English 12 Syllabus, 2015-2016
Beth Willocks
willocks_nelle@hcde.org
Essential Question: What is the importance of society and what factors support or destroy its cohesion?
Through our reading, we will examine the current issues in nonfiction and literature that play a role in
defining societies and creating self and cultural identities. See the attachment for essential questions
for each quarter.
Course Overview
The Tennessee State Standards for English 12 (English IV) include the following domains: reading
literature, reading nonfiction, writing, speaking and listening, and language. Therefore, the student
outcomes will include the ability to read analytically, to write cogently, to speak persuasively.
In order to achieve the student outcomes, the course will focus on the following activities:
 The students will make and evaluate formal presentations.
 The students will read and analyze literature and related nonfiction.
 The students will read and analyze a variety of information materials, including electronic
resources.
 The students will research and document their sources.
 The students will read and analyze poetry.
 The students will write various modes of essays with an emphasis on argumentation.
Elements of Grading
Essays: Students write a variety of in-class and out-of-class essays. For out-of-class essays, first
drafts are self-edited with a rubric and peer-edited with guiding questions before final drafts are
submitted through Turnitin.com. Students who are unhappy with their grade on a last draft may revise
and resubmit two essays per nine weeks for rescoring. The revision must be completed within five days
of receiving the essays and the grade may improve one letter grade. A writing conference is required
before revision and resubmission.
Test and Quizzes: Tests are based on the texts read and on analysis of the literary devices
employed and their function. Multiple choice selections and essay topics may be included. Vocabulary
from reading selections and literary terminology will be tested.
Annotations—Students are encouraged to read actively, selecting quotations to analysis, imitate, or
question. Annotation will be referred to during seminars and essays.
Discussion: Students will have the opportunity to work collaboratively informally during class,
through out-of-class projects, and while participating in seminars on reading selections.
Projects: Documented research will be explained further by quarter. A claim will be established and
developed through a variety of sources. Information and quotations from the sources will be integrated
for a presentation and documentation according to the MLA format is required.
Semester Examination: An essay based on cumulative literary selections and studied
concepts will comprise the semester examination. Students have the opportunity to exempt their
final exams (second semester) if they have no lower than an 85 average and no more than three
absences (excused or unexcused).
Course Materials
1. Three-ring binder with college-ruled paper— Consider organizing your notebook with dividers
and pocket folders since you will receive handouts with each unit.
2. Black ink pens and pencils
3. A flashdrive to save papers completed in the school’s computer lab and an email account for
submitting essays to Turnitin.
Class Preparation
Preparing for class with reading or writing assignments is necessary to complete course work. Allow
time to complete your work thoroughly and thoughtfully. Assignments are due at the beginning of the
class period, turned in to the appropriate basket. If you are in school for any part of the day, you should
submit your work to me.
Attendance and Make-Up Work
Regular attendance is crucial for success in this course. If you are absent from the class, it is your
responsibility to contact me and/or check with your peers to find out the make-up work. Please check
the school website. It is essential to complete missed assignments. If you have not made up missed
assignments within five days of your absence, you will receive a zero.
Extra Help
I encourage you to seek help from me and from your peers. If you need help, please plan to stay after
school with me on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Do not hesitate to contact me if I can assist you.
Classroom Rules
1. Respect your own intellect and ability to succeed.
2. Respect everyone in the class, including listening as others speak and valuing differing ideas and
opinions.
3. Engage with the texts and meet all obligations.
4. Adhere to the school rules, including not using your cell phone in class unless directed to do so.
I am excited about the school year and look forward to knowing you better. I want the year to be
challenging and productive.
Beth Willocks
English Department
East Hamilton Middle High School
willocks_nelle@hcde.org
423.893-3535 ext. 286
Student’s Name________________________
Class Period___________________________
Directions: Sharing the syllabus with your parents and asking them to sign the
acknowledgement below is your first assignment. It is worth 10 points.
Please sign and return this portion or the syllabus only.
(Parent’s/Guardian’s signature) and
(Student’s signature)
________________________ and ________________________ have read and understand the English
12 course expectations. My contact information is ______________________(e-mail)
and _________________________(work/home phone numbers).
English 12: Societal Topical Issues
Overarching Question: What is the importance of society and what factors support or destroy
its cohesion?
Selected texts are not limited to, but include the following, but the reading selections may
change according to the class’s needs.
1st nine weeks: Images of Society and Self/Freedom and Confinement
Essential Questions: How does point of view affect the interpretation of an image? Are liberty
and justice for all attainable? When is the restriction of freedom a good thing?
Reading Selections: Images: “In the Shadow of the Image” Stuart Ewen and Elizabeth Ewen;
“My Satirical Self” Wyatt Mason; “Juvenile Delinquency Films” James Gilbert; “The Stranger in
the Photo is Me” Donald M. Murray; “Shadow Catcher” M. Scott Momaday
Freedom/Confinement : “The Man in the Well” Ira Sher; “The Lottery” Shirley Jackson; “The
Ones who Walk Away From Omelas” Ursula K. LeGuin;” “The Price of Free Speech” Gerald
Uelmen; “The Debates over Placing Limits on Racist Speech Must Not Ignore the Damage It Does
to Its Victims” Charles R. Lawrence III; “Black Boys Play the Classics” Tori Derricotte
2nd nine weeks: Controversial Issues/Research and Documentation
Essential Questions: What are the responsibilities of the individual in regard to issues of social
justice? What are the benefits and consequences of questioning/ challenging social order?
Reading Selections: Issues: “obesity: Who is Responsible for Out Weight,” Radley Balko; “Racial
Profiling: should Airports Use It to Screen Passengers?” Clifford S. Fishman; “Single-Sex
Classrooms:Do They Offer Advantages?” Rosalind C. Barnett and Caryl Rivers; “Testing: What
Value Do Tests Have?” Paul Goodman; “The Brain on Trial” David Eagleman; Other reading is
dependent on self-selected topics.
3rd nine weeks: Gender Roles/Justice
Essential Questions: How do gender roles affect our identity and society’s expectations of us?
What is social justice? Do we have choices concerning fairness and justice?
Reading Selections: Gender: “Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture” Ariel Levy; “I Stand Here
Ironing” Tillie Olsen; “What is Beauty and How Do We Know It” Nancy Etcoff; “Trifles” Susan
Glaspell; “Poof!” Lynn Nottage; “The Yellow Wallpaper” Charlotte Perkins Gilman; “Dear John
Wayne” Louise Erditch; “My Last Duchess” Robert Browning; “My Ex-Husband” Gabriel Spera
Justice: “The Lesson” Toni Cade Bambara; “Incident” Countee Cullen; “Incident” Natasha
Trethewey;
“The Chimney Sweeper” William Blake; “Capital Punishment” Sherman Alexie; “Worked and
Overworked” Steven Greenhouse; “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” Frederick Douglass;
“A More Perfect Union” Barack Obama
4th nine weeks: Family and Community
Essential Questions: What impact does family have during different stages of our lives? How
are people transformed through their relationships with others?
Reading Selections: A Raisin in the Sun Lorraine Hansberry; “Where Are You Going, Where
Have You Been?” Joyce Carol Oates; “The Story of an Hour” Kate Chopin; “Against Love” Laura
Kipnis; “The Marriage Trap” Meghan O’Rourke; “Daddy” Sylvia Plath; “Everyday Use” Alice
Walker; “The Rich Brother” Tobias Wolff; ‘forgiving my father” Lucille Clifton; “Legacies” Nikki
Giovanni; “Heritage” Linda Hogan