English IV
2011-2012
Mr. Burgess
Course Description
Students in English IV will integrate all the language arts skills gained throughout their
education. The curriculum both affirms these skills and equips the students to be life-long
learners. Students continue to explore expressive, expository, argumentative, and literary
contexts with a focus on British Literature. The emphasis in English IV is on argumentation by
developing a position of advocacy through reading, writing, speaking, listening, and using
media. Students will:
* Express reflections and reactions to texts.
* Explain principles inspired by the curriculum.
* Interpret and qualify texts.
* Research and address issues of public or personal concern.
* Create products and presentations which maintain standard conventions of the written and
spoken language.
In addition to the textbook, students will also read the following works:
ENGLISH IV CORE READING SELECTIONS
FICTION
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Stevenson
NON-FICTION
Choose 3
POETRY
Excerpts from
1984
Orwell
A Vindication of the Rights Beowulf
Women
of
Wollstonecraft
Canterbury Tales
Chaucer
A Tale of Two Cities
A Dickens
The Journal of Dorothy
Wordsworth
Eva (YA)
Dickinson
Or
Be
B Ye Men of Valor
Churchill
C
Churchiand Elephant
Shooting
Skellig (YA)
Almond
Orwell
Meditation 17
Donne
DRAMA
________________
__
Tintern Abbey
Wordsworth
The Lamb and the
Tiger,
A
Poison Tree
Blake
Rime of the Ancient
Mariner
Coleridge
My Last Duchess
Macbeth
Shakespeare
SShShakespe
are
Pygmalion
Shaw
“A Room of One’s Own”
Browning
Ozymandias Shelley
Condensed NC SCOS – English IV
I. Write and speak about British text and life/personal experience.
A. Read increasingly complex text
1. recognize genre and have reading strategies to attack
2. Identify and analyze text components and their significance
a. Organizational structures (plot)
b. Character/Characterization
c. Setting
d. Point of View
e. Literary devices
3. Provide text to support reader’s understanding
4. Demonstrate comprehension of main idea and supporting details
5. Infer, predict, and conclude based on text
B.
C.
D.
E.
Gain sense of text significance (social, political, gender, philosophical)
Empathize with voice
Show understanding of complex thought and feeling
Recognize and imitate author’s use of language
II. Write and speak about theme in British texts and life
A. Compare and contrast texts based on themes
B. Recognize common themes and patterns and identify text to support conclusions
C. Compare time periods
III. Analyze and critique British texts from various perspectives
A. make connections between self and text
B. Recognize and discuss how literary/historical movements impact literature
C. Recognize and discuss effect of author’s assumptions, background, society
IV. Know and create strong argument
A. Use various resources
B. Identify and explore important issues
C. Create an argument using
1. Clear language
2. Adequate support
3. Appropriate/convincing tone
V. Apply conventions of grammar and usage
VI. Vocabulary development/enhancement
GRADING POLICY
Evaluation of student work will be an on-going process in the curriculum. Efforts will be made
to include students in the evaluation process while utilizing a variety of evaluation methods
including:
* Individual student record cards
* Teacher-constructed tests
* Standardize tests: norm referenced and criterion referenced.
* Outcome-based evacuations
* Portfolio and/or Journals
* Teacher observation checklists
* Teacher-parent conferences
* Student self-evaluations
* Peer Evaluations
* Group discussions with teacher critique
* Product evaluations (e.g., creative/written/oral presentations) by teacher, self, peers,
appropriate real audiences.
* Teacher-maintained logs
*Survey and questionnaires
Grade Scale:
A = 93 - 100
B = 85 - 92
C = 77 - 84
D = 70 - 76
F = 0 - 69
Formula for calculating semester grades:
Tests/Projects =
Quizzes =
Quarter Exam =
Homework/Classwork =
45%
30%
10%
15%
100%
Formula for calculating final grade:
.80(grade for 1st + 2nd nine weeks) + .20(Final Exam grade) = Final Grade
.80(78.8 + 76.5) + .20(74) =76
Remember: In America, education is mandatory, but learning is of the student’s options.
Your success in this class depends largely on the effort you make to be successful.
GENERAL CLASSROOM RULES AND EXPECTATIONS
Welcome. I hope that the remainder of this year is going to be a wonderful learning
experience for you. The following information should answer any questions you may have.
Here are some things you need to know about my expectations from you this year.
•
Mr. Burgess will be available to schedule missed make-up work or provide tutoring
from7:30 - 8:00 and 3:05 - 4:00 on Monday and Wednesday afternoons.
Please schedule in advance if this time is needed.
