Mr. Meehan English 10 Syllabus 2011‐2012 Crossland High School Email: [email protected]
School Telephone: 301‐449‐4800 ext. 395 Class Websites: www.MrMeehanEnglish.blogspot.com
www.MeehanEnglish.facebook.com
www.Twitter.com/MeehanEnglish
Course Overview This course will introduce students to an impressive sampler of some truly outstanding literature, and it will challenge critical reasoning skills to make them better readers, writers, and thinkers along the way. In this class, students will break down sentences to their most basic grammatical level, read texts from all across the globe, gain exposure to a vast array of useful vocabulary, and learn how to write an absolutely killer essay (yes, an actual essay). Lastly, students will be thoroughly prepared for passing the HSA at the close of the year through weekly HSA practice and quarterly benchmarks. There will be a heavy emphasis on students using technology in this class – all homework for this class will be submitted to the teacher via the class blog and through Google Docs. But make no mistake: this is no ordinary English class: we will bring our textbook to life and tackle real‐
world, modern‐day applications of how these age‐old literary devices are still being used all over the place, even today! With topics ranging from figurative language to methods of persuasion, we’ll look at novels, plays, movies, television shows, websites, pop music and more. Literature is all around us, and that means we will be studying everything from Shakespeare to Snoop Dogg. Attendance Policy Students should arrive PROMPTLY at the start of class each and every day. In the event you are absent, upon your return, please have your parent/guardian provide you with a note that includes the date(s) of your absence, reason for your absence (must be one of the reasons listed in the handbook), and a phone number where (s)he can be reached. 2 unexcused tardies = 1 absence 10 unexcused tardies = AUTOMATIC FAILURE for the quarter 5 unexcused absences = AUTOMATIC FAILURE for the quarter Grading Policies
Tests and Quizzes Class Work Homework 50% 25% 25% ‐ ‐ ‐ These include all major projects, essays, and exams This includes daily review and skill‐building exercises Homework assignments are posted nightly (see below) Homework Policies
Digital copies of all lesson plans, instructional activities, in‐class presentations, and related homework assignments for each of these lessons will be made available online by 5 p.m. on the same school day that the lesson was presented. To access these items, visit: www.MrMeehanEnglish.blogspot.com. Class Website Policies
Students will need to have regular internet access in order to pass this course. All students will be required to have regular access to a computer or smartphone after school in order to complete this course. Public computers are available during normal business hours in the Crossland High School Library. All homework assignments must be submitted electronically. A blog entry will be posted daily with all of the day’s lesson materials and assignments. For most daily homework items, students will post their answers as a comment at the foot of that day’s entry on the class blog. Students will be required to e‐mail copies of all essays to [email protected]. Students must submit all work by the posted deadline even if they are absent. Absences include (but are not limited to): school field trips, sick days, in and out of school suspensions, doctor’s visits, family vacations and emergencies, scholastic clubs and athletic activities and other special school events. Because all materials are posted online, no late submissions will be accepted. Detailed Syllabus Quarter 1 – The Individual and Society Unit 1: Short Stories “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut “Initiation” by Sylvia Plath “A Sound of Thunder” by Ray Bradbury “Montgomery Boycott” by Coretta Scott King “The Pedestrian” by Ray Bradbury “Getting a Job” by Maya Angelou
Culminating Multi‐Media Project: Digital presentation on theme related to stories Unit 2: Novel Study Anthem by Ayn Rand The Giver by Lois Lowry Culminating Writing Project: 1st Quarter Written Exam – 1500 word thematic analysis essay using MLA style on a theme from first quarter. Unit 3: Film Study “The Village” directed by M. Night Shyamalan) Weekly Mini‐Lessons: HSA Indicator 1.1.1. HSA Indicator 1.2.3 Using Reading Strategies Examining Elements of Author’s Style HSA Indicator 1.1.2 HSA Indicator 2.2.1 Visualizing, Questioning, and Fixing Pre‐writing and Comparing Related Texts HSA Indicator 1.1.4 HSA Indicator 3.1.3 Comparing Print to Non‐Print Texts Identifying Parts of Speech HSA Indicator 1.2.2 HSA Indicator 3.1.4 Analyzing Word Choice and Author’s Purpose Identifying Fragments and Complete Sentences HSA BENCHMARK 1 EXAM: End of first quarter
