1/11/-1/30/17.

Through the writing of “Where I’m From” poems and vignettes, students will apply both descriptive language and sophisticated syntax. This unit is a time for both reflection and growth as a writer.

Poetry Unit #2

1/31-2/10/17.

The second poetry unit of the year will center on sonnets. Students will learn the significance of meter and rhyme scheme as it pertains to the piece’s form while it tries to fit the poem’s function. For example, students will learn how to write sonnets and the three types of sonnets: Shakespearean (English), Petrarchan (Italian), and Spenserian.

  • Shakespearean Sonnet: "ABAB CDCD EFEF GG"
  • Petrarchan Sonnet: "ABBA ABBA CDE CDE" or "ABBA ABBA CDC DCD"
  • Spenserian Sonnet: "ABAB BCBC CDCD EE"

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

2/20-4/9/17.

This is the timeless tale by Charles Dickens. set in London and France before and during the French Revolution. It tells the story of, Dr. Alexandre Manette who is falsely incarcerated for eighteen years in the most notorious of prisons, the Bastille. The novel portrays the destiny and plight of the impoverishedFrench who are demonized and demoralized by the affluent of France. This also parallels how English peasants and immigrants of London were treated during the early years of the French Revolution.

Some minor history of the French Revolution will be provided for students to understand the exposition and impact of the war’s atrocities on the country’s two most vulnerable population during this dire and ominous time.

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British Poetry Unit #3

4/19-4/24/17.

The third poetry unit of the year will move seamlessly from A Tale of Two Cities due to the fact that much of Blake and Coleridge’s work is a rebellious stance against the establishment which treated the poor so badly in France and England. Theconcentration will be the poems of William Blake (from “Songs of Experience” and “Songs of Innocence” and poems by Samuel Coleridge. Some poems will include:

1)“The Chimney Sweeper”

2)“ The Tyger

3)“The Little Black Boy”

4) “London”

5)“The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”

6)“Kubla Khan”

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Paradise Lost by John Milton

4/25-6/1/17.

Touching upon myths, Christianity, politics, and human nature, Paradise Lost is arguably one of the most influential works in British literature. It touches upon the topic of free will versus fate, social order and subversion, individuality and conformity, and legitimate political institutions, establishing a cornerstone upon which its predecessors would deliberate important issues about the human condition. Students will penetrate the complex syntax and dense imagery through performances of the epic poem and class discussions.

Periodically, students will be introduced to philosophical concepts and given lectures based on the nature of the Christian God, free will vs. predestination, and the nature of sin.

Autobiographical Short Story & Reflection

6/5-6/12/17.

Towards the end of every year, autobiographical short stories and reflections are collected from the students so that these works can be printed and distributed to the faculty, staff, and students of Maspeth High School. The collection serves as both a testament to the students’ writing skills as well as a historical record of the students’ short story/reflection and his/her writing skill at the time writing.

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