English IV-Syllabus
Daina Mahon, Room 503
daina.mahon@burtonacademy.org
Burton Adventist Academy
TIME:
OFFICE HOURS:
PHONE:
TEXTS:
SUPPLEMENTARY
MATERIALS:
COURSE
OBJECTIVES:
Monday-Thursday, 8:40-9:30; Fridays 9:15-9:55
Please phone the school, extension 503, for an appointment.
817-295-7067 (home)
Prentice Hall Literature, The British Tradition, Common Core Edition
Vocabulary Workshop, Level G, Sadlier-Oxford
Writer’s notebook (wireless composition book) for daily use. Erasable pens.
Assigned novels. Three-ring binder with tabs and lined notebook paper
reserved for this class.
To identify the characteristics of the six major divisions of English Literature:
i.e. The Old English and Medieval Periods, The English Renaissance, The
Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries, The Romantic Period, The Victorian
Age, and The Modern and Postmodern Periods.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
COURSE
REQUIREMENTS:
To read, comprehend, interpret, and respond to Anglo-Saxon lyric poetry,
epic literature, historical accounts, narrative poetry, the mock-heroic
poem, folk ballads, sonnets, plays, Elizabethan drama, a Greek tragedy,
poetry of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, a satirical novel, preRomantic poetry, scientific and contemporary essays, a gothic novel,
poetry of the Romantic Period, political commentary, writings of the
Victorian Age, and modern literature.
To respond to literature through writing, speaking and listening, and
projects.
To build vocabulary in context and explore SAT vocabulary.
To review elements of grammar, usage, and style.
To write in a variety of modes such as comparison and contrast, a
character sketch, a persuasive speech, creative writing in
poetry/drama/storyline, a reflective essay, writing to analyze the use of
tragic flaw, and parody.
To learn the process of writing a research paper using MLA
documentation.
1. To read materials as assigned, quizzes over material may occur following
each assignment.
2. To have assigned novel or book of choice in class daily. A book every six
weeks is to be read depending upon the difficulty of the text and the
number of pages in the book. Writing responses, quizzes, literary
letters, journaling, or dramatizations will assess that reading is occurring.
3. Quizzes will be given weekly over vocabulary.
4. Writing will occur in some format daily.
5. Students must be on time to take quizzes. Quizzes are given at the
beginning of class.
English IV-Syllabus
Page Two
PLAGIARISM: Plagiarism from any source will be severely penalized. Plagiarism is the use of the
words or ideas of another without giving appropriate acknowledgement to the original author.
Papers will be spot-checked against computer sites from which students have been known to
plagiarize. See Student Handbook regarding plagiarism.
Analytic reading of a work of literature is not the same as reading the observations of another, such as
Cliff’s or Monarch Notes, or viewing a movie or television production. These “shortcuts” are really
detrimental to the work that is being read in that the author’s voice may not be heard. Screenwriters
often make significant changes in a work in preparing it for production; these changes never affect
the literary work positively. They result in oversimplification of the issues addressed by the author or
focus on too narrow a segment of the work as a whole.
DUE DATES ARE FIRM! All assignments are to be turned in at the beginning of class the day it is due.
No late work will be accepted unless authorized by the instructor. If authorization is given, late
papers WILL BE PENALIZED fifteen percent per school day that they are late. If you are allowed to
turn in a paper late, it must be in your teacher’s hand at the beginning of your class period.
GRADES
A+ 97-100
A 93- 96
A- 90- 92
B+ 87- 89
B 83- 86
B- 80- 82
GRADING SCALE
Participation/Classwork
Writer’s Notebook
Tests/Quizzes
C+
C
CF
77- 79
73- 76
70- 72
Anything less than 70%
55%
15%
30%
CELL PHONES OR OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES
No telecommunication devices are permitted in the school building during the school day. See
Student Handbook and Bulleting, 2012-2013.
Please cut and return this portion.
I have read the syllabus and understand the content.
_____________________________________
Student’s Signature
__________________________
Date
_____________________________________
Parent(s) Signature
__________________________
Date