North Davidson High School

English IV Honors: European Literature

• Fall 2017

Course description“To become college and career ready, students must grapple with works of exceptional craft and thought whose range extends across genres, cultures, and centuries. Such works offer profound insights into the human condition and serve as models for students’ own thinking and writing. Along with high-quality contemporary works, these texts should be chosen from among seminal U.S. documents, the classics of American literature, and the timeless dramas of Shakespeare. Through wide and deep reading of literature and literary nonfiction of steadily increasing sophistication, students gain a reservoir of literary and cultural knowledge, references, and images; the ability to evaluate intricate arguments; and the capacity to surmount the challenges posed by complex texts” (CCSS).

English IV completes the global perspective initiated in English II. Though its focus is on European (Western, Southern, Northern) literature, this course includes important U.S. documents and literature (texts influenced by European philosophy or action).

This course is designed to further communication and cognition abilities of students through a growing development in reading, writing, and speaking skills. Essential skills for any pursuance of further education will be taught such as how to “[w]rite arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.” (CCSS, ELA Writing)

Instructor: Mr. Paul Piatkowskippiatkowski@davidson.k12.nc.us • 336.731.8431• Office Hours: 9:40-11:11

Units of Study

Unit Theme

Time Period

Anchor Literature

Writing Assignment

Hero and Hero’s Quest

Ancient - Middle Ages

BeowulfCanterbury Tales

Personal Narrative

Reality vs. Perception

Renaissance

MacbethPoetry

Creative Writing: Poetry

Power of the Mind

Restoration, Romantic, and Victorian Periods

“A Modest Proposal”Lit Circle SelectionPoetry

Persuasive Writing

Man and

20th and

No Exit

Research

the Modern World

21st Centuries

Lit Circle SelectionPoetry

Writing

Rationale

Course objectives● Inform students of history and development of

European and world literature as a whole● Transform surface reading to reading with

depth● Create stronger writing and research practices● Strengthen grammar, vocabulary, and style● Research the development of Western thought

and culture and its global influence.● Examine relationships between past and

present.● Build increasing sophistication in defining issues

and using argument effectively.● Create products and presentations which

maintain standard conventions of written and oral language.

Guiding Questions● What ideas have dominated modern culture?● How does communication affect our personal

lives and society as a whole?● What is the function of rhetoric in today’s

world and global communications?● How do authors’ styles and techniques enrich

their writing?

Materials Needed- One to Two Inch Binder- Pens, Pencils, Highlighters- Flash/Stick Drive or Dropbox/Cloud Storage- Sticky Notes

Grading Scale

Within each category, different assignments will be assigned different point values (10, 20, 50, 100) depending on size and difficulty. (A reading comprehension practice may be a ten point assignment, whereas a quiz may be worth 50 points--though both count as minor grades.)

Quarterly Percentage Breakdown60% Major Assignments (Tests, Essays, Projects)30% Minor Assignments (Worksheets, Quizzes, Minor Activities)10% Homework/Daily (Caught’Ya, Homework, Reading Checks)

Literature will include both poetry and prose, and there will be many “hands-on” learning experiences including weekly fishbowl discussions. In addition to the works studied as a class, students will be responsible to complete several independent and group reading assignments.

Class Participation

As a discussion heavy course, students will participate in such interactive activities as mock trials or town hall meetings, socratic seminars, fishbowl discussions, group presentations, and mock conferences. Students will receive scores based on preparation for and participation in said activities.

Transperiod Themes

We will be covering a wide range of themes and theories in this course including, but not limited to, theories such as body, spatial, systems, historicism, psychoanalytic, mythological, deconstruction, Marxist, and feminist as well as themes like identity, alienation, reform, disfigurement, and the human condition.

Class Expectations:As you can see, we are looking forward to a busy semester. In order for students to be successful, the classroom must maintain an atmosphere of learning. I ask that my students abide by the following classroom behavior expectations:

- Be on time, on task, and prepared!- Use electronics for educational purposes only! Cell phones must be “parked” at all times. Non-negotiable!- Be Responsible for your own learning!- Respect the teacher, the classroom, and other students!- Clean up after yourself!!Late work for most assignments will be

Semester Percentage Breakdown40% First Quarter Average40% Second Quarter Average20% Final Exam (NCFE)

Numerical Score to Letter Grade Conversion

90-100 A80-89 B70-79 C

60-69 D<59 F

CourseworkResearch - Research and synthesis of sources in the creation of succinct argument is a large part of the English IV curriculum. Students will be selecting a topic and go through the research process. Research topics will need to be approved by both a parent/guardian and myself. Tests, Quizzes, and Projects - Students can expect unit tests on larger literature units as well as planned and pop quizzes. Vocabulary will also be covered in quizzes. Projects will also be oriented around larger pieces of literature.

Daily Work - Students will complete work on a daily basis that will take formative snapshots of student understanding and ability to complete standards. This will include vocabulary using Wordly Wise and grammar using the No RedInk program.

accepted if a student was absent. If a student is absent for an unannounced or daily assignment, they will have five days to make up the work. After the fifth day it will not be accepted.

Late work for assignments not due to absence will have a 10% grade deduction for each day beyond the original due date.

Projects and large papers are expected on the day due whether student is present or not. If a student is absent then arrangements must be made with the instructor beforehand or on the day due. Papers should be printed on the students’ own time!

If students choose to not follow these expectations and cause a disturbance in class the following consequences will occur:- Warning.- Student-teacher conference.- Parent contact / Conference.- Detention. Office referral.

*******PLEASE JOIN NoRedInk. Our class code is:

Period 3--odd duck 47 Period 4--royal pillow 53

PLEASE JOIN MY STUDENT REMIND TO RECEIVE IMPORTANT TEXTS OR EMAILS WITH CLASS UPDATES AND INFORMATION!Text the following number: 81010 with the following message:

Period 3--@49g8d3Period 4--@b99ec3

PLEASE JOIN MY GOOGLE CLASSROOM WHERE WORK WILL SOMETIMES BE GIVEN AND SUBMITTED!Access your school gmail account. After accessing your account, google search “classroom” and google classroom should appear. From there, type in the following code to add my class:

Period 3-- 77l7zpuPeriod 4--pk5kab1

***Please sign and return. Thank you. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“I have read and understand the requirements and expectations of Mr. Piatkowski’s English IV Honors.” Student Signature______________________________________________ Date____________________ Student Printed Name __________________________________________________________________ Parent/Guardian Signature_______________________________________ Date____________________ Parent/Guardian, please write your e-mail address if available below: ______________________________________________________________________________________