SUMMERREADING: Summer Reading Form (Quiz Grade)

661HonorsLiteratureWritingSyllabus

Freshmen

Each student is responsible for his/her own learning. Clearly, not all materials can be covered in class. For example, studying for quizzes/tests and planning out projects must be done at home. You will only get out of this class what you, yourself put into it. If you are unclear on expectations or need help starting an assignment then you must ask for help (in person or via email); be an active part of your own education! With this in mind, this is what you can expect throughout the year:

September-November:

INTRODUCTION:rulesandexpectations,syllabus,gettoknowyouactivities,introductiontotheCollinsWritingProgram,samplewritingpiece,grammarsheet,MadLibsactivities,andgrammarquiz. WewillalsoinitiateSSR(SustainedSilentReading)andselectanovelfromthelibrary(bringonefromhomeorborrowonefrommeaswell).

SUMMERREADING: Summer Reading form (quiz grade), individualvisualproject,minipresentation,andtype4essay

SHORTSTORIES:elementsofshortstories,storyplotoutline,andessayformat. Foreachshortstorytherewillbeavocabularyquiz,studyguidequestions, writing activities, andsmallproject/groupwork. Attheendofthisunittherewillalsobeatype4essayandunittest. Grammarfocusactivitiesinclude:identifyingpartsofspeech,commongrammarusageand MLAformat.

Thesearethestorieswewillbereading:

1. “TheColomber”3. “Marigolds”

2. “The Most Dangerous Game”4. “Poison”

TwoadditionalstoriesfromthethemeExpecttheUnexpectedwillalsoberead.Studyguidequestionsandshortindividualprojectscanbeexpected. Atake-hometestandtype3essaywillfollow.

1. “TheGiftoftheMagi”

2. “TheCaskofAmontillado”

November-March:

GREEKMYTHOLOGYTHEODYSSEY:Introductiontotheepicpoem,epichero,mythology,andmyths,mythpresentations, research project on an assigned god/goddess, createyourowngod/goddessproject,creativewriting,readTheOdyssey,selectedvocabulary,understandcharacterandplacenames,mapproject,Part1andPart2quizzes(averagedtogetherforaunittestgrade),Odysseusvs.Suitorsdebate,andtype4thematicessay. Students will also read an excerpt from Oedipus and write an additional type 3 essay on tragic heroes. Grammar focus activities include fragments/run-ons, tense agreement and analysis of words derived from history and Greek mythology.

March-May:

SHAKESPEAREANDRAMAROMEOANDJULIET: IntroductiontoShakespeareand his times,dramaticconventions,vocabulary/wordsfromShakespeare’sera(toreviewandbecomefamiliarwith), three actprojects,translateShakespeare’slanguageintomoderndaylanguage,viewtheZeffirelliversion(priortoquizzes,asareview)andmodernmovieversion(atcompletionofunit),studyguidequestions, actprojects, and creativewriting.Therewillbeaquizaftereachact(actsIVandVwillbecombined);the four quizzeswillbeaveragedasatestgrade. A research paper on some aspect of the 16th century will be completed which will contain correct in-text citations from a variety of sources and a correctly formatted works cited page. Grammar focus activities include comma usage and apostrophes.

June:

POETRY:introducespecificpoeticdevises,connectpoetrytomusic,favoritesongpresentations,readpoemsasexamplesofpoeticdevices,createourownexamplesofpoeticdevices,practicedifferentcreativewritingactivities,andanalyzethemeaningbehindpoems. Allcreativewritingactivitieswillbeorganizedintoa final portfolio.

SUPPLEMENTALREADING:

Supplementalreadingisaschool-wideprogramatMcCann. Three additional novelswillbeassignedwhichwillbereadoutsideofclass. Two willbespecificallyassigned,whilethe third willbeafreechoiceselection. Studentscanexpectadifferentprojecttoaccompanyeachofthesupplementalreadingnovels.

SUSTAINEDSILENTREADING(SSR):

SSRwillbedoneeachdayintheclassroom. Thisprogramisparticipationbasedanddesignedtohelpstudentsfindabooktoread. Eachclasswillstartwith10-15minutesforsilentreadingfromabookofyourchoosing(adifferentbookcanbeselectedeveryfewdaysinthehopesthatyou'llfindoneyoulike). AlogofwhatyoureadduringSSRwillbekeptandturnedinattheendofeachquarterforaquizgrade. Anyextraentireswillcountasbonuspointstowardthisassignment.

**Eachstudentwillhaveafolderkeptintheclassroom. Anytest,quizzes,projects,essays,oldclassmaterials,etcwillbekeptwithinit. Quizzes,tests,andanywrittenworkwillbeloggedwithinthefolderinordertotrackprogress. Thestudentwillbeabletotakethefolderwithhimorherattheendoftheyearasareviewforthefinalexam.