MR. R’S ENGLISH II – WORLD LITERATURE 2014-15
““We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of
determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort.”
- Jessie Owens – 4 time gold medalist (track and field)
Instructor:
Mr. Rosenberg (Mr. R)
OSA phone: (510) 873-8800 EXT: 8507
Email: [email protected]
Blog - http://teachers.oakarts.org/~drosenberg/
Course Description:
In keeping with OSA’s tradition of high academic standards, this course engages students with classic literary
texts in order to prepare you for the English III American Literature or AP Language Composition and
Rhetoric course offered junior year and senior AP Language and Literacy or English Literature classes.
Through our study of these works, which are representative of every genre, you will learn how sophisticated
readers use analysis to develop a deeper understanding of the text. To enhance your understanding, we will
study these works in the context of the social, economic, philosophical and cultural developments of the time.
This will involve close collaboration with the Social Studies department to align our curriculums and therefore
maximize student learning opportunities and draw connections across content areas. My approach to literature
allows each student to form his or her own opinion of the work. I firmly believe that "books read you" – that
every student's interpretation is valid. In keeping with this philosophy, class activities will range far beyond
lecture and discussion. Every student is expected to participate in dramatizations, presentations, debates and
other group activities designed to bring the historical and literary periods to life. Students will also be expected
to study the connection between history, and literature independently, completing an extensive term paper,
creative project, and presentation for each novel and play. In addition to the term paper, students will write
impromptu essays modeled on PSAT, AP and SAT prompts, as well as informal assignments such as poems,
speeches, journal entries, and reviews. To aid students in the development of a fluid command of written
English, we will consistently review sentence structure and introduce new vocabulary words. In the spring, we
will undertake SAT practice, writing several 25-minute essays and reviewing the test format. However, my
goal is not merely to prepare students for a test or future classes, but to awaken in each student a love for
language and for literature, through active practice of the former and close study of the latter.
Course Objectives:
1) To develop the ability to interpret a literary work, finding an idea or theme and proving the veracity of your
interpretation through compelling literary evidence;
2) To understand and appreciate the interplay between history, literature and art;
3) To undertake close readings, perceiving patterns of figurative language and rhetoric;
4) To develop fluency in literary discussion, including work in groups and the class as a whole;
5) To develop a mature writing style employing syntactical variety, appropriate rhetorical strategies and
sophisticated diction while maintaining an authentic voice;
6) To develop a personal technique for timed writing in response to SAT and AP prompts;
7) To increase your affection for literature in general and certain writers in specific;
8) Through writing and reading, to discover and confront issues and questions that are generally important to
you, and in this way grow to respect the life of the mind and intellectual endeavor.
Mr. Rosenberg
10th Grade English
1
READING LIST:
SHORT STORIES/EXCERPTS: (just a sample)
“Such and Such Were the Joys” Orwell
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings – Angelou
NOVELS:
Things Fall Apart: Achebe
In the Time of Butterflies: Alvarez
Animal Farm: Orwell
Night: Weisel
VIDEO ACCOMPANYMENT:
In the Time of Butterflies - Movie
Holocaust Clips and Survivor Interviews
Oprah/Weisel Auschwitz visit
AA
Animal Farm (Animated Version)
Author Bio’s and Related Documentaries
Author Lectures and Related Speeches
DRAMA:
Antigone– Sophocles
D
Materials Needed:
A 3-ring binder, complete with regular-sized lined paper and a blue or black pen that writes clearly. Essays,
poems and other formal writing will be stored in the classroom in your own personal writing portfolio. Your
writing portfolio will represent a major portion of your grade at the end of each semester, so it is important that
you keep all of your graded writing assignments. If you take an assignment home to show your parents, please
don’t forget to bring it back as even one lost or misplaced paper could hurt your final grade considerably.
Course Requirements: (SEE STUDENT HANDBOOK)
Since all of you have been in school for many years, you know how to behave properly in the classroom.
However, here is a short list of expectations to refresh your mind:
• attend class regularly
• more than two or three unexcused absences a quarter will greatly affect your grade.
• if you have an excused absence, you may make up the work you missed promptly!!!
• missed tests and quizzes will be administered at lunch or after school.
*NO UNEXCUSED LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED.
APPOINTMENTS: To meet during my offices hours – To be announced
• Please make an appointment for any specific meetings on the board and show up!
• All make up work must be excused and completed within the allotted time.
• be prompt
• be in your seat, ready to work, when the bell rings – Focus on the content (English)
• homework is due immediately after the bell rings; please pass it up to the head of the row.
• come prepared for learning
• bring your binder, pen, books and completed assignments to each class.
• chronically unprepared students will have their parents and art instructors contacted.
• turn in assignments on time
• due dates will be marked on the weekly calendar and the daily agenda posted on the board
• in an emergency, you may request an extension before a deadline on an essay.
