International Baccalaureate English SL Grade 12 Standard Level
2005-2006
Mrs. Caroline Stammers
Classroom: 309 • Phone: 888-569-2569
email:stammers@mpls.k12.mn.us
Course Description
This is a course designed to provide students with extensive
experience and training in the study, interpretation, and
analysis of literary works. We will read a variety of translated
world literature texts as well as preview American authors and
poets. Students will be required to take the oral and written IB
English exams as part of this course.
Course Objectives
Skills in the areas of oral presentation, formal academic
writing, and critical analysis will be developed as we read and
study literary texts.
Assignments and Points
Attached is a list of all the assignments and due dates for QI.
You are responsible for keeping track of your scores to ensure
your own personal success. You will receive a new tracking sheet
every quarter.
A
94-100%
A-
90-93.9%
B+
88-89.9%
B
84-87.9%
B-
80-83.9%
C+
78-79.9%
C
74-77.9
C-
69.8-73.9%
D+
68-69.9%
D
64-67.9%
D-
60-63.9%
F
59.9% & below
Required Texts
The Things They Carried, by
Tim O’Brien
The Sorrow of War, by Bao Ninh
The House of the Spirits,
Isabel Allende
Hamlet, by Shakespeare
Selected poems by Walt Whitman
Selected poems by Langston
Hughes
Selected short stories by
Anita Desai
The Guide, R.K. Narayan
Untouchable, Mulk Raj Anand
Art, Yazmina Reza
Other
complimentary/introductory
pieces
Major Assignments
Students will be given a day-by-day syllabus at the beginning of each
quarter with exact due dates and assignments. Often, not turning in
one major assignment results in a failing grade for the quarter.
Here is a brief overview of what students in Higher Level English
will complete:
 Summer Reading Project
 Complete reading of all listed texts
 Review/Final Revision of World Literature Assignment 1 (written
junior year)
 Students will complete a variety of in-class and take-home
commentaries and essays
 Students will participate in the 10th Annual Selected Hamlet Scenes
 Oral IB exams will take place in February (required)
 Written IB exams will take place in May (required)
 Students will conclude the year with the Humanities project
Supplies Needed
 All students will need a large notebook and folder to be used ONLY for
English
 Pens and pencils, and a package of highlighters or colored pencils for
commentary work
 Find notebook/binder from 11th grade to be used as a reference during
much of the year
 Students should find the electronic version of their WL1 paper NOW, as
it will be revisited this fall
Participation
A 25 point per quarter participation allotment is awarded, at the
instructor’s discretion, and is based mostly on completion of shorter inclass and homework assignments (collected at random) and regular, prompt
attendance. Contributions to discussions, leadership in group work,
compliance with school rules and policies, and other positive contributions
to class will also effect this grade.
Late Work
Unless there is a prior agreement with the instructor, all class work is
due at the beginning of class on the scheduled due date.
 assignments submitted later that day will receive an automatic 25%
deduction
 assignments submitted one day late will receive an automatic 50%
deduction.
 no assignments will be accepted more than one day late
Students who will be absent for exempt absences or foreseen reasons (family
plans, meetings, field trips, etc…) must notify Mrs. Stammers before the
absence and turn in assigned work before their absence, or the late policy
applies.
Students who turn in work late due to an excused absence (illness, family
emergency, etc…) must attach a signed note from home that includes the
reason for absence and the parent or guardian’s daytime phone number, or
the late policy applies. Mrs. Stammers always follows up with these notes!
Absence and Tardy Policies—Review Carefully

The school policy regarding tardies, absences, and grades will be
enforced. Students who miss eight days will fail. Students lose
participation points for tardies and absences.

Makeup work will not be accepted for unexcused absences. (Yes, missing
class the day of an assignment will result in zero credit for that
assignment, be it a major or minor assignment.)

It is the student’s responsibility to see the instructor regarding when
and how to make up missed work for excused absences—these arrangements
will be made on a case-by-case basis. Class time may not be used for
make-up work.

If a student is going to miss class due to an exempt absence (school
activity), s/he must discuss this absence with Mrs. Stammers the day
before the activity and get assignment/work (to be turned in before
class the next day). Otherwise, s/he will lose participation points
just as if it was an unexcused absence and the late policy applies.
Because IB students are so involved in many school activities, this rule
is key so Mrs. Stammers can amend lesson plans (if need be), keep
perfect track of all students’ attendance, and maintain some sanity!

