Syllabi

BRITISH LITERATURE FALL SEMESTER, 2007
MR. STARRATT

This royal throne of kings, this scepter'd isle,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by Nature for herself
Against infection and the hand of war,
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in the silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall,
Or as a moat defensive to a house,
Against the envy of less happier lands,
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England,
This nurse, this teeming womb of royal kings,
Fear'd by their breed and famous by their earth
Shakespeare Richard II

All the world's a stage,And all the men and women merely players;They have their exits and their entrances,And one man in his time plays many parts,His acts being seven ages. At first, the infant,Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.Then the whining schoolboy, with his satchelAnd shining morning face, creeping like snailUnwillingly to school. And then the lover,Sighing like furnace, with a woeful balladMade to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,Jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel,Seeking the bubble reputationEven in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice,In fair round belly with good capon lined,With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,Full of wise saws and modern instances;And so he plays his part. The sixth age shiftsInto the lean and slippered pantaloon,With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wideFor his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice,Turning again toward childish treble, pipesAnd whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,That ends this strange eventful history,Is second childishness and mere oblivion,Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

Shakespeare As You Like It








British Literature and Composition
Course Description

In 2004 the Georgia Department of Education adopted new Georgia Performance Standards for grades 9-12. Consistent with state curriculum, the Fulton County Schools English language arts curriculum implementation aligns with state standards. The content standards for twelfth grade courses are clustered by strands: Reading and Literature, Reading Across the Curriculum, Conventions, Writing, and Listening/Speaking/Viewing.

Twelfth graders will continue to build on the reading and language curriculum established in grades 9-11. Throughout this one-semester course, students will have opportunities to develop and expand their knowledge of British literature and demonstrate their mastery level of new learning through performance tasks and assessments.

Reading and Literature
Students will read, analyze, and apply their knowledge of the structures, themes, and elements of British and Commonwealth fiction and nonfiction. They will trace the development of British fiction from the Anglo-Saxon period to Postmodern. Through extensive reading, students will acquire new vocabulary specific to the study of British literature and apply that knowledge in their writing.

Reading Across the Curriculum
To encourage students to become life long readers, the curriculum includes standards that address both academic and personal habits of reading. Students will read approximately one million words per year from a variety of subject disciplines including language arts. In the English language arts classroom, students will learn the vocabulary of literature, writing, and listening, speaking, and viewing.

Writing
Expository writing is the focus for twelfth grade; however, students will continue to produce a wide range of writings including polished narratives, persuasive pieces and technical documents. Students will practice both timed and process writing to develop compositions that demonstrate an understanding of tone, point of view, style, organization, author’s purpose, and audience. Students will continue to use research and technology to support reading and writing. A research paper is a requirement of the course.

Conventions
Students will demonstrate an understanding of proper English usage and control of grammar, sentence and paragraph structure, diction, and syntax. They will apply their knowledge of the conventions of language in reading, writing, and speaking and focus on the correct use of clauses, phrases, and the mechanics punctuation. Sentence construction and usage will continue to be a focus for twelfth grade. Students will apply their knowledge of the conventions of format when producing expository writing.

Listening/Speaking/Viewing
Students will continue to develop their critical listening skills. Through presentations and interactions with the teacher and other students, they will apply effective speaking techniques in small and large group settings. The viewing standards will enable students to develop media literacy skills through the careful examination of contemporary texts including television, radio, film productions, and electronic media.

The complete list of all the Performance Standards for the course are available online at http://www.georgiastandards.org/langart.asp under British Literature.

Fulton County Grading Scale
90-100 A
80-89 B
70-79 C
below 70 F


CHS English Department Plagiarism Statement

Plagiarism is the use of another's words or ideas and the presentation of them as though they are entirely one's own. Acts of plagiarism might include, but are not limited to:
1. using words or ideas from a published source without proper documentation;
2. using the work of another student (e. g. copying another student's homework, composition, or project);
3. using excessive editing suggestions of another student, teacher, parent, or paid editor.