• group projects must be presented on the assigned day (even if a group member is absent)
• know and follow class rules
• demonstrate academic integrity at all times (do not cheat, copy or plagiarize)
• please be kind, courteous and respectful of each other's opinions
• please turn off your cell phone before entering class
Mr. Rosenberg
10th Grade English
2
• please do not use class time to complete work for other classes
Grading: NOTE - The English department has moved to Skills Based Grading this year
¶ My philosophy of grading is very simple. ¶ The number of points for any particular
I believe every student is an "A" student until assignment depends upon its length and
that student proves to me that this is not the
difficulty. Quarter and final grades are based
case. This is not to say that my expectations of on a percentage of the total number of points.
you are not high – they are. It's just that I
Assignments not submitted or presented are
believe you are all capable of excellent work, graded as "0," which means that it's
all of the time. Please don't prove me wrong.
devastating to your grade average to ignore an
As far as nuts and bolts: the grading for this
assignment. Tentative breakdown of
class is based on a point/percentage system:
points/grades (subject to change):
89.6% to 100%
A range
•
Vocabulary Development 15%
79.6% to 89.5%
B range
•
College and Career Readiness 20%
69.6% to 79.5%
C range
•
Critical Reading 20%
*Students who drop below a C- will have a parent
•
Presentation and Speaking Skills 20%
and art teacher contacted and are NOT ELIGIBLE
•
Writing Techniques and Analysis 25%
to graduate if they do not reach 69.6%
CALENDAR AT A GLANCE: Subject to change according to pacing and skill mastery
All novels and dramas require the following:
• 1 formal written composition
• Formal and Informal Assessment(s) – daily quizzes are considered assessments
• Creative project with presentation.
THEMES: Filial vs. Civic Duty, Banality of Evil, Gender Roles, Scientific Musings, Power Structures.
DATES:
NOVEL/Reading/Essay Writing/Drama – all dates are subject to change.
8/26 – 9/4
9/3 – 10/11:
10/14 – 12/4:
12/9 – 2/3:
2/3 – 2/21:
2/23 – 4/4:
4/7 – 5/25:
5/13 – 6/6
Rules and Procedures, Classroom Norms, Syllabus, Questionnaire
Antigone – All read within class and independent analysis for homework
PSAT Prep for test (it occurs mid-October).
In a Time of Butterflies (may take longer) – Totalitarianism and Dictators.
Things Fall Apart - Colonialism and class of cultures and civilizations
Socratic Seminar, Autobiographical Writing, Narrative Nonfiction and SAT Prep
Excerpts from Autobiographies (Assata/Fredrick Douglas/Maya Angelou/G. Orwell
Night - The evil that men (and women) do…Systematic Dehumanization
Animal Farm - Not a fairytale
Poetry/Journalism/Short Story and Creative Writing Units
THEMES/SKILLS: Autobiographical Essay Writing/Debate/Peer Collaboration/Supporting Claims
1/4 – 1/7
Autobiography/Narrative Nonfiction – Discovering ourselves through narrative writing.
1/10 – 1/14
Isolating topic and crafting Thesis, Outline, Peer Edit, and Rewrite/Revisions
1/18 – 1/21
Turn in Final Drafts and Hold Debates
THEMES: Compliance/Fascism/Revolution/Equality/Ethics/Morals/Civic Duty/Leadership
1/23 – 3/2:
Night: The banality of evil – Totalitarianism meet Fascism Revisited - Duhamnization
Mr. Rosenberg
10th Grade English
3
4/7 – 5/25:
525 – 6/6
Animal Farm – Deeply analyze, discuss, act out important scenes, and write Analytical
Essay. “Some animals are more equal than others” collaborate with US History classes.
Art Project for Animal Farm: TBA…Time permitting..
GRADEBOOK ATTENDANCE CODES:
AB = Absent; student is not in class and work can be made up in allotted time (Must be Excused)
M = Missing; CANNOT be made up for credit UNLESS it has been excused.
P
= Pending; Can be made up for credit
T
= Unexcused Tardy; Cannot be made up for credit
TBR = To Be Recorded
DO YOUR W ORK!!!
Mr. Rosenberg
10th Grade English
4
English II
Please return this Syllabus Acknowledgement Form to Mr. R no later than
Monday, Sept. 1.
STUDENT
By signing this I acknowledge that I have read the course syllabus,
and that I agree to follow classroom rules and expectations.
Student
Nam e___________________________________________________
_______
Student
Signature________________________________________________
_______
PARENT/GUARDIAN
By signing this I acknowledge that I have read the course syllabus.
Parent/Guardian
Nam e_________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian
Signature_____________________________________________
Phone
Num ber_________________________________________________
______
Em ail (if
applicable)___________________________________________ ____
_____
I prefer to be contacted by: Phone ¨ Em ail ¨
Please note:
As many of you know, California public schools have been hit hard by the state budget
crisis.
As a result, parent donations of school supplies are especially important.
I have created a “wish list” of supplemental supplies such as student scissors,
construction paper, poster paper, markers, pencils, crayons, glue sticks, whiteboard
markers, Lysol disinfectant spray, tissue, and hand sanitizer, post-its, and lined paper.
I also would appreciate a fan to keep the classroom cool.
J Any donations you are able to make would be greatly appreciated J
Mr. Rosenberg
10th Grade English
5
Please write a short statement describing your child’s personality, how he or she
learns best, and how I can support his or her academic progress. Please list anything
I should know before teaching your child (allergies, past learning challenges,
strengths, etc. or any other pertinent information).
_________________________________________________________
_
_________________________________________________________
_
_________________________________________________________
_
_________________________________________________________
_
_________________________________________________________
_
_________________________________________________________
_
_________________________________________________________
_
_________________________________________________________
_
_________________________________________________________
_
_________________________________________________________
_
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
NOTE: This syllabus is subject to CHANGE
Mr. Rosenberg
10th Grade English
6