Quarter 2 – The Individual in Love and Community Unit 1: Novel Study Animal Farm by George Orwell Culminating Multimedia Project: Digital presentation on theme related to novel Unit 2: Poetry and Short Fiction – Texts include: “Piano” by D.H. Lawrence “The Artilleryman’s Vision” by Walt Whitman “Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden “Patrolling Barnegat” by Walt Whitman “Simile” by N. Scott Momaday “Tonight I Can Write” by Pablo Neruda “Moon Rondeau” by Carl Sandburg “The Taxi” by Amy Lowell “Woman” by Nikki Giovanni “Sweet Potato Pie” by Eugenia Collier “Love Without Love” by Luis Lloréns Torres “One Thousand Dollars” by O. Henry “Sonnet 18” by William Shakespeare “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry “Sonnet 30” by Edna St. Vincent Millay “Daddy” by Sylvia Plath “Birches” by Robert Frost “Exile” by Julia Alvarez “look at this)” by e.e. cummings “Lost Sister” by Cathy Song Culminating Writing Project: Students will submit completed poetry portfolio at close of unit Weekly Mini‐Lessons: HSA Indicator 1.1.3 HSA Indicator 2.2.2 Synthesizing, and Drawing Conclusions Organizing Ideas for a Specific Purpose HSA Indicator 1.2.1 HSA Indicator 2.2.3 Analyzing Story Elements Revising Texts for Clarity and Completeness HSA Indicator 1.2.4 HSA Indicator 2.2.5 Making Thematic Analysis Across Multiple Texts Using Suitable Electronic Resources HSA Indicator 1.2.5 HSA Indicator 3.1.6 Understanding Broader Implications of a Text Combining Sentences HSA Indicator 1.3.5 HSA Indicator 3.1.8 Exploring Universal Themes Adding Phrases and Clauses
FINAL PROJECT 2nd Quarter Written Exam – 1500 word narrative research essay using MLA style in order to tell a story from your own life related to a theme from second quarter HSA BENCHMARK 2 EXAM: End of second quarter Quarter 3 – The Individual and The Price of Belonging Unit 1: Drama Brian’s Song by William Blinn A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams (Each class section will select one of the aforementioned texts for study. At the conclusion of the reading, classes will rotate titles and repeat the study cycle with their newly selected text.) Culminating Writing Project: 500‐word persuasive essay encouraging audiences to read or avoid reading one of the source texts for study. Unit 2: Drama Hamlet by William Shakespeare (Honors) *Brian’s Song by William Blinn *A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry *Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett *The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams (* Class sections will rotate texts based on class vote) Culminating Multimedia Project: Digital presentation on theme found in either play studied. Weekly Mini‐Lessons: HSA Indicator 1.3.3 Identify Language That Creates Voice and Tone HSA Indicator 3.3.2 Confirm Revisions and/or Editorial Choices HSA Indicator 2.3.1 Researching With Appropriate Sources HSA Indicator 4.2.1 HSA Indicator 2.3.3 Exploring Diction and Author’s Purpose Recording and Organizing Information HSA Indicator 4.3.1 HSA Indicator 3.2.2 Altering Tone of a Text by Revising Diction Understanding Connotation and Denotation FINAL PROJECT: 3rd Quarter Written Exam – Annotated bibliography and works cited page containing 10 sources related to a research topic dealing with one of the source texts. HSA BENCHMARK 3 EXAM: End of third quarter Quarter 4 – The Individual, Politics, and Deception Unit 1: Shakespearean Drama Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare Culminating Writing Project: Students will submit typed copies of QFR charts maintained throughout the reading of the five‐act play, plus a 500‐word reflection paper. Culminating Multimedia Project: Group translation of an act into modern day English and delivery of skit to class (recorded and posted on class YouTube Channel) Unit 2: Contemporary Drama Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller Culminating Multimedia Project: Creative Journaling Project Unit 3: Film Studies La Vita e Bella (1997) directed by Roberto Benigni Big Fish (2003) directed by Tim Burton Weekly Mini‐Lessons: Reviewing and re‐teaching trouble indicators from previous quarters FINAL PROJECT 4th Quarter Written Exam – In class essay on a theme from fourth quarter HSA EXAM: End of fourth quarter