Plagiarism on any project or paper at Chattahoochee High School will result in a zero for the assignment and an Honor Code violation. Unless directly stipulated by the teacher, collaboration on written work is not acceptable. Students who willingly provide other students with access to their work are in violation of the Honor Code. Students guilty of cheating will receive a grade of "0" on the assignment or test. The assignment may not be made up (students having zero’s are not eligible for recovery). Additionally, an Honor Violation Form will be completed by the teacher and filed in the school office. Violations may be considered by faculty in making future recommendations. Membership in honor clubs could be jeopardized. Students receiving an Honor Code violation will be assigned to serve two (2) days of Saturday School for the first offense.

Recovery Policy: Opportunities designed to allow students to recover from a low or failing cumulative grade will be allowed when all work required to date has been completed and the student has demonstrated a legitimate effort to meet all course requirements including attendance. Students should contact the teacher concerning recovery opportunities. Teachers are expected to establish a reasonable time period for recovery work to be completed during the semester. All recovery work mist be directly related to course objectives and must be completed ten school days prior to the end of the semester. Teachers will decide when and how students with extenuating circumstances may improve their grades. Students should consult the student handbook for more specific procedures.
Chattahoochee HS Guidelines for Recovery:
Recovery is available to students with a cumulative grade below 74% after a minimum of two (2) major grades. The maximum grade a student can earn for a recovery activity is 70%. There will be only one recovery opportunity per failed major assignment or test. The individual teacher will determine the means of recovery. THE STUDENT MUST INITIATE THE PROCESS WITHIN FIVE (5) DAYS OF NOTIFICATION OF A FAILING GRADE ON A MAJOR ASSIGNMENT/TEST.



LATE WORK POLICY
NOTE THAT THERE IS AN ABSOLUTE DEADLINE DATE FOR ALL WORK; AFTER THAT DATE, NO WORK MAY BE HANDED IN FOR A GRADE, NO TESTS MAY BE MADE UP.

1. Homework will be accepted one day late for half credit only if the student has an excused absence for either the day it was assigned or the day it was due. If you have an unexcused absence, no credit will be given.

2. READ THIS CAREFULLY! Longer projects (e.g. Those lasting a week or more.) are due on the due date without exception unless I speak with a parent who can verify a serious illness or other acceptable reason. Letters and emails will not do; I must actually speak with a parent. Once again, only excused absences will count. If you miss several days out of a weeklong assignment, it is not acceptable to claim you did not have time unless we were doing much of the work in class. If you miss several days and they are unexcused, no reason will be accepted; the paper will be late.

3. If I decide to give you extra time, the amount of time will be at my sole discretion; it will not necessarily be a day for a day missed situation.

4. Late essays or projects will lose points at the rate of ten points a day for three days. After that, no work will be accepted for credit unless you and a parent speak with me. I may still decide not to allow any credit at that point.

5. If you miss time before a test, be prepared to take it the day you get back unless I speak to you and set a date. Sometimes I will give alternate assignments rather than the same test already given.

CLASS GUIDELINES AND RULES

1. If you want to be treated as an adult with respect and politeness, then act like an adult and be respectful and polite to me and to your classmates.

2. I have one absolutely unbreakable rule: NEVER do anything in class that mocks, demeans, makes fun of, or discourages another student. Never laugh at a question, answer, or class discussion remark unless I do. I do not care if your best friend is in class, and you have been joking with each other since first grade. If one person is discouraged from participating, others will be to. This classroom will be a safe and hospitable place for all students who should feel free to ask questions, attempt answers, talk in groups, and offer opinions. If you do anything that restricts the ability of any other student from learning, you will be severely punished.

3. Always ask questions and attempt to answer them; you will learn much more that way. If you are paying attention and trying your best, and still do not understand something, it is my job to make sure you learn it. If you do not understand a lesson, the odds are 100% that others do not, also. It is not my job just to present the material and let the grades fall where they may. I want to teach. I want you to learn. I do not care about your previous grades. Do your best with me, and the grade will take care of itself.

4. If you have a problem that may interfere with your work, do not hesitate to see me immediately. Do not wait until it is too late.

5. You know the school rules. I enforce them. That is short and straight. If the handbook says do it or do not do it, believe it. I strictly enforce the tardy rules.

6. Extra credit is given strictly at my whim. What it is and how many points you may get are totally at my discretion. Some extra credit will be for all students, some just for students who work hard but need help. If the end of semester is drawing near and your grades are low, and you have not done all of your work or not worked hard, please ask me for extra credit; I can always use a good laugh.

