English IV Syllabus
Kelley Ross, NBCT
2014-2015
Barren County High School
507 Trojan Trail
Glasgow, KY 42141
(270) 651-6315
kelley.ross@barren.kyschools.us
Course Description
The English IV curriculum involves a study of world literature both classic and contemporary. Students
will be required to study a wide variety of literary genres including drama, poetry, short stories, novels and
non-fiction works. English IV students will write college essays, literary analysis essays and a research
paper. These writings will allow students to synthesize, persuade, reflect, and inform. Students will learn
grammar, writing, literary analysis, annotation, and vocabulary skills in relation to the studied literature as
well as speaking and listening techniques.
Textbooks
The Language of Literature: British Literature (McDougal Littell 2006)
Language Network (McDougal Littell 2006)
Expectations
I have high expectations for this class. I know you all will perform to the best of your abilities. I believe
achieving new and positive heights in learning is very important; therefore, I expect this from each student.
I look forward to helping you learn as much as you can. As always, I hope to learn as much from you as
you learn from me. I look forward to helping you in any way possible this semester. Further expectations
are covered on the procedures handout.
Materials
To be successful it is important that students come to class prepared each day. This means you should
come to class with all of the materials you will need and your homework complete. You will need all of
the following materials by Monday, August 15:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
A 1 ½” three-ring binder
Notebook or loose-leaf paper (need immediately)
Pens/pencils (need immediately)
Notecards for the research unit (may be purchased from the library)
Jump Drive (optional)
Every day you should come to class prepared with your agenda, binder, paper, pen/pencil, and
any other materials needed for that day, such as books. Your binder will be used every day for your daily
work, reading notes, class notes, etc. For your binder you will need loose-leaf paper and dividers. The
divisions of your binder will be 1) Bell Ringers, 2) Research Paper, 3) The Things They Carried, 4) British
Literature, 5) Non-fiction. ??Disciplinary action may be taken if you fail to come to class prepared.
The teacher reserves the right to alter this syllabus at any time during the course. If you have any questions or concerns
please contact me via email or phone.
English IV Syllabus
Kelley Ross, NBCT
2014-2015
Classroom Guidelines
1.
2.
3.
4.
Always be respectful to yourself & others.
Be on time & prepared for class.
Follow all school and classroom rules & procedures.
Follow directions the first time they are given
5. Have a positive attitude & be ready to learn!
Classroom Discipline
All of the rules and procedures of the school and classroom go into effect on the first day. If, at any time,
your behavior becomes unacceptable you will be given a warning and then written up. I will call your
parent/guardian to report your progress. **More disciplinary items are addressed on the procedures
handout.
Plagiarism and Cheating
According to Webster’s dictionary, plagiarism is taking ideas from another and passing them off as one’s
own. Do not compromise your integrity by cheating or copying information from another source.
Plagiarism and academic dishonesty are serious offences. The academic work of a student is expected to
be his/her own effort. Students must give the author(s) credit for any source material used. To represent
ideas or interpretations taken from a source without giving credit is a flagrant act. To present a borrowed
passage after having changed a few words, even if the source is cited, is also plagiarism. Students who
commit any act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade in that portion of the course work. Acts
of academic dishonesty will be reported to the administration.
Units of Study
In this class, we will use the literature textbook as well as individually assigned novels in order to complete
the various units of study in English IV. Grammar textbooks and lessons will also be utilized throughout
the literature and writing units. The following units are in no particular order and the literature could very
well change.
Writing Requirements
*Research paper and/or career research project
*Personal reflective writing
*Literary analysis essays
Short Stories
Over the course of the semester, we may work with many prose pieces by various authors. I will pick
stories related to our class unit at the time, such as theme development, diction and/or syntax use, and/or
author. Stories that I do each year are as follows (Some are not found in the textbook.):
"A & P" --John Updike
"Hills Like White Elephants" --Ernest Hemingway
The teacher reserves the right to alter this syllabus at any time during the course. If you have any questions or concerns
please contact me via email or phone.
English IV Syllabus
Kelley Ross, NBCT
2014-2015
"The Death of Ivan Ilych" -- Leo Tolstoy
"The Rocking Horse Winner" -- D.H. Lawrence
"The Lottery" -- Shirley Jackson
"The Lesson" -- Tony Bamberra
"Once More to the Lake" -- E.B. White
"The House of Mango Street" --Sandra Cisneros (1995 Q2 and 1997 Q2)
Various Flannery O'Connor short stories ("A Good Man Is Hard to Find", "Revelation", "Good Country
People") (20th century American)
"The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe (19th century)
"Out, Out" by Robert Frost
“Dead Man’s Path” – Chinhua Achebe
Poetry
(epic and narrative): Beowulf, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, The Canterbury Tales
Drama
Shakespearean Tragedy: Hamlet OR Macbeth
Novels
The Things They Carried, In Country, In the Lake of the Woods, Catcher in
The Rye, Cold Sassy Tree, Speak, Tears of a Tiger, The Help, and / or Rocket Boys
Presentations
At various times throughout the year, students will be involved in group and individual projects which will
entail standing in front of the class and presenting information to their peers. Students are expected to
present professionally. The speeches should be mostly memorized and they should always have visuals.
Each assignment will have its own rubric.
Grading Policy
You will be graded on a point system. Each assignment, test, and piece of writing will be given a point
value. Your grade will be based on how many you get correct.
Participation: I will be taking participation grades throughout the semester. It will be noted each time
you actively contribute to the class. At the end of each class discussion or activity you will receive a
participation grade. The more you are involved in your education the more you will learn.
Point Breakdown:
These are estimates but may not always be the case on every assignment.
Tests = 100 points
Writing Rough Drafts = 50 points
Writing Final Drafts = 100 points
Quizzes = 50 or below
Bell Ringers = 50 points weekly, 10 points each day
Participation = up to 15 points per activity
A rubric will accompany assignments in order to let you know what is required to earn a particular score.
The teacher reserves the right to alter this syllabus at any time during the course. If you have any questions or concerns
please contact me via email or phone.
English IV Syllabus
Kelley Ross, NBCT
2014-2015
REMEMBER: I am here to help you in any way I possibly can! I am looking
forward to this school year and expect you all to do well in this class.
Please bring this last page back to me at school.
Student Signature: ______________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature: _______________________________________________
Your signature confirms that you agree with the above guidelines for your child’s class
and will earn him/her 10 points of extra credit if it is returned by the due date. Please feel
free to contact me any time during the school year with questions, concerns, or to discuss
your child’s progress. You may reach me at school until 3:30 each day at (270) 651-6315
or by email at Kelley.ross@barren.kyschools.us .
The teacher reserves the right to alter this syllabus at any time during the course. If you have any questions or concerns
please contact me via email or phone.