ENGLISH 12 SYLLABUS
Okanogan High School
Instructor: Dennis O'Connor
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 7:30-8:30 AM, 3:00PM-4:00 PM. Tues. and Thurs. at lunch.
Contact Info:
Work – 422-3770 ext. 3667,
Home – 422-1844 (before 8:00PM)
Course Description:
Students will study classic and contemporary literature representing authors of international renown. In order to develop interpretive skills, students will hone research and writing skills for multiple purposes: e.g. writing to understand, writing to explain, and writing to evaluate. Careful instruction and feedback will be given to students in the areas of vocabulary, sentence structure, organization, and rhetoric. In addition, students will learn to read literature closely by focusing on textual details that bring out a work’s social and historical values; its style and themes; its imagery and symbolism. A survey of non-fiction, current events, poetry, drama, and expository prose will give students a background for further studies in humanities as well as augment their reading, writing, vocabulary, and interpretation skills in all subject areas. Students will need superior study skills and motivation to earn high marks. Attendance will be incorporated into the grade.
Resources:
Frankenstein, 1984, Hamlet, Poetry Out Loud, 12 Angry Men, The Writer’s Options, Quizlet.
Procedures and Grading:
Please see the “Course Policies” link for classroom procedures and grading policies.
General Expectations:
1. All students will pass this course.
2. Students will be polite to their classmates and the teacher.
3. Students will be ready to work as soon as the bell rings, (pen and paper already out).
4. Students will be prepared to work until the bell rings at the end of class.
5. The teacher will provide worthwhile, practical, and fun (usually) learning projects.
6. The teacher will help students understand and complete assignments.
7. The teacher will be available during office hours.
8. The teacher will be fair and attempt to have a good sense of humor. J
Semester 1 – Analytical Reading, Authentic Intellectual Work, Academic Courage,
Vocabulary Study, Personal Essay, Reading Fiction and Non-fiction as Inquiry, Poetry Out Loud, Effective Written Communication.
Review: Classroom Procedures, Grading, Vocabulary Study, Mindset, Authentic
Intellectual Work, Academic Courage, Reading Non-Fiction and Poetry Analytically. (Two weeks)
A. The Personal Essay: Writing creatively and personally with rhetorical power; hooks, transitions, expansion, layering, and closing links. Students consider the aspects of their lives that have prepared them for the future. These will be useful for scholarships and college applications. We will also include a few days of academic counseling and application practice.
1. Anecdotes, Layering, Transitions, and Analysis.
2. Prepositional and Infinitive Phrases, Coordination and Subordination, and Noun Substitutes.
3. Quotation Marks, Dashes, and Ellipsis.
(Three Weeks)
B. 12 Angry Men - Video Analysis, Bill of Rights, The Jury System, Logic and Argumentation, Court Procedures, and Differentiation between Movies and Real Life.
1. 12 Angry Men Video
2. The Legal System and Constitutional Rights.
3. Mock Trial.
(Three Weeks)
Quarter 1 Vocabulary Final – Spell and define a selection of words from previous first quarter quizzes. Portfolio Assessment.
C. 1984 - Close reading, literary analysis, using text-based evidence for
quotes, and the host of writing skills introduced in the personal essay.
1. Brave New World – Futurist perspectives, Inquiry.
2. Non-fiction – Totalitarianism, Stalinism, Propaganda, Social Engineering, Responsible uses of Power.
3. Up Front – Current Events - Tied to other readings.
4. Literary response essay.
(Four Weeks)
D. Poetry Out Loud – Emotional Intelligence, Coping with Non-career challenges.
1. Analysis, memorization, and recitation.
2. Connection to what is most important.
3. Connotation vs. Denotation
4. Creative Writing.
(Three Weeks)
E. Poetry Slam – Writing and Performance of student poetry.
1. Students will expand their understanding of symbolism and poetic devices by writing and performing their own poetry.
2. Various poetic techniques will be practiced to consider for inclusion in student writing.
3. Various performance techniques will be practiced to add meaning to recital of personal work.
(Two Weeks)
Quarter 2 Vocabulary Final - Spell and define a selection of words from previous second quarter quizzes. Portfolio Assessment.
Semester 2 – Vocabulary Study, Video Analysis, Logic and argumentaion, The
Constitution and the Legal System, Shakespeare, Senior Service Project.
F. Frankenstein – The Psychological, Feminist and Marist Lenses of Literary Analysis, The Responsibility of Science.
1. Non-fiction – Critical Lenses in Literature, The Theory of Relativity, The Creation of Atomic Weapons.
2. Up Front – Current events tied to other readings.
3. Literary analysis essay.
(Four Weeks)
G. Hamlet - Shakespeare – Identity and Integrity.
1. Language Challenges.
2. Loyalty, Betrayal, and Corruption.
3. Non-fiction – Historic and Social Context.
4. Up Front – Current Events – Tied to themes.
5. Performance of Selected Scenes.
(Four Weeks)
Quarter 3 Vocabulary Final - Spell and define a selection of words from previous third quarter quizzes. Portfolio Assessment.
H. Senior Service Project – Community Involvement, Service Learning.
1. Effective group work, planning, and problem-solving.
2. Government approval and dealing with bureaucracy.
3. Public speaking.
4. Work Ethic.
5. Adult Contributions, citizenship.
(Seven Weeks)
6/1-6/5: Graduation practice, Baccalaureate, Graduation.
Dennis O’Connor 2016/2017