Accelerated World Literature
School:
Course Name:
Beijing Royal School
English 11
Periods (week):
Number of Weeks:
Teacher:
Contact:
9
20 Weeks
Jeryl Hewey
18500034737
jeryl@brs.edu.cn
Course Description
The aim of this course is to expose students to a variety of foundational texts in 20th
Century world literature, as well as a variety of world stories from different time
periods that form the foundation of literary allusion. The course will focus on analysis
and evaluation of intermediate to advanced texts, inferential reasoning, vocabulary
building, and understanding rhetorical devices with an emphasis on reading for
vocabulary development; understanding author purpose; drawing connections
between texts and the larger world; diction; irony; and literature as a process of
understanding self. The course will also embed ongoing SAT type questions to
support students in their preparation for college entrance exams.
The students will receive training in these areas through daily reading assignments,
journaling, in class discussions, projects, and occasional lectures. Students will apply
and practice skills acquired in class through live discussions, web postings, small
group work, timed and drafted essays, frequent vocabulary practice and
assessments, and analysis of SAT Critical Reading passages and questions. Students
will use critical thinking, rhetorical analysis, dialogue, written compositions, and art to
demonstrate mastery of a diverse set of language skills necessary for success in
college level work.
This course will be a digital learning pilot course. All students will receive/purchase a
Nexus tablet for the enhancement of learning activities in the course. Traditional
classroom activities will be augmented by digital learning activities including, but
not limited to e-books, interactive practice tests, learning modules, digital flashcards,
online discussion boards, class Dropbox, &c.
Teaching Objectives and Learning Outcomes
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Students will be able to cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support
analysis and inference.
Students will be able to identify what information is ambiguous or missing in a
text.
Students will be able to identify themes and analyze their development over
time.
Students will be able to evaluate how individual text features and overall
structure affect overall meaning.
Students will be able to infer the purpose of specific text features.
Students will be able to determine the meanings of figurative language from
context.
Students will be able to infer connotative meanings of words.
Students will be able to identify and explain irony.
Students will be able to demonstrate 85% or higher proficiency with 1000 high
frequency SAT vocabulary words.
Students will be able to use digital technology to streamline vocabulary
rehearsal.
Students will be able to read with a dictionary and annotate as they read.
Students will be able to articulate their reading level and independently
comprehend appropriate texts.
Students will be able to make connections between a text and outside readings,
personal experiences, and observations in writing.
Students will be able to improve and develop an argumentative essay of 5001000 words using the revision and redrafting process.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of a variety of 20th Century literature from
around the world through written composition.
Topics Covered
Vocabulary, narrative, biography, graphic novels, drama, fables, the hero’s journey,
citing evidence, dialog, theme, literary devices, diction, connotation, denotation,
purpose, tone, inference, irony, summary, reading for growth, revision, drafting,
timed writing. Grammar topics (including, but not limited to: number agreement,
articles, verb conjugation, and advanced syntax) will be reviewed as necessary.
Teaching Strategies
Lectures, drills, group work, games, competitions, presentations, independent
reading, journaling, discussions, Illustrations, levelled reading, conferencing,
blogging, peer and self-assessment, timed writing exercises, student adapted
curriculum.
Assessment Strategies
Final grades for students will be calculated from the following areas:
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Assignments (10%)
 Class Discussions
 Class Work/Homework Checks
 Notebook Checks
 Vocabulary Cards
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In-class participation (10%)
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Attendance (10%)
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Mid-Term Examination (25%)
 Mid-Term Exam (15%)
 Quizzes/Timed Writings (10%)
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Final Examination (45%)
 Final Exam (25%)
 Journals (10%)
 Tests (10%)
References
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Primary Texts:
 Asia: Selected Stories by Lu Xun, The Harp of Burma by Michio Takeyama
 The Middle East: The Bible, Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
 Africa: Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
 Europe: Fables by Aesop, Night by Elie Wiesel
 North America: Picasso at the Lapin Agile by Steve Martin
 South America: Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
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Supplemental Texts:
 The Official SAT Study Guide, Vols. 1 & 2
 American College English: Gateway SAT by Lucy Haagen
 American College English: Viva Vocab by Lucy Haagen
 Cracking the SAT, 2014 ed. by Adam Robinson and Jon Katzman
 The Craft of Argument by Joseph M. Williams and Gregory G. Colomb
Materials
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BRS Nexus Tablet
Independent reading book
1 6cm 2-Ring Binder
2-Hole Punch
Electronic dictionary/translation device (recommended)
You do not need to buy books for this course. You will be provided with
photocopies of necessary readings. If you would like to purchase your own copy,
please consult the instructor.
Timeline for Teaching
Units (and topics covered)
Getting Started (~1-2 weeks): Introductions, syllabus review, stories & culture,
personal fables, personal statements, Aesop’s Fables, The Bible
Europe (~3-4 weeks): Narrative, biography, citing evidence, theme, structure of the
novel, Night
The Middle East (~2-3 weeks): Graphic novels, diction, connotation, denotation,
Persepolis
North America (~1-2 weeks): (This unit will begin 1 week before AP exams, regardless
of where we are in the course) Drama, situational irony, verbal irony, Picasso at the
Lapin Agile
Midterm Exams
Africa (~5-6 weeks): The hero’s journey, dramatic irony, Things Fall Apart
Asia (~2-3 weeks): Students will divide into groups and elect to work on either
Selected Stories or The Harp of Burma
South America (?? weeks): (Inclusion of this Unit will depend on time) Allegory, Story
of a Shipwrecked Sailor
Final Exams
Benchmarks
Throughout the semester students will take actual SAT Reading Writing tests to track
their progress in the course and development of essential skills. Benchmark exams
are not for credit, but act as indicators of student progress and help inform future
instruction.
Benchmark 1: 3/6-7
Benchmark 2: 4/17-18
Benchmark 3: 6/19-20