Course Syllabus

English IV Syllabus (PDF Version)

Cory McDowell

cory.mcdowell@ucps.k12.nc.us

Classroom Ext.: (704) 296-3088 || 7163

Welcome to Honors 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 being in an Honors course requires in-depth writing and analysis. My goal is to have all of you college-ready writers. This will involve writing several different types of essays/papers including argumentative, persuasive and compare/contrast.

 

 

Materials

 

1. A composition notebook for daily writing. 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.
2. Some sort of folder or binder for other papers/handouts
3. Pens and/or pencils
4. Chromebook!!
5. 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.

 

Procedures for Class

 

1. Be respectful. To EVERYONE!
2. Be prepared. Make sure you are ready when the bell rings. No one has time for shuffling, plugging in Chromebooks, etc.
3. 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.
4. Be active. PARTICIPATE in discussions, helping your classmates, asking questions, etc.
5. All graded materials NOT submitted through Canvas need to be put in the appropriate tray on the table.

 

Quizzes/Essays

 

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).

 

Essays will be of various scope (expository, critical, analytical, etc.) 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 using the plagiarism checker.

 

Late Work

 

I am not a fan of late work. Late work makes more work for me to do. However, I understand life and things happen. I will accept late work after an absence within two days after your absence. This means ONLY the work you missed on the day you were absent NOT work for the day you come back. Readings will be posted in Canvas daily. If you are absent, make sure you check the readings for the day you are coming back.

 

Attendance/Tutoring

 

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.

 

I will offer tutoring on Mondays from 3:30 until 4:30. Our class is big. This will be the time you can see me outside of class for extra help and understanding, or even if you didn’t get a chance to ask a question or get clarification in class. Feel free to stop by even just for 10 minutes.

 

Grading

 

This course will be graded on the ten-point scale and will be broken down into four categories:

 

1. Major projects/essays 40%
2. Quizzes 30%
3. Participation 20%
4. Homework 10%

Grading Scale:

A  90 - 100

B  80 - 89

C  70 - 79

D  60 - 69

F   0 - 59

 

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: The Anglo-Saxon Age (Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon Poetry

Introduction to Research Paper/Milestones

Introduction to your groups and your Literary Theories

2 weeks

 

Unit II: The Middle Ages (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle, selections of Canterbury Tales)

2 Weeks

 

Unit III: The Renaissance (The Tragedy of Macbeth and Shakespearean sonnets)

3 weeks

 

Unit IV: The Restoration through the Romantic Period (Frankenstein by Mary Shelley)

Project I: Create a Monster

3 weeks

 

Unit V: The Victorian Period (Dracula by Bram Stoker)

Project II: Vampire Folklore Analysis

3 weeks

 

Unit VI: The Modern Period (1984 by George Orwell, select poetry)

Research Paper Due

4 weeks

 

Formal Assessments will take the shape of your projects and essays. Some formal discussions will be posted in Canvas as well. These discussions are EXPECTED to be well though out posts and responses to classmates. They will center around the readings in the class (individual) and your Lit Theory groups (just your group). I will be creating a group discussion area for you and your classmates to discuss your Lit Theories.

Articles of the Week - These will be chosen by you and due weekly through Canvas and to me. Directions will be posted in Canvas!