Please Note: Students who foresee missing more than one or two classes
per quarter due to exempted school activities need to talk to Mrs.
Stammers and make other arrangements to earn full participation points.
These students should also consider being more selective about
participating in activities that take them out of class.
Other Policies and Behavior Expectations
This course is structured much like a college level course to prepare you
for the rigors of college English classes. Students can earn college
credit (depending on the college) if they score well on their IB exams.
With this in mind, dedicated, hard-working, honest students are a must!
Disruptive or disrespectful behavior is not tolerated. Students will be
challenged to be independent thinkers and doers, while keeping a close eye
on their own progress and seeking help when necessary. ALL students are
required to abide by ALL policies in their planner.
Academic Support
Mrs. Stammers is usually available before school (8:10-8:30) and all three
lunches. Students can set an appointment with her as needed. Feel free to
use her toll-free number before 9:00 p.m. any afternoon or evening.
Clear communication and seeking help when necessary is a skill college
bound students must focus on!
International Baccalaureate English Standard Level Syllabus
Class of 2006
Mrs. Caroline Stammers
Classroom: 309 • Phone: 888-569-2569 • e-mail:stammers@mpls.k12.mn.us
Part 1: World Literature
Euripides – Medea (Ancient Greece)
Sophocles – Oedipus Rex (Ancient Greece)
YEAR
Herman Hesse – Siddhartha (Germany)
YEAR
JUNIOR YEAR
JUNIOR
JUNIOR
I.B. Assessment: World Literature Papers (1000-1500 words)
Assignment #1 (comparative study of at least two Part 1 works)
JUNIOR YEAR
Part 2: Detailed Study
William Shakespeare – Hamlet
Walt Whitman – Selected Poems
Langston Hughes – Selected Poems
I.B. Assessment: Individual Oral Commentary
SENIOR YEAR
SENIOR YEAR
SENIOR YEAR
SENIOR YEAR
Part 3: Groups of Works (Prose: The Novel and Short Story)
Ralph Ellison – The Invisible Man
YEAR
Bao Ninh – The Sorrow of War (WL)
Untouchable – Mulk Raj Anand
The Guide -- R.K. Narayan
YEAR
I.B. Assessment: IB Exam, Paper 2
Part 4: School’s Free Choice
JUNIOR
SENIOR YEAR
SENIOR YEAR
SENIOR
SENIOR YEAR
Zora Neale Hurston – Their Eyes Were Watching God
YEAR
Chinua Achebe – Things Fall Apart
YEAR
Isabel Allende -- The House of the Spirits (WL)
SENIOR YEAR
Tim O’Brien – The Things They Carried
YEAR
I.B. Assessment: Individual Oral Presentations
JUNIOR
JUNIOR
SENIOR
JUNIOR YEAR
Rough Timeline of Texts, Units, and Assessments
September: (Vietnam)
Review of summer reading project and The Things They Carried
Read The Sorrow of War
Watch documentary, Letters Home…
Read one Achebe essay, “What Does Literature Have To Do With
It?”
October: (Chile, Latin America)
Read The House of the Spirits
November: (England, Renaissance)
Begin Hamlet
Review and Revise the World Lit Paper (Examiner-ready by
12/1/05)
December: (England, Renaissance)
Read Hamlet
Students watch version of Hamlet on their own (director’s
notebook assignment)
(time for comparing same scene in 3 version in class???)
January: (American Poetry, Civil war era)
Hamlet Scenes
Walt Whitman Poetry
February: (American Poetry, Harlem Renaissance & Beginning India)
Langston Hughes Poetry
Anita Desai, short story from Games at Twilight
March: (India—a look at the caste system & basic Indian history)
IB Oral Exams (first week)
Students watch Gandhi (while Stammers and Thompson out for
orals!!!)
Read Untouchable
April: (India—a look at culture and Hinduism)
Read The Guide – HL ONLY
(If time, watching The Bride and the Prejudice or Monsoon
Wedding would be fun!)
Exam prep
May/June:
Exam prep and Exams
Read the play Art
Complete Humanities Project and Presentations