English 12

Course Syllabus: 2012-2013

Instructor: Mr. Fielding

Phone: 983-3604

British Literature (English 12)

Course Description

Emphasis: British and World Literature, in-depth analysis of literature by ideas, themes and literary devices.

Align to the Common Core, British and World Literature, a writing and reading intensive course, integrates a variety of literary genres and informational reading with various writing techniques, speaking and writing projects, and the development of vocabulary and grammar skills appropriate to success in college.  It is designed to strengthen students’ comprehension of a wide range of reading materials found in high school and the world beyond, and to give students the opportunity to develop as a writer by introducing and incorporating many different writing strategies into the student’s own work.  The literary genres covered will include short stories, plays, poetry, and novels.  In non-fiction we will look at the structures of the personal essay, memoir, the analytical essay, and the persuasive essay.  The course will cover materials, in historical sequence, from the Anglo-Saxon period to contemporary works. Students will contrast the literary forms, stylistic techniques, and characteristics of the major literary periods. They not only analyze such devices as figurative language, imagery, speaker, and tone, they also relate the literature to the geographical, philosophical, political, religious, cultural, and social influences of those periods. A student who successfully completes British Literature is able to respond to works of great complexity and depth in an articulate and sophisticated manner.

Textbooks (some of all of the following): Holt McDougal: British Literature (anthology), Beowulf, The Canterbury Tales, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Hamlet, The Inferno, Paradise Lost, Great Expectations, 1984. 

JOURNALS/BLOGS

Students will be required to keep a blog throughout the year.  This blog will be your journal writing for the year.  In this blog/journal will be reading reflections, lists of literary devices found in stories and novels, creative assignments that correspond with readings, pre-writing exercises, analytic writing. 

NOTE: I read every journal entry and you will lose points for skipping entries or not following directions.  If you do not understand an assignment please ask.

GRADES:

Tests – 25% of overall grade

Papers—25% of overall grade

Projects—20% of overall grade

Quizzes, class work, homework—20% of overall grade

Journals/Blogs—10% of overall grade

Scale:

100- 93 = A

92.49- 90 = A-

89.49- 87 = B+

86.49-83.00 = B

82.49- 80.00 = B-

79.49-77.00 = C+

76.49- 73 = C

72.49-70.00 = C-

69.49-67.00 = D+

66.49- 63.00 = D

62.49- 60 = D-

Below 60 = F

Late Work: Mark down 10% per day.  You are expected to turn in work on the deadlines due. 

Required Materials:

1 Spiral Notebook (use as a journal)

1 Pocket Folders (to keep handouts, note guides, returned work)

1 Binder with loose paper

General Guidelines:

1. Be prepared when class begins.  It is imperative that all pencils are sharpened and materials are ready when the bell rings. 
2. Class discussions should be conducted in an orderly and respectful fashion. 
3. Do not talk when I am talking.
4. I dismiss you, not the bell!
5. You may choose you own seat, but I reserve the right to assign seats or move you if I see the need.

Respect others and their property.  This respect extends to remaining quiet during announcements, directions, lectures, and presentations.  If you are talking someone else might not be able to hear.