Ms Doughty
Pre-AP Sophomore English
Email: [email protected] Phone: (207) 364-4547 ext. 7217
In this course, we will be working to prepare you for both AP Language and AP
Literature. But if you choose not to take one or even both of those courses, this course
will still give you a good foundation in basic literary terms and techniques as well as
writing and vocabulary.
Expectations:
*You will be expected to hand your work in on time. I will not accept any late work.
*You should always be prepared for class.
* If you are absent you should see me the day you come back in order to get your work.
Supplies you will need for this class (bring them every day):
* A notebook of some sort…it's up to you what kind. You will need several different
sections and it’s up to you how you will organize them.
* Pens or pencils…whatever you like to write with. Funky colors, sparkly ink and cool
gel pens are always welcome.
* The book we are currently reading/discussing and/or a free reading book
* Your iPad (once you get it)
* 200 index cards (for vocabulary flashcards if you wish to use them)
Vocabulary Building
You will have a vocabulary quiz approximately every two weeks, so be prepared!
Sometimes we will do work in class, sometimes you will have it for homework. We will
be working with Classical Roots (Greek and Latin roots) and also the Sadlier-Oxford
vocabulary program. Check out Quizlet (www.quizlet.com). Our vocabulary program is
there and it’s a great way to study for our quizzes.
Re-take Policy:
Ms Doughty
Pre-AP Sophomore English
Email: [email protected] Phone: (207) 364-4547 ext. 7217
You will NOT be allowed to retake a test or quiz unless there is some sort of extenuating
circumstance in your life. Examples include:
a) a death in your family
b) a natural disaster in your community (for example a fire or a flood)
c) a medical emergency (this could happen to you or a family member)
Bottom line: You need to be open and honest with me. I won’t know you are having
difficulty unless you tell me.
Classroom Rules:
Rule # 1: Respect. You will behave in a respectful manner toward your classmates,
yourself, the school’s property and me. I will not let anyone interfere with your learning
environment.
Rule #2: Music. Earbuds (both of them!) should be OUT of your ears when I am talking
or we are having a class discussion. If you are working on a paper or a project, you may
listen to your music as long as I cannot hear it (and I have very good hearing). You may
not listen to music while taking a test or quiz.
Rule #3: Food and Drink
I encourage you to bring a water bottle with you to class. I also will allow you to eat
food in the classroom as long as you make sure that you throw your trash away. The
minute I see food or trash on the floor, I will no longer allow food in the classroom.
Availability:
I am available by appointment and via email. Please see me if you have any questions
about assignments. CONTACT ME if you have a problem!! There is no excuse for not
getting your best work done on time. I am looking forward to an exciting and
challenging year. I hope you are too!
Remember Mr. Gilbert’s Four Keys to Success: Be Safe, Be Responsible, Be Respectful
and Be Involved!
Syllabus:
Ms Doughty
Pre-AP Sophomore English
Email: [email protected] Phone: (207) 364-4547 ext. 7217
Who Are You as a Reader and Writer? (4 weeks)
Essential Questions:
*Why is it important to read?
*What is the connection between reading and writing?
*How can you make your writing more powerful?
*What will help you understand literature better?
This unit will incorporate the 6 traits of writing, rhetoric and literary terms. You will be
completing a personal narrative about who you are as a reader and a writer and you will
be reading the verse novel Sold by Patricia McCormick.
Never Again: Night and the Holocaust (4-5 weeks)
Essential Questions:
*How do memoirs affect our understanding of history?
*Why is it important to study the Holocaust?
*How do people survive great atrocities?
*Why is it important to remember tragic events?
This unit will focus on the book Night by Elie Weisel. We will also examine short stories,
poetry and pictures from the Holocaust. You will be making a Holocaust Memorial and a
reflective scrapbook for this unit.
Power and Choices: Macbeth by William Shakespeare (4-5 weeks)
Essential Questions:
*What is the relationship between decisions and consequences?
*How do we know how to make good decisions?
*How can a person’s decisions and actions change his/her life?
*How do the decisions and actions of characters reveal their personalities?
*How do decisions, actions, and consequences vary depending on the different
perspectives of the people involved?
We will read Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth for this unit. Yes, Shakespeare takes work
to understand, but you can do it and I will help you! You will write an argument essay
about Macbeth. We finish this unit with the Macbeth Multi-Genre Project.
Old Tales for New Times: Fairy Tales (4-5 weeks)
Essential Questions:
Ms Doughty
Pre-AP Sophomore English
Email: [email protected] Phone: (207) 364-4547 ext. 7217
*What is the relevance of a fairy tale to today’s society?
*Why do we enjoy fairy tales and tell these stories again and again?
*How do fairy tales open our eyes to other cultures?
We will read common and obscure fairy tales, compare and contrast several versions
of the same tale, and analyze their structural elements. You will choose some less well
know fairy tales to read and interpret.
Bleak Future: A Study of Dystopias (4-5 weeks)
Essential Questions:
*Are modern (or future) societies more civilized than ancient ones?
*Why do we fight? What is worth fighting, killing or dying for?
*How do authors use modern and classical influences in their works?
*How do characters internal and external conflicts enhance a literary work?
“It Doesn’t Matter What I Believe, It Only Matters What I Can Prove!”
The Research Paper (3-4 weeks)
Essential Questions:
*How does a researcher develop a thesis?
*How do researchers find quality source material and document it properly?
*How do researchers organize their ideas and information effectively?
*How do researchers differentiate their ideas from the ideas of others?
This will be a well-researched and supported paper, 3-5 typed pages long. At the end,
you may be asked to prepare a formal speech on your topic and present it to the class.
The Power of Words: Public Speaking 3-4 weeks
Essential Questions:
*Why is effective public speaking considered a lifelong tool for continued success?
*What makes a powerful speech “powerful”?
*Can a speeches power and influence be replicated?
*How will visual aids turn a good speech great?
The ability to speak well and listen well is one that is most important as you make your
way through high school and beyond. We will look at some famous speeches, discuss
what makes them effective and then you will give several types of speeches such as a
dramatic reading, a persuasive speech and an impromptu speech.
I verify that I have read and understood the syllabus of this course.
Your signature: __________________________________________________________
Parent/guardian signature: _________________________________________________
Ms Doughty
Pre-AP Sophomore English
Email: [email protected] Phone: (207) 364-4547 ext. 7217
Parent/Guardian email: ___________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian phone number: ________________________________________________
Please return by September 6, 2013. If your verification is received by 9/6/13, you will
earn a one week late pass...turn any INDIVIDUAL assignment in up to one week late
with no penalty. (May not be used at the end of a grading period or before a week long
vacation).