Honors English 11
Mr. Barrows
E-Mail: sbarrows@marlette.k12.mi.us
Work Phone: 989-635-7425 (Extension 44807)
Website: mrbarrows.weebly.com
Texts (First Semester)
Grammar Mastery for Better Writing
Edith Hamilton’s Mythology
Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex
Homer’s The Odyssey
Excerpts from Homer’s The Iliad
Excerpts from Virgil’s The Aeneid
Excerpts from Dante’s The Inferno
“Beowulf” – Translated by Burton Raffel
“The Canterbury Tales” (The Prologue and The Pardoner’s Tale) – Geoffrey Chaucer
Macbeth - William Shakespeare
Excerpts from “Rape of the Lock” – Alexander Pope
Texts (Second Semester)
Grammar Mastery for Better Writing
Prentice Hall Literature: Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes – The British Tradition
The Taming of the Shrew – William Shakespeare
The Prodigal Son/The Good Samaritan
Frankenstein – Mary Shelley
“A Modest Proposal” – Jonathan Swift
The 23rd Psalm
Sonnets 29, 73, and 106 – William Shakespeare
Sonnets 1, 35, and 75 – Edmund Spenser
Sonnets 31 and 39 - Sir Philip Sydney
“Death, Be Not Proud” – John Donne
“The Tiger” and “The Lamb” – William Blake
“Ozymandias” – Percy Shelley
“My Heart Leaps Up” and “The World is too Much With Us” – William Wordsworth
“Rime of the Ancient Mariner” – Samuel Taylor Coleridge
“Paradise Lost” – John Milton
“Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey” – William Wordsworth
Course Description
This is an accelerated course designed for the serious-minded, college-bound
student. In the first semester, students will focus on the study of classic Greek and Roman
mythology, the heroic epic, and Greek and Shakespearean tragedy, which will provide a
solid foundation for the study of classic literature in the 2nd half of Honors English and in
next year’s A.P. English class. Student writing will focus on the development of the
persuasive essay. In addition, students will receive extensive practice in grammar and
composition skills in preparation for the ACT Test. Throughout the course, emphasis will
be placed upon the organization and development of ideas, effective communication,
self-discipline, and creativity. This class is a prerequisite for A.P. English.
The 2nd semester of the course will explore classic British literature through
poetry, novels, and drama. Students will refine their writing skills through composition
assignments which will ask them to analyze, critique, and interpret their reading, as well
as apply and compare themes and motifs in various forms of literature. Students will also
have an opportunity to work collaboratively and creatively on research and literary
analysis activities.
Objectives
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Use critical thinking and reading strategies to gain a fuller understanding of a
literary work.
Use literature as a springboard for writing imaginatively and critically.
Gain ability to evaluate and synthesize important information from reference
materials.
Draft, revise, and proofread papers properly.
Use varied sentence structures to engage the reader and achieve cohesion between
sentences.
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard written English.
Read and appreciate various types of literature – poetry, novel, drama.
Become familiar with devices in poetry: word choice, tone, imagery, figurative
language, musical devices, and structure.
Identify and explore the setting, characters, plot, and theme of a literary work.
Major Assignments (First Marking Period)
A weekly homework/class work grade (9 total at 20 pts. each) = 180 points
Six paragraph argumentative essay = 200 points
Unit 1 Grammar Quiz = 100 points
Unit 2 Grammar Quiz = 100 points
Unit 3 Grammar Quiz = 100 points
Mythology Quiz = 100 points
The Odyssey PowerPoint Presentation = 100 points
The Odyssey Test = 200 points
Literary Terms Quiz = 100 points
Major Assignments (Second Marking Period)
Literary Terms Quiz = 100 points
A weekly homework/classwork grade (9 total at 20 pts. each) = 180 points
Unit 4 Grammar Quiz = 100 points
Unit 5 Grammar Quiz = 100 points
Oedipus Rex Plot Chart = 50 points
Beowulf essay paragraph = 50 points
Canterbury Tales PowerPoint Presentation = 100 points
Canterbury Tales creative prologue = 100 points
Beowulf and Canterbury Tales Test = 216 points
Macbeth Acts I-III Quiz = 130 points
Macbeth Plot Chart = 50 points
Macbeth Unit Test = 300 points
Major Assignments (Third Marking Period)
A weekly homework/class work/participation grade (9 total at 20 pts. each) = 180 points
Macbeth literary analysis essay = 200 points
Surprising Argumentative Essay = 200 points
2 timed impromptu ACT style essays (100 points each) = 200 points
Practice English ACT Test = 100 points
Unit 6 Grammar Quiz = 100 points
Sonnets – small group presentation = 50 points
Two Literary Terms Quizzes (2 total at 50 points each) = 100 points
Major Assignments (Fourth Marking Period)
A weekly homework/class work/participation grade (9 total at 20 pts. each) = 180 points
Collaborative Book Report/Literary Notebook/Presentation = 200 points
Taming of the Shrew Test = 100 points
Frankenstein Unit Test = 300 points
Frankenstein Final Project = 200 points
Frankenstein literary analysis essay = 200 points
Satirical Proposal = 200 points
There will be a final exam at the end of each semester that will account for 20% of
the final grade.
A Note on Paper Assignments
All final papers will need to be submitted through the turnitin.com website. Papers that
are not submitted to the website by the due date will receive a full grade reduction
for each day they are submitted late.
A Note on Plagiarism
Much time will be spent in this course on teaching students how to avoid plagiarism and
how to properly document sources. Any paper that shows evidence of intentional
plagiarism will receive a zero and could result in a failing grade for the course.
Always see me if you ever have questions about how to document your sources.
* Please note that a travel/flash drive will be very helpful for your student during
this course as much of the writing will be done both in and out of school.
Late Assignments
All assignments are due on the due date at the beginning of the hour. Any assignment not
turned in at the time I collect it will be considered late. Late assignments will not be
accepted.
Missed Assignments Due to Absence
If you are absent, make sure you get the work you missed. If you miss work due to
absence, you will be allowed one make-up day for each day absent. If you are absent on
the day an assignment is due, then that assignment should be turned in on the day
you return to class.
I have read and understood the syllabus for Honors English 11. If you have any questions
or concerns please contact Mr. Barrows at 989-635-7425 (Extension 44807) or at
sbarrows@marlette.k12.mi.us
Parent Signature________________________________ Date_________________
Student Signature_______________________________ Date_________________