* Learn to listen, pay attention, and follow all directions and instructions to the
letter.
* Learn to listen and think before you speak.
* It is your responsibility to read, understand, respect and follow all schools rules.
School rules will be enforced in this classroom at all times, no exceptions.
* It is your responsibility to read, understand, respect and follow all classroom rules.
Classroom rules will be enforced at all times, no exceptions.
* Ignorance of the rules will not be accepted as an excuse.
* Do not even attempt to Sleep (with eyes open or closed) in this class. Keep your
head off the desk, and keep your eyes and mind open and alert, unless otherwise directed.
This is a working classroom, Period.
* Keep your hands to yourself and your feet on the floor in the front of your desk.
Do not put your feet on desks or in the aisle.
* Do not leave your seat or ball paper into balls and do not throw paper into the trash
can in this class while work is in process. If you have paper to throw away, keep it until the
end of class and then deposit it into the proper receptacle as you leave the class after to you
have been properly dismissed.
* Students may not have food, drink, chewing gum, hats, sunglasses, or electronic
devices in the classroom.
* If you have a question or an answer, please raise your hand and wait to be
recognized. No student will be allowed to rudely dominate class time or interrupt another
person.
* Everything you turn in for a grade must be written in ink, done neatly on one side
of loose-leaf notebook paper with no ragged or torn out edges.
* All work turned in must be in blue or black ink. No other colors will be accepted.
* Do not use “white out” on work to be turned in for a grade.
* When homework is assigned it means I have a reason for the assignment and
expect it to be done on time.
* Major projects will be most often be assigned near the end of a nine week period
and will be due during the end of the first half of the following nine week period.
* Students must be prepared for class daily; therefore, it is the student’s
responsibility to not come to class without enough clean loose-leaf paper, 2 pens, 2 number
2 pencils, and the book or handout that we are using at the current time. Please do not be
slack; carry your own weight and do not borrow from other people. Students caught
violating this important directive on self-reliance and responsibility by lending and/or
borrowing needed materials to/from other students will both receive a ZERO for any
assignment that period and will be obligated to make up the work or assignment after
school within ten days . Remember, carry your own weight, be responsible, and follow all
directions and instructions to the letter.
* You are held responsible for information that I give in class that may not be in the
book. So, if you don’t listen or fail to take notes, don’t complain with “That’s not in my
book.”
* Be accurate in your restatement of what is discussed in class. Quote the teacher
and fellow students on what they said directly, not what you “think”, or interpret ,or
translate what was said.
* Do not come to class late or tardy. All students must be in class, in their assigned
seats with required material on their desk ready for work before the tardy bell sounds.
* All missed assignments because of excused absence must be made up within ten
days of your return. It is your responsibility to come to me about making up the
assignment. If you do not attempt to make it up a “0" goes in its place.
* There will be no need for “Extra Credit” assignments. I believe students should
receive “Full Credit” for diligent scholarship in this course. Extra Credit is an artificial
grade booster and will not be issued indiscriminately.
* The bell does not dismiss students from class, I do. Do not start to pack to leave
until after I have finished my summary, given any new assignments, and told the class ,“It is
now time to pack up to go.”
* If you have any questions, please ask them. Perhaps other people are wanting to
know the same information.
* I do not expect any of you to be satisfied with your minimum work. This is not a
minimum level class and you must demand more of yourself than that. You are setting your
own standards for the rest of your personal and professional life. Do you want to be a “just
barely”?
* We prefer to not deal in excuses for not doing assigned work. I accept reasons,
however there are very few of those. I expect this class to be very high on your list of
priorities. If you can’t do the work because of sports, music, boyfriends, girlfriends, trips,
jobs, or other such excuses, decide! Make a priority judgment. Choose the excuse or the
class. There should be very few items that come before your education.
* ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST! Learn the objective definition of respect and
responsibility and abide by them in all situations. Would you want your doctor, lawyer,
accountant, or your child’s teacher to have cheated, slept, manipulated, lied, or muddled
his/her way through high school or college. Neither will the people who will pay your
salary when you become a professional. Don’t be grade greedy. Be proud of yourself, but
have a reason for that pride. And let that reason be because you do the right thing. Be of a
sound moral character! Have some integrity! A grade is nothing if you have not earned it
honorably; inside you’ll still be dishonorable.
I have received, read and understood the expectations of Mr. Burgess as contained in
the Course Description and Outline for English I
.
Student’s name (please print) ________________________________________
Parent Signature: ______________________________ Date: ______________
Home Phone: ____________________ Work Phone: __________________
Cell Phone: ____________________Email address: ___________________________