Syllabus

British Literature
Course Syllabus: 2014-2015
Instructor: Mr. Fielding
Phone: 983-3604

Course Description: British Literature and Composition

Emphasis: The accelerated development of critical literary skills and devices to use in the analysis of works of fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. The writing of formal essays, research papers, and creative fiction and poetry.

The primary purpose of English 11 is to provide an opportunity for students to expand their critical thinking and writing skills by focusing on some of the challenging material of American Literature. The course is similar to English 10 in the dissection of literature in the pursuit of analysis but the class will cover more material and the expectation of the student’s performance is much higher. We will also look at the history of the English Language while exploring works of literature written by British writers. 

We will build on the foundation established in English 11 for composing literary, persuasive, and reflective essays, and to produce an original research paper. Additionally, students will utilize proper writing conventions appropriate to their learning level. To accomplish this, students will actively read from an extensive selection spanning all literary genres, analyze these works, develop original theses, and share their ideas in formal compositions (persuasive, reflective, and analytical), class discussions, and oral presentations.

In other words the class will dissect literature (and literary genres) at the roots—for the roots beneath the tree are extensive and only by understanding those roots can one understand the entire tree. We will look at literature as an investigation, an exploration, an adventure. We will examine genres and themes and we will share our ideas, interests and findings by discussion and writing essays, poetry, and fiction and by doing research to find out more.

Texts: Beowulf, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, The Canterbury Tales, Hamlet, Jonathan Swift, selections from Literature and Language Arts Textbook, among others.

JOURNALS/BLOGS

Students will be required to keep a blog throughout the year. This blog will be your journal writing for the year. In this blog/journal will be reading reflections, lists of literary devices found in stories and novels, creative assignments that correspond with readings, pre-writing exercises, analytic writing.

NOTE: I read every blog entry and you will lose points for skipping entries or not following directions. If you do not understand an assignment please ask.

GRADES:

Tests – 25% of overall grade
Papers—25% of overall grade
Projects—20% of overall grade
Quizzes, class work, homework—20% of overall grade
Journals/Blogs—10% of overall grade

Scale:

100- 93 = A
92.49- 90 = A-
89.49- 87 = B+
86.49-83.00 = B
82.49- 80.00 = B-
79.49-77.00 = C+
76.49- 73 = C
72.49-70.00 = C-
69.49-67.00 = D+
66.49- 63.00 = D
62.49- 60 = D-
Below 60 = F

Late Work: Mark down 10% per day. You are expected to turn in work on the deadlines due.

 PowerPoint overview of Medieval Literature.

Also: WHY DO YOU READ POETRY