IB ENGLISH A: LITERATURE HL (YEAR TWO)
EDMODO CODE: _____________
Heather Purvis  771-4700  hnpurvis@wsfcs.k12.nc.us  http://wsfcs.k12.nc.us/Page/84283
SYLLABUS OUTLINE
PART 2: DETAILED STUDY
Adichie, Chimamanda. Half of a Yellow Sun.
Ondaatje, Michael. Running in the Family.
Whitman, Walt. Selected poems. (provided)
PART 3: GROUP OF WORKS (DRAMA)
Aidoo, Ama Ata. The Dilemma of a Ghost.
Shakespeare, William. Hamlet.
Stoppard, Tom. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.
Wilson, August. Joe Turner’s Come and Gone.
REQUIRED SUPPLIES
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3-ring binder with dividers (hole-punched
construction paper works just as well as storebought dividers)
one medium college-rule spiral-bound notebook
college-rule notebook paper
pens and pencils
highlighters of different colors
electronic storage device
SCHOOL-OWNED COURSE COMPANI ON
RECOMMENDED, BUT NOT REQUIRED
You may be issued a copy of IB Course Companion: English
A Literature (OUP 2011). It is your responsibility to keep up
with this and to bring it to class. If you lose it, you will be
financially responsible. If you damage it, you will be
charged a damage fee.
Murfin, Ross and Supryia M. Ray. The Bedford Glossary of
Critical and Literary Terms. Bedford/St. Martin’s.
Tyson, Hannah and Mark Beverley. English A: Literature for
the IB Diploma. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2012. Print. Oxford
IB Skills and Practice Ser.
THE “NUTS AND BOLTS” FOR THE YEAR
COURSE EXPECTATIONS AND CONDUCT
DON’T BREAK SCHOOL AND C OUNTY RULES
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Foods/beverages are not allowed in the room; throw these away at the door.
Electronics will be confiscated unless you have been given permission to use them (i.e. when the internet on your
phone works faster than my supercool IBMs).
HALL PASSES
There are two hall passes in each classroom: one for visits to the restroom, lockers, cars, another teacher’s room, etc.; and one for
when students are called to the office (main, attendance, or guidance). Only one student may be out of the room at any given
time (except in cases where multiple students are called to the office). If you need to leave the room, ask me for the pass. If you
abuse it, you lose it.
PREPAREDNESS
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Read/reread all texts carefully.
Be prepared to meaningfully participate in class by making sure you bring the following with you every day: (1)
organized* English work, (2) journal, (3) copies of needed texts. “It’s at home” or “I forgot” suggests a lack of interest
and effort.
*If you have trouble with organization, read the “notebook organization” handout on the website. It might be helpful to you
even if you don’t have trouble with organization.
TARDINESS AND ATTENDANCE
If your entire body and all of your belongings are not in the room by the time the bell ceases to ring, you are tardy. An
accumulation of ten unexcused tardies shall be equal to one unexcused absence. Students who have more than three absences
within a single grading period will receive a failing grade for that quarter. Students are required to make up work for any
absence. Please see the student handbook for the absence make-up policy.
EVALUATION AND GRADI NG
Grades in this class are calculated according to a total point system. Each point, whether it is in homework, essays, etc. is worth
exactly the same as every other point. Some assignments may have more possible points than others (i.e. a formal essay might
be worth 30 points and a homework assignment might be worth ten). Scores calculated according to the IB rubrics will be
converted up according to the chart posted in the room.
ENGLISH JOURNALS
Keep careful, detailed journals. Since there may not be time to re-read texts for the exam, these will be good study material.
Consider leaving space on each page so that you can add during class discussions (or epiphany moments on the toilet…eww).
JOURNAL REQUIREMENTS
These first three bullets are all ways of phrasing the same thing: do it on time, bring it on time. “Journal” doesn’t mean it is
different from your other assignments.
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Must be completed nightly according to the unit assignment sheet due dates/are to be completed in advance of
the due date
Bring to class every day as it may be taken up at any time
Journals submitted late will not receive teacher feedback/comments
Title each journal entry with something interesting and specific. Think of these titles as if they are titles of actual
papers.
These are related to production and scoring: do it neatly.
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Anything not adhered to (via staple, glue, magic) your journal will not be scored
Must be in ink (errors, etc., can be crossed out by drawing a single line through them – mistakes are just as
important to learning, perhaps more so)
No credit for titles of blank entries
LATE WORK
Assignments are due at the beginning of the period. All printing of assignments must be done before class. Time management
is crucial in order to meet due dates, and to prepare yourself for the world of work.
