COURSE SYLLABUS
VIDALIA HIGH SCHOOL
FIRST SEMESTER 2015
COURSE: 904 English
INSTRUCTOR: M. Pournelle
TEXTBOOKS: Elements of Literature: Third Course-- (Replacement Cost: $68.00)
Outside Reading - novel, The Scarlet Pimpernel ($15.00)
Edith Hamilton’s Mythology ($15.00)
COURSE OVERVIEW: This course is an integrated English course for honors students. It is designed
to combine all areas of content—literature, composition, and grammar. The course content will serve as a
basis for developing reading, writing, listening, speaking, thinking, and language skills. This course
includes Model Sentences, Anchor Journals, editing, and Power Writing as warm-up; composition,
especially focusing on developing a thesis and inserting and explaining textual evidence; well-developed
essay writing; reading; literary projects, oral presentations, and recitations.
You will be expected to write essays, mostly literary analysis essays. Some will be done in class,
and some will be done outside of class. If formal, the essay must be submitted according to Modern
Language Association (MLA) guidelines.
Some of the material you will be expected to read and study this semester are as follows:
1st nine weeks:
-Joseph Campbell's "The Hero's Journey" and how it applies to most literature and film
-excerpts from The Odyssey, and how Odysseus fits "The Hero's Journey"
-characteristics of epic poetry and the epic hero (and how the Odyssey demonstrates epic
poetry characteristics and how Odysseus is an example of the epic hero)
-origins and purposes of classical mythology
-various myths from Edith Hamilton's Mythology (assigned reading mostly outside of
class – chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, and chapter 9 will be used as a cold read on the
Mythology unit test)
-write thesis statements
-write effective introductions
-write effective body paragraphs (ACE paragraphs (inserting and explaining textual
evidence)
-Mythology Anchor Activity
2nd nine weeks:
-how "The Hero's Journey" applies to other pieces of literature, such as poetry and short
stories (some might include "The Road Not Taken," "Through the Tunnel," Shakespeare's
"Seven Ages of Man," various Shakespearean sonnets (“Sonnet 60”), and some
nonfiction, such as National Geographic's article on Roald Amundsen)
-historical nonfiction information over the French Revolution to prepare background
knowledge for The Scarlet Pimpernel
-the characteristics of the romance genre and the romantic hero, as opposed to the
mythical hero
-read The Scarlet Pimpernel, focusing on characterization and theme (Orczy's use
of disguise and the theme she communicates through disguise)
-continuing to develop a thesis statement with a well-developed introduction
-writing well-developed body paragraphs in the ACE format, inserting and explaining
textual evidence
Throughout the semester, you will also be completing a vocabulary study. The words will come
from the pieces of literature we read. Before we read a new work, you will receive a new set of
vocabulary words, for which you will have to create note cards. We will review definitions in class
together using context clues. Your cards you create must contain the word, the definition, the parts of
speech and any variations we discuss, a picture you draw/find to represent the word, and a sentence you
write using the word. Several days after the assignment is given, two cards will be graded through a
random spot check, and you will take a quiz over all of the words. The cards will count as a homework
grade. You must have completed EVERY PART of ALL of the cards checked in order to receive full
credit.
During the semester, if you finish a quiz or a test, you must always either complete an assignment
I will write on the board, or you must read! Most of the time, you will have reading or work you must
complete for our class. You may also have an anchor activity to work on.
GRADING PROCEDURES (as mandated by the English Department of Vidalia High School):
80% of the semester grade will be derived from announced major tests, announced and unannounced
quizzes, homework, class work, presentations, projects, essays, and recitations. All assignments will be
graded out of 100 points. Each type of grade will count as follows:
Homework/class work = 22% of semester average
Quizzes = 23% of semester average
Tests/projects/presentations/major essays/recitations = 35% of semester average
Final exam (comprehensive) = 20% of semester average
**VHS has adopted a final exam exemption policy. If you have a 75 at the end of a semester and have
missed NO MORE THAN THREE DAYS and have NO MORE THAN THREE TARDIES throughout
the semester, then you may choose to exempt that class's final exam; you may only exempt three exams
per semester, and second semester, you cannot choose to exempt the same three exams. You must choose
three new exams to exempt.
**In addition, five points will be added to the final semester average. In accordance with Vidalia High
School’s Honors Policy, if you earn less than 75 as a semester average, you will be placed on probation
for honors English. If you fail this course, you will be dropped from honors English and placed in the
college-prep course of study. Please be aware that the five points are recognized ONLY BY VIDALIA
HIGH SCHOOL. The state and colleges do not recognize the five points added to your grade. When
you are being considered for college and/or the HOPE scholarship, the five points will be removed!
HOMEWORK:
Work outside of class will be an integral part of this course. You will frequently be required to read and
prepare assignments outside of class. Upon my discretion, the assignments will be checked in class the
next day. If it is checked, it will be taken for a grade! Not only is homework and outside study an
important part of the numeric grade, but it is also crucial to your ability to participate in class discussion
and overall grasp of the material. Several projects, papers, and other assignments throughout the semester
will require time outside of class. A daily review of notes and material presented/discussed in class is
recommended for success on unit tests. In other words, studying the day’s notes/assignments every night
is a good idea! For homework not reviewed in class on the due date, you may turn it in a day late for a 75.
Any essays or projects that are late may be turned in one day late for a deduction on the rubric.
TESTS:
Unit tests are very thorough and usually cover a large amount of information. They will not always
contain multiple choice questions OR a word bank for any listing or fill in the blank. The tests will also
require a GREAT DEAL of higher level thinking skills, such as applying knowledge we learn in class to
new pieces of literature and analyzing information. On tests in this class, you will see a great deal of fillin-the-blank, short answer, and writing! BE PREPARED!! If tests are re-call information, you will be
allowed to choose one of these tests per semester to re-do. Ms. Pournelle will specify if the test is
available for a re-do. You must re-do this test within 5 days of receiving your grade on it. Once you re-do
a test, you cannot re-do another one.
COMMENTS: You are required to have a three-ring binder with loose-leaf notebook paper and
subject dividers to organize your notes for this class (I will show you how to label dividers).
You must bring texts, notebooks, and writing materials every day and must not leave them in the
classroom for storage. All major compositions and work are to be turned in on white notebook
paper. YOU are responsible for work missed due to absences, including reading and/or study
assignments. There is a three-day limit on make-up work. I usually accept late assignments
starting at a 75. If they are not reviewed in class on the day they are due. Late essays will
received a “promptness” deduction on the rubric. All students are expected to follow the
guidelines and rules of Vidalia High School and to exhibit acceptable classroom behavior.
Parents may feel free to contact me at mpournelle@vidalia-city.k12.ga.us or by calling the school
at 912-537-7931 with questions, concerns, or setting up conferences. Phone calls will be returned at my
convenience, and conferences must be scheduled well in advance of the desired time. I reserve and will
exercise the right to have an administrator or counselor present during all parent conferences. My time
after school will be very limited during the months of August, September, and October.
904 English
Course Syllabus Sign-Off 2015
First Semester
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