7. I do not play the “How Much Time Can We Waste” game. Get your notebooks out as soon as you get to class. Do not expect me to tell you to get out a book or to quiet down 7 or 8 times while you take your time chatting. When that happens, I often start oral snap quizzes immediately. Most people do badly.

8. Bring your book, a notebook, and a pen to class every day. After the first week of school, I will NOT let you borrow paper or a pen, even if we are having a test. You are upper classmen who plan to go to college; there is no excuse for being the absolute mooching slacker who never comes prepared.

TEXT: Prentice Hall Literature The British Tradition $65; various supplementary novels or plays $20

GRADES: 85% from all tests, quizzes, writings, homework and seatwork, following class rules, and other assessments; 15% from final.

WEEKS 1-2
1. Overview of Semester: rules, formats, expectations
2. Review of grammar and punctuation: six “killer” mistakes,” introductory modifiers, punctuation of titles, start of usage examples
3. Review of research materials and formats
4. Review of testing activities and skills: SAT, ACT, Writing
5. College application tips
6. Start Personal Journal
7. Start vocabulary
8. Bibliography and works cited formats

Weeks 1-5: War and Warriors
1. Reading: Beowulf, Morte d’Arthur, “Speech Before Her Troops,” “To Lucasta, On Going To The Wars,” “Ulysses,” “An Irish Airman Foretells His Death,” “The Diameter of the Bomb,” “Dulce et Decorum Est,” “The Soldier,” “Anthem for Doomed Youth”

2. Writing: Literary criticism essay, Editorial, start of research process (annotated bibliographies), Personal Viewpoint essay on theme of war and warriors, Reading logs, Review of paragraph structure and five paragraph essay.

3. Tests and quizzes: Major tests (More than 50 points) test on Beowulf,
Unit Test. Quizzes (Fewer than 50 points) approximately one a week. Most will be announced, but there will be pop quizzes. Quizzes on grammar and punctuation may be included on any quiz.

4. Grammar and Punctuation: Clauses and their punctuation (Run-ons, fragments, and comma splices)

5. Media, including internet: Themes in film, internet web sites for research and thematic use.

Weeks 6-11: Love and Lovers

1. Readings: “Barbara Allen;” sonnets by Spenser and Shakespeare, Othello, “On My First Son,” “Song: To Celia,” “To His Coy Mistress,” “To Lucasta, On Going to Prison,” “Tintern Abbey,” the “Lucy” poems, “She Walks in Beauty,” “Ode on a Grecian Urn.” “La Belle Dame Sans Merci,” “The Lady of Shalott,” “My Last Duchess,” “Sonnet 43,” “Is my Team Ploughing?” “When You Are Old”

2. Writing: rough draft of research project, literary explication, two one page essays on poems which will form the basis for a larger essay on the “love” theme; essay on Othello (several topics will be offered), bibliography for research project

3. Tests and quizzes: Major tests (More than 50 points) test on Beowulf, Unit Test (The Unit Test will be open book.) Several quizzes. Most will be announced, but there will be pop quizzes. Quizzes on grammar and punctuation included.

4. Grammar and Punctuation: Pronouns, case and number, usage

5. Media, including internet: Themes in film, internet web sites for research and thematic use.



Weeks 12-17: Observers of Life

1: Readings: Canterbury Tales, The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Samuel Pepys “Diary,” from “A Journal of the Plague Year,” “The Essay on Man,” entries from Johnson’s Dictionary, “The Chimney Sweeper,” from Hard Times, “Spring and Fall: To a Young Child,” “The Explosion.”

2. Writings: final draft of Research essay, “My World” essay and project, interview

3. Tests and quizzes: On Canterbury Tales and Unit Test

4. Grammar: verbs, agreement and tense, finish usage

5. Scenes from British films: Mary Poppins, How Fine Was my Valley

Week 18: The final is cumulative across the entire semester.

The curriculum could change based on how each particular class proceeds.


Fiction Project: Early in the semester, students will pick a significant British novel to read and will choose an assessment method according to their own strengths. I will discuss this in detail when we start.