Late is late; there will be no quibbling over how late an assignment may be. Late work will be accepted up to twenty-four hours
late for half-credit (half of the earned total, not half of the possible total). This means you may have to email or bring it in on a
day that is not your class day. You may not do extra credit for assignments that you turn in late.
MAKE-UP WORK
It is your responsibility to acquire and make up all work from an absence within one day (or class session) of your return.
Beyond that time, work will not be accepted, and the resulting grade will be a zero. Make sure you check the absence binder. If
you are absent on the day an assignment is due, and it has been previously assigned, you must turn in the work on the day of
your return. If you miss a formal assessment, you may arrange to make it up before or after school.
EXTRA CREDIT
Opportunities are available according to the following guidelines:
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Within two calendar days of receiving the undesired grade, submit a written proposal that includes:
a. submission date,
b. name of the assignment for which you wish to earn extra credit,
c. description of the additional assignment that is challenging and relevant to the original
d. rationale as to why this additional assignment is an appropriate one
e. due date (up to one calendar week from the proposal date)
Within one calendar week of the proposal date, submit the extra credit assignment and the signed proposal.
The decision for final credit rests with the teacher. No credit will be awarded to you if you did not seek pre-approval or if you
do not return the signed proposal with your extra assignment. You may only submit proposals/extra credit for assignments
that were turned in on time. Proposals will not be accepted the week before, or the week of, the end of the grading period.
Be aware: completing the original assignment in full is not "extra," and it would not be fair to the remainder of the class to give
you credit for an assignment which could have been completed in full by the original deadline.
PROGRESS REPORT SCHEDULE
Paper copies of the progress report will be given to students according to the schedule determined by the School Improvement
Team. Parents may access grades online at any time.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
It is your responsibility to hand-write and sign the following statement on all academic work: “I have completed this
assignment with honesty and integrity, in keeping with the PHS Honor Code.” Cheating, collusion, and plagiarism will not be
tolerated. These actions will result in a zero for the assignment and possible disciplinary consequences. Be aware that if you are
referred to administration for academic misconduct, you will have to report the incident to every college to which you apply.
Familiarize yourself with the definitions, taken from IBO’s Academic Honesty bulletin, below. If you need help, ASK.
Resources to aid you in avoiding academic misconduct (including the full length honor code and the IB academic honesty
bulletin) are located on the website.
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authentic authorship – “An authentic piece of work is one that is based on the candidate’s individual and original ideas
with the ideas and work of others fully acknowledged.”
2.
malpractice – “behaviour that results in, or may result in, the candidate or any other candidate gaining an unfair
advantage in one or more assessment component” and includes plagiarism, collusion, duplication of work, exchanging
information about assessments, etc.
3.
plagiarism – “the representation of the ideas or work of another person as the candidate’s own” including “copying
works of art, whether music, film, dance, theatre arts or visual arts, also constitutes plagiarism”
4.
paraphrase – “Paraphrasing is the rendition of another person’s words presented in a new style and integrated
grammatically into the writing.”
5.
collaboration – working together when approved by teacher or assessment guidelines. This is different from collusion
in that the final product is allowed to be a group effort.
6.
collusion – “supporting malpractice by another candidate, as in allowing one’s work to be copied or submitted for
assessment by another.” This is different from collaboration in that the assessment criteria requires each student to
produce an authentic and original product.
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academic infringement –When a student’s work does not “conform to the standard academic practice of clearly
acknowledging all ideas and words that are not the candidate’s own,” but is not considered “a deliberate attempt by a
candidate to gain an unfair advantage.”
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duplication of work – “the presentation of the same work for different assessment components and/or diploma
requirements”
GROUP WORK ACCOUNTAB ILITY
Adapted from Coburn, “Group Work Policy”
At the start of the assignment, group members should immediately collaborate to assign responsibilities, set timelines, and
agree upon divisions of workload. This should be written down and signed by each member and can be turned in to the
teacher. The group grade is based on equal participation; therefore, each member is responsible for monitoring the
contributions of the other members and his/her own contributions.
If a student is a non-contributor (i.e. not pulling their share of the work), active members may submit a written defense for the
expulsion of the non-contributor, including assignments agreed upon and not delivered according to the group timeline. It is
not acceptable to submit this the day before something is due. Following this, all members must meet with the teacher (who
will act as mediator) to plead cases and hear rebuttals. The group will vote (via blind ballot) whether or not to expel the “noncontributor.”
