Course Syllabus
English IV Syllabus (Printable Version)
Cory McDowell
Classroom Ext.: (704) 296-3088 || 7163
Welcome to English IV!!
Course Overview
In this course, we will begin to study British literature through the examination of texts from the United Kingdom. Students will also be introduced to more analytical/literary writing. As a class, we will examine (through close-reading) the elements of the literature. The goal of this course is to learn aspects of the British culture and language. The course will be intensive and rigorous.
Part of the core requirements for this class is writing. Our goal is to have the student as college ready as possible. This includes: argumentative, narrative, expository, persuasive, literary analysis, and compare/contrast papers. As students here at CATA, you are expected to use outside sources and form a comprehensive research essay of at least 3-4 pages.
Materials
- A composition notebook for daily writing (notes/warm-ups). This will serve as your daybook. You will put handouts (taped or stapled) and your writing in this book. Everything we do on a day-to-day basis.
- A spiral notebook for quickwrites. This will be where your more lengthy writing assignments will go.
- Some sort of folder or binder for papers/handouts
- Highlighters (blue, green, yellow, orange)
- Papermate Profile multi-color pens (you can get these anywhere that sells school supplies).
- Post-it Notes for annotations in books
- Pens and/or pencils
- Chromebook!!
- Dracula by Bram Stoker - Dover/Thrift edition (Amazon has it for $3.50 or less)*
*If you need help with this, please let me know. I will do my best to help you locate a text.
**We have limited copies of text. Anyone who would be willing and able to purchase any of the books we read will be greatly appreciated.
Resources
Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. Elements of Literature Sixth Course: Essentials of British Literature. (in-class text)
Learning Platform at Central Academy
Canvas: The majority of assignments will be submitted on our new "learning platform," Canvas. Assignments can be submitted a variety of ways including, uploading files, typing into text boxes, and sharing Google documents/presentations. Students not having used Canvas before should alert the teacher and they will be shown how to submit assignments on Canvas. Individual assignments will indicate which method of submission on Canvas is expected. If students need a refresher or have questions, they can access the Canvas Student Guide for specific instructions. It is the student's responsibility to ensure assignments are submitted on time and to contact the instructor if there is a problem. The Canvas Learning Platform logs every student log-in on Canvas which provides teachers with a list of when students log-in to Canvas using their user id.
Canvas is used to grade assignments as well, however, the grades in Canvas, while accurate to that assignment, are NOT the teacher’s gradebook. The teacher’s gradebook includes categories of assignments that may be weighted differently and may include grades for assignments that did not use the Canvas Learning Platform. Therefore, students and parents should always check their child’s true average on the Parent Portal on Powerschool.
Canvas Calendar will be where I post the pacing schedule for the class. Each day on the calendar is what students are supposed to have read for that day (i.e. If Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Fitt II is on the calendar for October 3rd, it needs to be read for October 3rd's class. It is NOT homework for that night).
EmpowerED
This provides parents with links to online resources and apps that students may access. EmpowerED
Procedures for Class
- Be respectful. To EVERYONE!
- Demonstrate excellent CHARACTER! You get what you put into the course and working with your classmates and teacher. Be the best person you can be when you walk through my door.
- Be prepared. Make sure you are ready when the bell rings. No one has time for shuffling, plugging in Chromebooks, etc.
- Be focused. I think this goes without saying. I WILL call on you to participate if I feel you’re not staying focused and on task.
- Be active. PARTICIPATE in discussions, helping your classmates, asking questions, etc.
- All graded materials NOT submitted through Canvas need to be put in the appropriate tray on the table.
- NO bathroom breaks in the first and last 15 minute of class.
Late Work
Late work will be accepted after an absence within two days after your absence as outlined in your Student Handbook and this course syllabus (under Grading). This means ONLY the work missed on the day of the absence NOT work for the day the student comes back. Readings will be posted in Canvas daily. If absent, make sure to check the readings for the returning day.
Attendance
Attendance is paramount to your success. If you miss a class, it is YOUR responsibility to make-up any work that you missed. As stated above and in your student handbook, you have TWO days to make up work after an absence.
