English IV –CP Syllabus
British Literature
Teacher Information
Name: Ms. Paulette Lunn
Telephone Number: (843) 398-2668
Email: plunn@Darlington.k12.sc.us
Tutorial:
 After school on Wednesdays 3:30-4:00 p.m.
 Optional on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during Activity Period
 Depending upon availability.
Planning Period: 3rd Block
Textbook: Mirrors and Windows
COURSE GOALS:
1. Understand literature pieces in a historical context
2. Critically examine literature to discover its connections to our own lives
3. Develop well-constructed essays for a variety of purposes and audiences and enhance
critical reading and writing skills in preparation for a university setting.
Daily Materials
Composition notebook; blue or black pens; colored markers, glitter glue, gel
pens, etc.
Classroom Rules (all school rules and DCSD rules apply)
1. Be respectful.
2. Be seated and ready for class when the tardy bell rings. (If you are not in your seat
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

when the tardy bell rings you will be marked tardy.)
Follow directions and speak at appropriate times.
Take notes on each lesson taught.
Do YOUR best.
Wait until you are dismissed before leaving class.
Enjoy learning!
Consequences
o 1st Offense - Verbal Warning
o 2nd Offense - Student-Teacher conference and parent contact
o 3rd Offense – Parent contact
o 4th Offense – Administrative or Guidance Counseling referral and Parent
contact
Grading Policy
 Grading Scale
A = 100-93 B = 92-85
C = 84-77
D = 76-70
F = 69 and below
 Grading System
The point grading system is used to assign grades to assignments.
(Points Earned/Possible Points) x 100%
17
 100%  85%
Example
20
o Come to additional tutorial when you do not understand and need extra
help.