Should the non-contributor be removed from the group, due dates will not be changed for any member. Active group members
need to submit a complete product (essay, project) in order to receive a complete grade. The non-contributor will receive no part
of group grade and is responsible for submitting his/her own complete product.
TUTORING:
Tutoring is available by appointment. If you don’t ask at least a day in advance, I may not be available.
EXAMINATIONS
EXAM EXEMPTION
The IB English examinations do not count as end-of-year course exams (due to scores not being available until after grades are
finalized). If grades or attendance prevent you from being eligible to be exempted from school exams, you must be present for
the senior English exam. Failure to do so will result in a zero, which will be 25% of your overall grade. To be exempt from a
final exam in a yearlong course, a senior must have:
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an “A” average with no more than five (5) absences during the school year, or
a “B” average and no more than three (3) absences during the school year, or
a “C” average and zero (0) absences during the school year.
Seniors are allowed up to three (3) absences that will not be considered in determining eligibility for exam exemptions, due to:
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a death in the immediate family,
a religious holiday not built into the school system’s calendar, or
a college scholarship interview.
IB EXAMINATIONS (PAPER 1 AND PAPER 2 )
If you choose not to sit for the IB exams for this course, your course grade will automatically drop one letter.
This is important for everyone, but especially those who are earning low scores in the class. If your class average is a “D” at the
end of the year and you did not register to take the IB examinations for English, your final class grade will be dropped to “F”
and you will have to complete summer school.
VIDEO INFORMATION
Please review the information below. If you desire to preview a video or have questions, please contact me by email
(hnpurvis@wsfcs.k12.nc.us) or phone (771-4700). If you decide not to allow your student to view these videos in class, I will
provide other appropriate learning activities for your student.
NIGERIA WAR AGAINST BIAFRA 1967-1970 (NR)
A BBC documentary, available on youtube, that provides an overview and reflection of the Biafran War. To be used in
conjunction with Half of a Yellow Sun.
IB OBJECTIVES ADDRESSED:
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Demonstrate an understanding of the ways in which cultural values are expressed in literature.
Demonstrate awareness of the significance of the context in which a work is written and received
HALF OF A YELLOW SUN (2013, R)
A movie adaptation of the novel. May be used in conjunction with Half of a Yellow Sun.
IB OBJECTIVES ADDRESSED:
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Demonstrate an ability to analyze language, structure, technique and style, and evaluate their effects on the reader
HAMLET (1996, PG-13)
A period piece directed by Kenneth Branagh. To be used in conjunction with Hamlet.
IB OBJECTIVES ADDRESSED:
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Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of individual literary works as representatives of their genre and period,
and the relationships between them
Demonstrate awareness of the significance of the context in which a work is written and received
Show an ability to examine and discuss in depth the effects of literary techniques and the connections between style
and meaning.
HAMLET (2000, R)
A modern-day adaptation directed by Michael Almereyda. To be used in conjunction with Hamlet.
IB OBJECTIVES ADDRESSED:
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Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of individual literary works as representatives of their genre and period,
and the relationships between them
Show an ability to examine and discuss in depth the effects of literary techniques and the connections between style
and meaning.
ROSENCRANTZ AND GUIL DENSTERN ARE DEAD (1990, PG)
A movie adaptation of the play. To be used in conjunction with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.
IB OBJECTIVES ADDRESSED:
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Demonstrate an ability to analyze language, structure, technique and style, and evaluate their effects on the reader
STUDENT AND PARENT/GUARDIAN AGREEMENT FORM (TO BE RETURNED)
IB English A1 – Higher Level (Year Two)
Please sign below to indicate you have read and understood the syllabus. Please advise me as to the best possible contact
information. If you have any concerns, write them in at the bottom, and I will get back to you as soon as possible upon the
return of this page. I am looking forward to a great year!
Student Printed Name: ________________________________________________
Student Signature: ____________________________________________________
Parent/ Guardian Printed Name: ________________________________________________
Parent/ Guardian Signature: ____________________________________________________
Parent/ Guardian E-mail: _______________________________________________________
Parent/ Guardian Phone:
Daytime- _______________________________
Evening- ______________________________
I prefer contact via
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email
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phone
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either
Video permission (please check one, more information on the reverse side of this page):
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My student may view all videos in this class.
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My student may view only the videos checked here:
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Nigeria War against Biafra 1967-1970
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Half of a Yellow Sun
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Hamlet (1996)
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Hamlet (2000)
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Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
My student may not view any videos in this class.
Questions/Comments: