CP 12th Grade Humanities
Mr. Wood
Spring 2013 Syllabus
mwood@wssd.org
Course Units:
1. Poetry – Introductory Unit & Poetry Presentations
Goals/Topics of Interest: defining ‘poetry’, finding meaning in poetry, developing literacy with poetic
devices
Supplementary Materials: ‘keys to poetry’ handout; literary terms glossary; poetry template handout
Assessment: poetry 180 presentation & written poem evaluation
2. Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl
Goals/Topic of Interest: existentialism, logotherapy, will to meaning
Supplementary Materials: reading guide; Angola: The Farm film; Freud A&E Biography film
Assessment: logotherapy graphic organizer, Angola evaluation
3. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (summer reading)
Goals/Topics of Interest: science fiction; the value of literacy, censorship/freedom of speech
Supplementary Material: Fahrenheit 451 (film), Equilibrium (film)
Assessment: reading test; formal essay
4. Macbeth
Goals/Topics of Interest: drama, tragedy, Shakespearean poetry, will to meaning
Supplementary Materials: Macbeth film interpretations
Sonnets: various selections (Shakespearean & Contemporary)
Assessment: reading quizzes, group work, formal essay, sonnet evaluation
5. The Bell Jar
Goals/Topics of Interest: female Bildungsroman, gender oppression and identity, will to meaning
Supplementary Materials: various handouts on mental illness, electric shock therapy, American
institutionalization, Confessional poetry
Assessment: reading quizzes, group work, formal essay
6. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
Goals/Topics of Interest: dystopian fiction, bildungsroman, philosophical novel, satire, point of view, moral
issues in literature, free will, fiction vs. fable
Supplementary Materials: various handouts on teenage brain development, Nadsat glossary, film clips
Assessment: reading quizzes, group work, formal essay
7. (Auto-)Biography or Memoir (student choice)
Goals/Topic of Interest: will to meaning, biography, margin notes
Supplementary Materials: Man’s Search for Meaning
Assessment: biography project
Final Exam – 10% of grade
General Course Guidelines
1. How should you organize? Organization is vitally important. You will need a three ring binder. I will
three hole punch the various materials I present to you during the semester. You should create sections for
each novel and have additional subdivisions for poetry and short fiction. Have loose leaf readily available
so that you can take notes and write journal entries. I may periodically collect and grade informal writing.
Anything you do in the course should be readily retrievable. Bring your binder, something to write with,
and our current to novel to class with you ever day. Use an assignment book. Use the class calendar for
daily and long-term assignments. Use the class website for supplemental materials.
2. How will late work and absence be handled? Students are responsible for all missed work, even with
legitimate, excused absence. Computer problems are not a legitimate excuse for late work or tardiness to
class. Any formal written work turned in late results in a penalty the equivalent of one letter grade a day.
This includes invalid absences. Students receive no credit for in class work or essays missed due to invalid
absence. NOTE: I understand senior year is an important and busy time in your life. Regardless, this class
is serious business. ANTICIPATE problems with deadlines. This includes scheduled college visitations.
3. INTEGRITY: Notice it is not posed as a question. You are expected to have it. Unless an assignment is
designated as a collaborative one, you are required to work on it individually. Using Cliff’s Notes, Sparks
Notes, and other such summaries is a dead end and much more likely to get you in trouble than help you. I
do not want to see them in class. Moreover, they WILL NOT get you through this course. If you use these
sources in your writing, it is considered cheating. Remember, if you can find it on the internet, so can I.
Plagiarism (see student hand book) will be dealt with severely. Do not lose my trust or jeopardize your
admission to college with poor judgment.
4. What are the keys to success in 12th Grade English? The primary goal of this course is to broaden and
deepen your knowledge of literature and your critical and analytical thinking and writing skills. Keep up
with your reading. If I write it on the board, it’s important. TAKE NOTES! PLAN. Communicate with me
after school or via email about problems and concerns. Actively think about and react to literature each day
in class and in your own reading. Consciously work on your writing skills by learning from your mistakes
and successes. This class will require you to work, but I hope it will be enjoyable in the short term and
meaningful for the duration.
5. What are the in class behavior expectations at SHHS? All members of the school community are
expected to be respectful of each other. Negative comments about anyone’s race, nationality, religion,
physical appearance or ability, intellectual capacity, gender identity, sexual orientation, work ethic or
character are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Students are encouraged to discuss any concerns with
me or a preferred school official. In short, treat others the way you want to be treated.
6. Use the class website and calendar as instructed. When in doubt email me.