Assignments
o Textbook = 10 points
o Worksheet = 10+ points
o Quiz = 20+ points
o Test: 50+ points
o Project = 100+ points
 Quizzes:
They may be announced or unannounced. Some quizzes may cover the major
literary periods, vocabulary, and/or specific literary works. Quizzes may be
multiple choice or in written-response format. These quizzes will be given at the
beginning of the class period to ensure you completed the reading assignment.
 Tests
These may cover novels, literary periods and/or a combination of smaller literary
works. They may consist of multiple choice and essay questions or may be
entirely essay-based.
Tests will worth at least 100 points and will be announced at least a week in
advance.
Essays
You will write at least three (3) essays, and two of them will be classified in the
expository and compare/contrast genres.
Course Syllabus (Tentative – readings/assignments can be added or deleted)
The Anglo-Saxon Period and the Middle Ages
Independent Reading Novel
Introduction to British Literary Periods
� Anglo-Saxon Period- Historical Background
� Beowulf
� Expository Essay – College Application/Scholarship Essay
� Middle Ages/Medieval Period – Historical Background
� Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales
� Rules of knighthood/chivalry
� Chivalry Project
� Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
� King Arthur research
� ENRICHMENT READING: Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre
The English Renaissance
� Individual Book Report: approvals due Thurs., Nov. 6 / due Thurs., Dec. 11
� English Renaissance Period – Historical Background
� Introduction to sonnets – Spenser
� Pastoral poetry – Marlowe and Raleigh
� Shakespeare – biographical study
� Shakespeare’s Macbeth
� Common Grammatical Mistakes
� Literary Analysis Essay
� ENRICHMENT READING: Jane Eyre
Independent Reading Novel
� Shakespearean Sonnets
� Shakespeare’s Macbeth
� Comparison/Contrast Essay
Common Grammatical Mistakes
� ENRICHMENT READING: Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice
The Victorian Period and Beyond
� Independent Reading Novel
� Study Charles Dickens
� Short Stories – Virginia Woolf
� ENRICHMENT READING: George Orwell’s 1984
You will need to read one book independently each quarter. The book you
select must be off of a classics (college preparatory) list provided to you. After
reading the book, go through the following projects. Choose two or three that
appeal to you.
Projects:
1. DRAW – Sketch and color or paint a picture of one of the significant settings or happenings in
your book. Explain the situation depicted with at least nine (9) sentences. You may NOT use
notebook paper.
2. OBITUARY - Write an obituary for a character in your book. Don’t forget to include the date
and place of birth, date of death, a recap of a person's education and accomplishments, a list of
his/her survivors, and notice of services to be held. Check the newspaper for examples.
Obituaries must be typed.
3. BOOK COVER - Make a book cover related to your novel. You must include inside and
outside flaps. In your own words, write a summary of the book on the flaps.
4. BROWN BAG SPEECH – Bring a brown bag with various items in it that represents your
book in some way. Choose items that symbolize the following in the story: main character;
secondary character(s); setting; main conflict; climax; resolution; theme; major event.
5. TIME CAPSULE - Imagine that a character or group of characters were to create a time
capsule of significant items representing the events of the book or their lives in general. Make a
list of the 10 items and explain why each was chosen. List must be typed.
6. DEFINITIONS - Pick 15 words from your book that are unfamiliar to you. Write their
definitions AND use each one in a sentence. Make sure that you are using the same part of speech
in both the definition and the related sentence.
7. MOVIES - MGM has decided to make a movie of your book! Cast it with well-known actors
and actresses. Design a movie poster that shows a scene from the book, lists the actors, and gives a
brief description of the plot. The poster should be at least one half of a standard size poster
board.
8. LETTER TO AUTHOR - Using correct friendly letter form, write a letter to the author of your
book explaining your reaction, expressing your opinions and/or asking questions about the book.
Use specific examples from the book. Letters must be typed. Three paragraphs.
9. COMIC STRIP -Draw a comic strip depicting events from your book. Color it and make sure
each cell has a descriptive sentence.
10. FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE - Find 15 examples of figurative language (similes, metaphors,
personification, etc.) in your book. Write out the sentence containing the figure of speech, give its
page number, and identify the type of figurative language demonstrated. Page of examples must
be typed.
11. JOB APPLICATION - Choose a job for which a character from your book would be
qualified. Write a business letter (see me for help if needed) applying for the job as if you were the
character.
You may want to include information on the character’s education, job experience, and any
other details about the character’s life experiences that make him/her a good candidate for the job.
Letters must be typed. Three paragraphs.
12. LETTER TO THE EDITOR - Write a business letter to the editor of the Hartsville
Messenger or The Florence Morning News about an important issue raised in your book.
See the Opinion page of the paper for examples and for information on how to submit a letter to
the editor.
Letter must be typed. Three paragraphs.
13. ART - Make a collage, mobile, clay figures, mask, mandala etc. to represent your book AND
type a paragraph to explain the work. THIS IS NOT A DRAWING.
14. CHARACTER JOURNAL - Imagine that you are a character in your book. Write three
journal/diary entries as that character. Entries must be dated appropriately and relate to situations
in your book.
Make sure the entries help to reveal the character’s thoughts and feelings and to explain the plot.
Each entry should be at least one paragraph and must be typed.
15. BIOGRAPHY - Write a biography of one of the characters. Information can include details
about the character’s family, childhood, upbringing, personality, influences, important experiences
that have affected him/her in some way, friends, education, jobs, and anything else that will help
the reader to understand the character better. Biographies must be typed. Four paragraphs.
16. TRAVEL BROCHURE - Create a pamphlet for people interested in 'visiting' the setting of
your book. The brochure should be folded into thirds and include pictures and written
descriptions. Flaps and the inside of the brochure should have pictures and descriptions. Describe
some of the people that the travelers are likely to meet, activities in which they can participate,
how they should dress, and any other information they will need when visiting. 10 sentences.
17. NEWS STORY - Write a front-page news story about an important incident from your book.
You must include details about the incident and quotations from appropriate individuals.
Quotations should be contained within paragraphs. Stories must be typed. Five paragraphs.
18. REWRITE A SCENE - Choose a scene from the book and rewrite it in a different setting,
from a different character’s point of view, or change the outcome. At the top of the page give the
page number of the book on which the scene begins and write one or two sentences describing the
scene in the book AND how you have changed it. All of the writing must be your original work.
DO NOT copy paragraphs from the book. Scenes must be typed. Five paragraphs.
19. SEQUEL - Write an additional 'chapter' for the book showing what happens to the main
characters after the book ends. At the top of the page write one or two sentences describing how
the book actually ends. All of the writing must be your original work. DO NOT copy paragraphs
from the book. Sequels must be typed. Seven paragraphs.
20. NEW ENDING - Write a different ending for the book. At the top of the page write one or
two sentences describing how your ending differs from the author's ending.
All of the writing must be your original work. DO NOT copy paragraphs from the book. Endings
must be typed. Seven paragraphs.
21. First Person Narrative – Dress up as one of the characters in your book and tell the story
from that character’s point of view. Give the class a brief autobiography – tell us about your
family, where you live, etc. Your dress must reflect your character’s age, the time period in which
he/she lived, social status, etc.
22. FOOD PREPARATION – Prepare a food dish from the region or time period of the story.
Write a written explanation of how the dish you prepare goes with the story (share this info with
the class and give a written copy to me) and bring in the recipe you used.


Attendance/Tardy (DCSD attendance policy applies)
o You are allowed 5 lawful/unlawful absences in this course.
o If you arrive more than 15 minutes late to 1 st block then you are considered absent and
more than 10 minutes late to 2nd-4th blocks then you are absent. Students marked absent
because of their late arrival will still be allowed to enter class with a note from the office
so that no instructional time will be lost.
Field Trips
o
o

Participation on a field trip does not count as an absence therefore; you do not have extra days to make-up work
when you go on a field trip.
Students are responsible for getting their assignments prior to leaving for the field trip.
Begin "Bell Ringer" exercises as part of the next assignment. You do not have to wait for the tardy bell to
begin the ringers. Bell ringers consist of review exercises, S.S.R., SAT Word of the Day analysis, or Journal
entries. Students are encouraged to review daily so that they may do well on the ringers. Some ringers will
count as a pop quiz grade or bonus points.
Please read and complete the information below. A homework grade will be given for returning this sheet.
We have read and understand the course syllabus.
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