Tardies:
Tardies will be recorded as unexcused unless an excuse can be verified by staff. Tardies will result in the following penalties:
All students must report to the office when tardy to first period and to class the rest of the day. Teachers will mark students tardy who are late to 2nd period, 3rd period, and 4th period. If a student is tardy twice in third period on Cougar Time days (Once before class and once after lunch), then the teacher will mark them tardy one time in Power School and write it up as a minor incident in Educator Handbook for the second tardy of the period.
1st/2nd Tardy: Warning from an administrator in the front office (1st period) and the teacher in the classroom (all periods)
3rd Tardy: Warning from an administrator in the front office (1st period) and the teacher in the classroom (all periods). The teacher will contact the parent on the third tardy by phone.
4th/5th Tardy: Warning from an administrator in the front office (1st period) and the teacher in the classroom (all periods). The teacher will submit a discipline referral to the administration and 1 day ASD with administration. The administration will contact the parent.
6th/7th Tardy: Warning from an administrator in the front office (1st period) and the teacher in the classroom (all periods). The teacher will submit a discipline referral to the administration and 2 days ASD with administration. The administration will contact the parent.
8th Tardy: Warning from an administrator in the front office (1st period) and the teacher in the classroom (all periods). The teacher will submit a discipline referral to the administration and 3 days ASD. The administration will set up a parent conference, create a written plan, and possible additional consequences.
Tutoring
Mr. McDowell will offer tutoring on Thursdays from 3:30 until 4:30. The classes are big. This will be the time students can see him outside of class for extra help and understanding, or even if a chance was missed to ask a question or get clarification in class. Feel free to stop by even just for 10 minutes.
Mr. McDowell, also, holds mandatory remediation/tutoring during Cougar Time when students are identified as needing extra help.
Grading
This course will be graded on the ten-point scale and will be broken down into four categories:
- Essays: 30%
- Tests: 25%
- Quizzes: 20%
- Projects: 15%
- Homework: 10%
Essays
Essays will be of various scope (expository, narrative, and argumentative) throughout the semester. Rubrics will be provided per essay. We will have several writing sessions, seminars, and peer-review opportunities along with the assignments. ALL essays will be submitted through Canvas and the originality checker.
Tests
Tests will be given twice a term (a total of 6 assessments). The tests will consist of questions (multiple choice, constructive response, and essay) based on the core standards for English IV (see Canvas for core standards).
Quizzes
You will have various quizzes throughout the semester. Quizzes will mainly be reading and vocabulary quizzes. I will never give a quiz unannounced unless I feel that the work is not being done (i.e. half the class decides they don’t want to read when they’re supposed to).
Projects
Major projects will demonstrate your understanding of a major element or concept in the literature for that unit. They will be research-based and in-depth projects.
Grading Scale:
A 90 - 100
B 80 - 89
C 70 - 79
D 60 - 69
F 0 – 59
*Grades in PowerSchool marked as a “0” will not be allowed to be made up
**Grades in PowerSchool marked as a “1” will be allowed to be made up within the specified amount of time per the student handbook
Grading Composition: Course work will make up 75% of your final grade; the final exam will make-up 25% of your final grade based on your performance on the North Carolina Final Exam.
Units (preliminary and subject to change)
*Each unit will include vocabulary, written responses (creative and reading responses), and historical background, as well as, other assignments on a weekly/daily basis.
Unit I: Introduction/”The Hero”/Anglo-Saxon Poetry/Beowulf/Sir Gawain and the Green Knight/Other stories from The Middle Ages
Introduction to Research Paper/Milestones
Narrative Essay
6 weeks
Unit II: Gender/”The Other” (Macbeth/Frankenstein/Excerpts and Poetry)
Project I: Frankenstein Sonnet/Eulogy/Film Review
Expository Essay (Compare/Contrast)
6 Weeks
Unit III: Imperialism/Dystopia (1984/Excerpts from other dystopian literature/Poetry/Review)
Project II: Social Equality Podcast
Research Paper Due
6 weeks
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|