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Honors English IV
Objective
In this class, you will improve your writing, critical thinking skills, ability to speak in front of groups and enhance your skills working with others. You will achive these objectives by studying various forms of literature, including novels, short stories, poetry, essays, drama and films. A variety of learning activities will be used to help gain a better understanding of the material. This is a college preparatory class. I expect all assignments to be completed and turned in on the due date. Daily class participation is required and is a significant part of your grade. Please be aware that by choosing Honors/A.S. English IV, you have chosen to do more reading and write more in-depth papers. The grade you earn in the Honors section is work an extra point in computing your grade point average. I expect you to work hard, and I'm looking forward to working with you this year.
Requirements
If you meet the requirements listed below, you will succeed in this class.
- Arrive in class on time with all appropriate materials for that day's activities. This includes paper, a pen, working folder, necessary books and/or handouts, lavish gifts for your instructor, etc.
- Complete all assignments - this includes both in-class projects and homework. Late policy for daily assignments: no late work will be accepted. Late policy for major assignments: grades will be reduced by 20% for each day they are late, and no work will be accepted after the morning of the third day. Make up work for assignments will only be given if you have an excused absence. Don't fall behind. For daily assignments, you will have three "homework passes" per semester.
- Productive participation in class discussions, in-class assignments, presentations and group projects. This is very important!
- Grades will be based on written work as well as participation in classroom activities. It is very important that you maintain good attendance and participate in all in-class work. (Remember: excessive absenses could result in loss of credit and make it impossible to complete in-class activities, discussion, etc. -- yikes!!!)
- Finally, disruption of the class in any way will not be tolerated. You are seniors -- I expect no discipline problems whatsoever.
It is important that you always ask questions when you don't understand something. If you need extra help, feel free to come in before school, after school or during tutorial. I will gladly help you with any work. Also, always feel free to contribute your own thoughts in group projects and class discussions. You all have much to contribute to this class. Therefore, the more you are willing to give, the more we will all learn. Much of what you will learn and discover in this class will depend on your willingness to share ideas in class. I will always welcome your ideas.
One Final Note...
Remember that you must pass BOTH semesters to fulfill your English requirement. Do not fall behind in the first or third quarters as it may be very difficult to catch up. If you fail to pass even one semester, you will most certainly turn into a pumpkin (and not graduate).
Novels
- All Quiet on the Western Front, Erich Marie Remarque
- Dear America, Letters Home from Vietnam, Bernard Edelman, Editor
- One Flew Over the Cookoo's Nest, Ken Kesey
- 1984, George Orwell
Short Stories
- Somehow Tenderness Survives, a collection of stories by southern African writers
- The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, Sherman Alexie
- Selections from The Things They Carried, Tim O'Brien (a possibility)
Drama
- Not About Heroes, Stephen MacDonald
- Macbeth, William Shakespeare
- Twelfth Night, William Shakespeare
- A Doll's House, Henrik Ibsen
Poems
- Voluntaries III, Ralph Waldo Emerson
- The Man He Killed, Thomas Hardy
- You and You, Edith Wharton
- The Dug-Out, Siegfried Sassoon
- Dulce et Decorum Est, Wilfred Owne
- Naming of Parts, Henry Reed
- Full Moon, W.D. Ehrhart
- Imagine, W.D. Ehrhart
- For My People, Margaret Walker
- A Black Birch in Winter, Richard Wilbur
- Wealth, Tony Moreno
- Miracle, Tony Moreno
- Ithaca,Constantine Cavafy
- The History Lesson, Chuck Jones
- Reflections After the June 12th March for Disarmament, Sonia Sanchez
Films
- Midnight Clear
- Master Harold and the Boys
- The Power of One
- Pow Wow Highway
- Gallipoli
Miscellaneous
- Various short stories, poems, songs and films to supplement the major works.
Ancillary Works
- In addition to the above assigned works, as we complete each unit, students will choose a related novel to read and write about.
Outside Reading for Students in Honors English
- Each of you is to read a certain number of pages of "outside reading" each quarter, and to have a reading conference with me to discuss each book you have read. The number of pages required will be set each quarter: 800 pages for "A" work, 650 for "B" work, 500 for "C" work. The number of pages increases by 100 for the second semester. Failure to meet this reading requirement will result in your grade being lowered by one full grade.
Writing
- You will be assigned formal essays during the year and will be required to write literature logs for each work that we read. In addition, you will write some creative writing pieces, a final autobiography, and a variety of pieces for your Time Capsule.
Projects/Presentations
- You will complete ans present a variety of projects throughout the year. This may be graphics, research projects, dramatic performances, among others.
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